Amazon is adding to its hit Echo series with the newly launched Amazon Echo Spot Smart Speaker. Best at offering smart speakers, the latest edition is keeping up with the legacy by winning the hearts, ears and eyes of Echo enthusiasts.
It was in 2023 that Amazon announced a vast array of Alexa-enabled speakers. Among them, the Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Plus made a mark with their phenomenal features. Similar to the previous launches, the Echo Spot is easy too. Although it looks effortless, it is not bland. Instead, a perfect blend of a smart speaker and a smart display. The visually appealing features and its multiple functionalities make it much more than just a speaker.
Amazon Echo Spot: Smart Features
Let’s begin with what we see. The Echo Spot is cute and compact. You can keep it on your office desk or your windowsill. It weighs just 419 grams and is lightweight. That means you can carry it wherever you go. It has a spherical body. It is made up of matte-finished hard plastic. The Spot comes in three graceful colours: Black, Ocean Blue and Glacier White. These colours fit in anywhere and magnify the style of your spaces. You can also use it as an alarm clock. It can fit on your nightstand.
What makes it stand out from its siblings is that it comes with a touchscreen display. You read it right! No other speakers of Amazon are lucky enough to have this. The display is bright and vivid. It is wonderfully subsumed in a standard alarm clock design. It faces slightly upward as if it’s looking at you. This helps you read or watch in any position you are in. It is 2.5 inches and circular. As the screen is small, it is great for calls and viewing videos but not that great for reading. The font is big and unadjustable too.
The camera is fitted above the screen. So, you need not require much prep to set it up before a video call with your boss (but only if your boss is using Echo Spot too!). The speaker is packed to the rim with astounding features. It has a flat, rubberized bottom too. This helps the speaker avoid sliding and stay grounded while playing bass-heavy music at high volumes. The speaker grill at the bottom also prevents friction and gives you the best acoustic transmission.
Amazon Echo Spot: The Performer
The Echo Spot Smart Speaker has simple and minimal controls. When you observe the speaker, you will see that it has a 4-microphone array and two volume control buttons at the top. On the top, you will also see one button to toggle the microphones and the camera. Below you have a power port to power the speaker.
The 3.5mm audio output is for connecting headphones or any external speakers. The brand-new speaker supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11n. This implies that you can connect the speaker to other Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as phones, laptops, tablets and TVs. It also supports all Alexa features. Amazon has claimed that the Spot uses far-field voice recognition technology. This feature enables the speaker to hear you from a distance.
How to use the Echo Spot?
You don’t have to use your smartphone to set up the Spot. Instead, you can use the screen. You can enter the credentials using the Spot’s touchscreen keyboard. To start, you need to use a wake word such as “Alexa”, “Echo”, or “Amazon”. You can install Alexa on both Android and iPhone. Once set up, the Spot is capable of responding. You can pester the device with any queries you have. The Spot also excellently plays voices and midrange instruments. The performance varies with the stability of the internet connection. The speaker works well in a quiet environment. You can also rely on the Echo Spot for other activities like shopping online or booking a cab.
Considering its no non-camera option, big fonts and a bit off-track speaker for bass, it may seem costly. But getting a decent speaker at $129.99 is a big deal, particularly after learning that it is better than Echo Dot or Echo Show 5. So why wait when you can experience the Echo Spot in your room? Enjoy talking and listening with the Amazon Echo Spot Smart Speaker.
