Amazon Echo Dot in the test: is the 5th generation really better?

When you first look at the new 5th generation Echo Dot, you rub your eyes for a moment: Is this really a new device? After all, the small round smart speaker looks confusingly similar to the previous 4th edition of the compact device. While the 3rd generation still came in the design of an ice hockey puck, the previous generation change was the new beginning of the loudspeaker series with a magic ball look.

1. furnishings

2. use

3. sound

4. Conclusion

Accordingly, the functional design of the new Echo Dot 5 has hardly changed – at least at first glance. The second is that, in Apple fashion, Amazon has meanwhile dispensed with the 3.5mm jack and added an invisible sensor touch field to the veteran four haptic buttons on the top of the speaker.

However, the biggest innovations in the new Echo Dot are the proverbial inner values: there is now a larger sound driver at the core of the ball, which promises more bass and lossless playback of high-quality audio files. In addition, there is now also a temperature sensor in the Echo, which creates various interesting possibilities in the context of Smart Home.

Amazon Echo Dot 5 in pictures

These pictures give you a first impression of the new Echo Dot 5.

In terms of price, the 5th generation of the Echo Dot, starting at around 60 euros, is the same as the previous model, which, given its outdated version number, will soon end up on the bargain table for Black Friday with a significant discount and should also be sold on other Amazon campaign days .

furnishings

The scope of delivery of the 5th generation Echo Dot essentially only includes the device itself and a power adapter. The installation of the smart speaker is correspondingly self-explanatory, although due to the not too long cable only stands with a socket nearby are suitable. In contrast to portable Bluetooth speakers, the Echo series is not designed for mobile use, so it does not have a battery and is therefore dependent on constant mains operation.

Once a flat and level place has been chosen for the Echo Dot and the power supply is connected to a power source, you can go straight to setting up the smart device. And this requires an Amazon account and the Alexa app as well as access to a wireless network – otherwise the device can only be used as a Bluetooth speaker without a language assistant and smart home functionality.

However, if you already have an Amazon account and a correspondingly set up Alexa app, you can set up the Echo Dot in no time at all: It only takes a few minutes to configure the speaker via the app. However, when setting up a smart home for the first time, setting up the device is much more tedious – even if only once. Each additional Echo device then connects almost automatically.

use

Once the Echo Dot has been set up, using the multifunctional speaker sphere is extremely easy: voice assistant Alexa is always waiting for your cue to fulfill music requests, announce the time or even initiate more complex routines in the smart home, once they have been set up accordingly.

With the 5th generation of the Echo Dot, this now also includes smart switching processes related to room air conditioning: the temperature sensor installed for the first time makes it possible for the Echo to automatically trigger the regulation of heating processes, for example. What may sound relatively uninteresting for average users at first is an important new function for diligent smart home hobbyists to further automate the processes in their intelligent housing and thus save heating costs if necessary.

Due to the omission of the old-fashioned 3.5mm blade socket, the new Echo Dot is also deprived of a variety of useful functions: The previous model could still be installed as a signal receiver or source in different constellations and thus the old stereo system with Spotify playlists as if by magic play.

But that’s over now – Amazon is more likely to rely on multi-room networks of Echo speakers, which can be easily created and managed via its own Alexa app, or connecting Echo stereo pairs to Fire TV. Everything works perfectly – but keeping the old connection option would probably not have hurt anyone.

sound

The big question with the Echo Dot 5 is actually clear, in addition to many smaller innovations: Is there actually an improvement in audio quality and bass reproduction with the only marginally larger speaker module inside the smart ball? A direct comparison with the 4th generation Echo Dot shows that it exists – but it is also kept within limits.

If you want a stable, bassy sound for your smart speaker, you don’t even have to decide between the 4th and 5th generation Echo Dot – because both devices simply can’t deliver that. If larger rooms are to be filled with sound or the bass needs to be suitable for massage purposes, at least the “big” Echo of the 4th generation must be used, which is available from Amazon for around 95 euros.

However, the new Echo Dot is ideal for smaller rooms, stereo pairings and use in a multi-room orchestra – even if it is not recommended to bring the small loudspeaker to the upper end of its performance spectrum. Because it sounds, despite lossless audio playback and a bit more power under the hood, rather as scratchy and shrill as its predecessor.

If the smallest Echo is to be used in the children’s room, there is now even a separate product line for it: The Echo Dot Kids offers direct access to child-friendly content as well as various setting options for parents. You can read what these are in the Netzwelt test for the new device.

Amazon Echo Dot 5

editorial rating 7.8 reader rating

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design and processing

9.0

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Amazon Echo Dot 5: The best alternatives

Don’t you agree? Are you looking for suitable alternatives? Below are the best Amazon Echo Dot 5 alternatives.

We also recommend that you take a look at our loudspeaker leaderboards. You can find comparable products, for example, in the “Amazon Echo in comparison: This is how the Alexa speakers differ”

Amazon Echo Dot 5 Data Sheet

Here you will find the technical data for the Amazon Echo Dot 5. You can easily compare the size, weight and other properties with other products.

Dimensions	100x100x89mm
weight	340g
waterproofness	✘ no
Colours	Black, Blue, White
watt	no information
battery life	–
voice assistant	alexa
screen	LED display (extra charge)
Zigbee hub	✘ no
streaming services	Everyone
microphone	✔ Yes
camera	✘ no
sensors	temperature
auxiliary	✘ no
Microphone input	✘ no
micro USB	✘ no
USB-C	✘ no
NFC	✘ no
Bluetooth	✔ Yes
WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS	✔ Yes
stereo pair	✔ Yes
multi-room	✔ Yes
aptX	✘ no
aptX HD	✘ no
Spotify Connect	✘ no
Losless Audio	✘ no
auto calibration	✘ no
speakerphone	✘ no
physical buttons	✔ Yes
apartment	✔ Yes
Wireless charging dock or power bank	✘ no
party light	✘ no
FM radio	✘ no
SD card slot	✘ no

Show all technical data❯