The Echo Pop is one in every of Amazon’s latest Alexa gadgets. With a flat speaker on the entrance, it’s made to sit down discreetly within the nook of a room and fill it up with music. Moreover, it shares most of the identical Alexa options as Amazon’s different Echo gadgets.
At $39.99, the Echo Pop can be the least costly means so as to add Alexa to your house. As a bonus, it is available in a few distinctive colours that different Echo gadgets don’t — the attractive lavender bloom and stylish midnight teal.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t actually stand out from the Echo Dot with reference to sound high quality, and after utilizing it I used to be left questioning if it’s actually distinct sufficient from the Dot to be it’s personal “factor.”
The Amazon Echo Pop, briefly relocated from the workplace to the lavatory for higher lighting.
Credit score: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
The way it measures up as an Alexa machine
When you’re aware of the Amazon Alexa ecosystem, then you definately most likely know of the Echo Dot devices. These are Alexa-enabled good gadgets with out a show. You possibly can set timers, make reminders, add notes to the Alexa app, and ask them questions.
The Echo Pop is, primarily, a extra compact Echo Dot. It’s half the scale, nevertheless it has practically the entire identical performance — making it particularly useful within the kitchen, for me no less than. “Alexa, remind me to examine the rice in 20 minutes.” Additionally: “Alexa, what number of tablespoons are in half a cup?”
The Amazon Echo Dot vs. The Amazon Echo Pop… sure there’s a tiny spaghetti stain on the Echo Dot, I blame the youngsters.
Credit score: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
Nevertheless, it’s necessary to notice that whereas the latest gen Echo Dot has a built-in temperature sensor, the Echo Pop doesn’t.
It may also be used to manage any of your Alexa-enabled good gadgets, identical to different Echo gadgets. Though I do dearly love utilizing an Echo within the kitchen, my home is blissfully low-tech in any other case — so I couldn’t check this for myself.
The way it measures up as a wise speaker
Since I already had Spotify linked to Alexa, I used to be in a position to begin taking part in my music just about as quickly as I plugged within the machine and set it up. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to notice that in case you don’t use Amazon Music, you’ll have to undergo the Alexa app in your telephone to hook up with your most popular audio app.
Shortly after beginning my music for the primary time, it stopped mid-song and it appeared just like the machine froze up for a couple of minutes. After that one concern, it’s labored nice although.
In comparison with my Echo Dot, I actually suppose the sound high quality appears precisely the identical. However full disclosure: I’m not an audiophile, so it might be that my easy ears can’t detect any delicate variations in sound high quality between the 2 gadgets. Regardless, as marketed, this little machine tasks rather well and fills the entire room with music.
The Echo Pop ditches the spherical form of the Echo and Echo Dot.
Credit score: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable
One function I used to be notably interested by was the Echo Pop’s Bluetooth connectivity. Some buyer opinions discuss with it as a Bluetooth speaker, which had me considering that it could possibly stream audio instantly from my telephone with out Alexa.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t actually appear to be the case. I attempted to hook up with it by way of Bluetooth with my telephone (like I might connect with wi-fi earbuds or a wi-fi speaker), however I couldn’t discover a option to play audio instantly from my telephone to the Echo Pop with out utilizing Alexa as an intermediate.
So sure, it connects to the Alexa app by way of Bluetooth, positive. However would I name it a Bluetooth speaker? No, probably not.
Moreover, it have to be plugged right into a wall outlet to work — making it fairly stationary in comparison with what persons are usually considering of after they suppose “Bluetooth speaker.” That’s, one thing that’s wireless and portable.
Nonetheless, you may join your Bluetooth audio system to the Echo Pop — making it attainable so that you can lend Alexa voice activation to your complete sound setup.
Is the Echo Pop value it?
For individuals who wish to hold music taking part in, and who additionally use Alexa as a house assistant, the Echo Pop is an ideal addition to any room in the home.
To be fully sincere, it appears a bit of redundant when it’s so much like the Echo Dot. Nonetheless, at $39.99, it’s $10 inexpensive than the latest gen Echo Dot, with primarily all the identical performance and options. That makes it a sensible choice in case you’re making an attempt to avoid wasting dough whereas making your house a bit of smarter. Or if you have already got a collection of Echo gadgets and want to add a bit of extra Alexa to your house.
