Since Amazon debuted these two smart speakers, the Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen vs. Echo 4th Gen has been a source of contention. Amazon’s fourth-generation Echo smart speakers appear completely different from their predecessors, but they still use the same Alexa speech assistant.
Despite their visual similarities, the Echo and Echo Dot are very different. The Echo Dot is around 50% smaller than the normal Echo, which allows it to accommodate more speaker components and provide better louder sound. Below is an in-depth analysis of the differences between the two Amazon speakers.
Comparison between Echo 4th Gen and the Echo Dot 4th-gen
While both the Amazon Echo & the Amazon Echo Dot include omnidirectional mics that can hear you from across the room, these two speakers are distinct in a number of other ways that are worth noting. One could be more appropriate for you compared to the other, based on your price range or musical preferences.
Design & Size
It’s a first for the Echo lineup: the small and large sizes look exactly the same. The Amazon Echo’s spherical form factor is sleek and appropriate for a smart speaker; its rounded corners and fabric exterior make it easy to conceal in any room.
The bigger version of the Echo measures in at 5.7 inches across and 5.2 inches in height, and it weighs in at a respectable 34.2 ounces. It comes in black, white, and blue, with a special Red version joining the lineup for a short period.
The Echo Dot, on the other hand, is only 3.5 inches in height and 3.9 inches in width. It comes in black, white, and blue in addition to its standard 12 oz weight, however red is presently out of stock. The two are similar in that they each include a 3.5mm audio socket on the rear for linking to another speaker and that they each need their own power source (a wall outlet) rather than being USB-rechargeable.
The Alexa light circle at the bottom of both devices reveals when Alexa is engaged and when it is silenced. Both speakers have a mute switch for the microphone, as well as volume settings and a button to activate Alexa without having to utter her name.
The smaller Echo doesn’t have a hole in the bottom for a speaker stand, while the bigger Echo does. This is because two Echoes may be utilized instead of the TV’s speakers when paired with an Amazon Fire TV streaming device. The Echo Dot is lacking in this regard and so cannot replace the missing screw hole.
Sound Quality
Despite the fact that both contain a speaker, the Echo’s 360º speaker is bigger and of superior quality. The fourth-generation Echo outperforms its predecessors in terms of audio quality thanks to its two 0.8-inch tweeters, 3-inch neodymium woofer, & higher volume.
Dolby processing is built into the more recent Echo speakers, resulting in clear voices and a punchy bass response. What makes this device stand out is that it takes a cue from the Echo Studio by intelligently adjusting its sound based on the acoustics of its immediate vicinity.
The fourth-generation Echo Dot sounds much louder and has better sound quality than its predecessors thanks to an upgraded speaker and bigger driver. But the Echo’s functionality is still superior in every way.
Both include 3.5mm output jacks, allowing you to plug in an audio wire and use an additional speaker to improve the sound. However, only the Echo has a 3.5mm input port. The Echo, in comparison to the Dot, provides superior audio quality.
Features
In typical Echo fashion, Alexa, Amazon’s speech assistant, is the star attraction. And the AZ1 Neural Edge processor is largely responsible for the advancements over the Echo’s previous version.
Amazon’s new chip is “a completely reimagined silicon module optimized to speed up machine learning applications,” as the company puts it. So, to put it plainly, what does it entail? Alexa, on the other hand, has much more abilities.
Since the CPU allows Alexa to carry out orders locally, you’ll get quicker replies to your queries and requests. Even if you request Alexa to do something that would normally take many seconds, she’ll do it in milliseconds.
Amazon’s new CPU not only speeds up Alexa, but also adds a slew of new functions including Natural Turn Taking, Kids Mode, Care Hub, Guard Plus, and much more. Alexa may also learn the user’s habits and develop a deeper level of understanding, allowing it to do more complex jobs.
The Echo has several smart home features as well. It can now serve as a link for the Sidewalk network, eliminating the need to buy and install a separate bridge for usage with a variety of linked devices like Ring lighting products.
Additionally, the Echo 4 may act as a Zigbee bridge. Intelligent light bulbs, door locks, linked outlets, motion and touch sensors, and many more goods may all be simply connected if you utilize it as a Zigbee smart home hub.
Also, the included temperature sensor can help you establish a regular pattern for your heating and cooling systems at home or in the workplace. The Echo Dot with a Clock was the first device to introduce the tap-to-snooze functionality. The most notable upgrades to the fourth-generation Echo Dot are a front-firing loudspeaker and a touch-to-snooze function.
Setting an alarm on your Echo Dot and placing it next to your bed allows you to snooze it by simply tapping the space between the mechanical buttons on top of the device. It means you won’t have to yell “Alexa, be silent” at seven in the morning.
Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, is included, of course, with the latest iteration of Echo Dot. Talking to it will let you do things like operate your smart home devices, stream music, make purchases, create reminders & alarms, and get information like the weather and the news.
You can also set up Alexa Guard to send you notifications whenever there are unusual noises at home while you’re away. You can rely on Amazon’s speech assistant, Alexa, to give you early warning of any emergency, from a smoke alarm going off to a broken window. Purchasing many Echo Dots and strategically positioning them in separate rooms might potentially serve as the basis for an in-house intercom system.
However, there are several capabilities that you’d receive with the fourth-generation Echo that aren’t included with the Echo Dot. Neither the Amazon A1 neural processor nor Zigbee smart home hub functionality is supported by the speaker.
Cost
One of the most important factors to think about when picking which Amazon Alexa gadget to buy is the price. If money is scarce but you still want to access Alexa’s smart home features, remember that the Dot costs around half as much as the Echo.
The current generation 4 Dot retails for $50 (sometimes discounted to $30). The Kids Edition is priced $60 (down to $35 with offers), while the Echo Dot (4th gen) with Clock costs $60 (flat to $35 with offers). The regular price of the fourth-generation Amazon Echo is $100, but it can be found on sale for as little as $60.
5 Cool Things to Do With Alexa Echo Dot 4
FAQs
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Conclusion
If you’ve been debating between the Echo Dot 4th Gen vs Echo 4th Gen as a modern intelligent speaker for your house, you’ve found the correct site. While both devices provide access to Alexa in much the same way, music lovers should choose the Amazon Echo. It provides better coverage for bigger spaces and has better sound quality overall. Two of these can be used together to create a stereo effect.