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[editorial-rating id=”23979″]
Amazon released the new 5th generation of the echo dot series of smart speakers. We have received the new Echo dot (5th Gen), smart speaker, for review from the PR agency of Amazon UAE. The 1st Alexa Echo Dot was introduced in 2014. Amazon has built an expansive landscape of smart home products, ranging from smart speakers, smart displays and so much more — and it’s only growing every year. In 2020, Amazon released several new gadgets and Alexa features at the annual product event in September, including the Echo Show 15, the Amazon Smart Thermostat, the Amazon Glow for kids, the Halo View fitness band and the much-anticipated Astro robot. Plus, several new Ring products.
Design & Specification
The Amazon Alexa Echo Dot (5th Gen) comes with a dimension of 100 x 100 x 80 mm and weighs 340 grams. It is a spherical dome design with a 44 mm (1.73”) front-firing speaker. It comes with four touch buttons on the spherical dome. The outer covering is made of cloth material with an ABS plastic base with an LED ring light and the bottom has an anti-skid silicon rubber base. Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) support for audio streaming from your mobile device to Echo or from Echo to your Bluetooth speaker. Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) for voice control of connected mobile devices Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks.
The Review
The Amazon Alexa Echo Dot (5th Gen) comes in a rectangular box which contains the Echo Dot device, the power adapter with cable and a quick start-up guide.
The device setup is effortless and easy to make ready. Download the ALEXA App from the Google Play Store / Apple Store. After connecting the device, the ring LED light emits orange in a minute, indicating pairing. As this Echo Dot (5th Gen) device is the Middle East version, when it boots up, it says to pair up in ENGLISH and ARABIC. Echo Dot understands Khaleeji and Modern Standard Arabic, or English.
Following the simple procedure on the Alexa App, you connect the Echo Dot device to the home network and are finally ready to be used for the home network. The Echo Dot device has 4 prominent buttons on the spherical dome. Two buttons are the volume rockers, one is the Mic Switch On/Off button and the final one is the Action button which helps during pairing or any specific action required for the Echo Dot.
Audio Quality
Compared to the 4th Gen Echo Dot, the sound quality of the 5th Gen Echo dot is much better as it has a 44 mm (1.73”) front-firing speaker. The Treble, Mids are great and low-frequency Bass is much better compared to the 4th Gen smart speaker. The mic capture is quite accurate, even from a distance of 15 feet when called “ALEXA” the Echo Dot responds and is ready to listen to your request. The dedicated MIC Switch ON/Off button helps the consumer from controlling the Echo Dot by listening to your conversation and unwanted commands. Compared to the 4th Gen, the 5th Gen sounds a little less loud but all the audio frequencies are much clearer and better.
Echo Dot Functions
Amazon Echo Dot has to be connected to the Home Wi-Fi system to create access to all the functions. The Echo Dot can work alone and has smart HUB to connect to all the smart devices in the home network. Once you have the smart HUB created, you can access all your smart home devices via your phone from any part of the world. E.g.: You can switch On your smart Air Conditioner or smart Washing machine even before you reach home or warm up your food in the smart microwave or set the mood lighting of your house with the Alexa App. You can also allow access or lock to your house which has got a smart lock system.
You can enquire about the weather in your area, time, latest updates, news and a lot more. You can have now prayer time reminders set up as an “adhan” calling. The most interesting function for me was listening to my favourite music from Spotify (https://www.spotify.com/ae-en/), and Anghami (https://www.anghami.com/). With the ALEXA App, you can have more functions like updating your shopping list, you can create a routine by which you can set up daily functions for Alexa to do it for you like waking up, reading the latest news in your country or specify emirate, weather and lot more, all depending on the consumer choice. You can allow access to the contacts from your phone to the Echo Dot and you can make hands-free calls too.
As the Alexa Echo Dot has the access to the internet, it can help in the translation of language, solving math, and knowing history. You can listen to jokes, play trivia, and audiobooks, access your connected smart car, and much more. Under the Alexa App, skill section, you can add various app which includes exercise option which also includes Yoga, meditation, body stretching and a lot more.
How to use the Echo Dot to control Non-Smart devices at your home?
In recent times with smart products getting accessible from commoners, consumers are looking for options to make their own smart homes. But there are devices already installed at your home like lights, fans or electronic devices which are not smart products but are working fine.
You can also make your non-smart device into a smart device with the help of smart Plug adaptors (https://www.amazon.ae/s?k=Smart+Plug&crid=2M0OCLXBQPU5J&sprefix=smart+plug%2Caps%2C343&ref=nb_sb_noss_1). With this you can control your light and fan and some devices. These smart plugs may not allow the full function of the devices which can be done manually or via the device remote control but you will be able to access them remotely.
With the Echo Dot, you have the option to make your Home to Smart Home, under the Alexa App –device section, you have a lot of different brands and product options to connect with the Alexa App.
Comparison between 4th Gen and 5th Gen
The 5th Gen is a little heavier by 12 grams. While both are fabric-covered spheres with the Alexa light ring around the base of the device. You will find that the new model only has a power connection, while the 4-gen has a 3.5mm audio output as well. The big change is in the audio quality that it will produce. The speaker inside is actually different, with the 5-gen Echo Dot having a slightly larger driver. This is a single-speaker system and it has always sounded good with that 1.6-inch driver. the new, larger, driver will deliver double the bass, so you’ll get a more robust sound from it, but there’s also a big reduction in distortion which can happen at higher volumes. The 5th Gen comes with Alexa, a temp sensor, accelerometer. the 5-gen Echo Dot will also become part of an Eero network (if you have one in your home) extending that network for better connectivity.
Verdict
The Echo Dot (5th Gen) is an excellent product for your home. You can listen to your favorites music, check the weather, update yourself with the latest updated news and add prayer time reminders. You can control your smart home products remotely. The Audio quality is quite good for the size. You can control the volume with audio command. You can switch On/Off the mic on the Echo Dot with the dedicated button. The beautiful coloured ring LED light on the bottom of the Echo Dot reflects on the base and creates a lovely ambience in the low light area. The low power consumption also helps you to reduce your electricity bill as the Echo Dot only consumes electricity when it is active. Also, the product is made from 50% post-consumer recycled plastics, 100% post-consumer recycled fabric and 100% recycled die-cast aluminum.
“Affordable and Recommended for all Tech enthusiasts and music listeners who want hand-free and vocal command access to all intelligent devices. “
Price and Availability
The Echo Dot (5th Gen) the Middle East version is available on Amazon.ae and priced at AED 299. 99. Available in 3 colours- Charcoal Black, Blue and White. There is a special offer from Amazon.ae for AED 129.99 (Please note: the offer may be subject to price change)
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