The all new Amazon echo dot is an excellent device to have around since it helps the owners with command by using Alexa for control of the smart devices in your home. I hope that you find our Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen Review helpful.
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Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen Review
Excellent value for Money
The Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen is a great device especially for the ones who wants to have Alexa in their home but does not want to spend much on it. It is one of the cheapest 4th generation devices that Amazon has released and is best for those people who are just starting out with smart home products and command by voice features.
With this new Echo dot, Alexa can still perform all of her usual functions as well. It works with the other skills that are present in the existing Echo devices and also has a good speaker for music streaming that pairs really nicely with an Alexa device.
Amazon chose to have two different variations for this 4th generation model so it can fit into your home no matter how big or small it is. The Amazon echo dot 4th gen which is the smaller one and Alexa Dot for a better audio experience of music streaming but with a bigger design that can be placed no matter where you like in your home.
The Design
One of the first things that we noticed about the new Echo Dot was its style. Amazon took the original shape of its 1st generation Echo Dot and improved on it. It now has rounded edges around the top, giving it a softer look instead of being pointy.
Adding volume buttons on the side of the device make them easier to reach. It is available in black or white colors but if you want to add a little more style to it, you can purchase a fabric case for it.
There is also one less button on the top of this device and that is the microphone off/on switch which was included in the previous Echo Dot 3rd generation. It is now replaced by a filter system using software instead so you do not have to worry about wiping your device down every now and then to prevent it from picking up unwanted noises.
The Echo Dot is still a small device with a volume of 3.0 x 3.9 x 2.6 inches for the smaller version while the larger one has dimensions at 4.1 x 3.3 x 3 inches and weight of 11 ounces for both. The Amazon Tap is the biggest variant that are available in Amazon’s family of Alexa devices, weighing at 1.5 pounds and a dimension of 6 x 2.9 x 2.9 inches while being cheaper than the Echo Dot 4th generation devices
This new version have rounded edges compared to its predecessor for a softer touch when you hold it. It now comes in two colors which are black or white, the latter being new for Amazon Echo devices and can be purchased at an additional cost if you want to add a bit of color to your smart speaker.
Microphone and Sound controls
The microphone array is still located on top of the device with far-field voice recognition that makes sure that it picks up only the voice commands of its owner. We have no problems with this in our tests as we are able to be at least six feet away from it and give commands.
There is also a button on the top that is used for muting Alexa if you don’t want her listening to your every command. You can press it for three seconds to fully mute it or for a shorter time if you want her to hear you again. This is when the light ring on top turns off, signifying that she cannot hear your commands anymore and will not respond until the button is released and pressed again. If you do not press anything, it will turn back on in six seconds after the button pushed.
Looking at the bottom of this device, we can see a 3.5 mm audio jack on it which is used for pairing it with other speakers and to add more music streaming options to your Alexa experience. It also has a micro-USB port that you use for charging it when its battery has run out so you do not have to worry about keeping a charger nearby when you are going to use it.
The power button, the mute switch and the volume buttons are still present on this side but more details are seen on this Echo Dot 4th generation due to its larger size. It has an AUX port with Bluetooth capability so you can stream your music from any compatible device. It also has a reset hole which you can use to restore it to factory settings if you find yourself in trouble while using it, especially when Alexa stops responding or you are unable to install the update for the software of this device.
The 4th generation Echo Dot is more rounded compared to its predecessor with an 11% increase in volume, giving it a softer look compared to the previous one. The rubber feet on its base are also quite larger than before, making it easier for this device to stand straight even when you place it on various surfaces like your table or countertops.
The speakers of the Echo Dot 4th generation are located at the bottom area and flank its sides just below the volume buttons, giving you a 360-degree coverage. It now has an improved audio and bass performance compared to its predecessor while still retaining the dual driver design on each side of it.
Power and Storage
The Echo Dot 4th generation is powered by a 1.6 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage that can be used for storing your Alexa-enabled skills. It has a battery life of around 9 hours while the Amazon Tap can last for 15 hours due to its larger capacity.
WIFI Connectivity
It also supports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity and will connect to your existing network within seconds after turning it on, if you have one available. It is compatible with Amazon’s Echo devices, the Amazon Tap Bluetooth speaker and other low-power Bluetooth speakers that you have on your home or office to create a multi-room sound system.
Software and Functionality
The software of this device has also been improved compared to its predecessor, making everything run faster and smoother. Tasks are done more quickly and will even get better as it learns how you use it with its machine learning algorithms.
What is seen on the previous Echo Dot remains for this newer version, like its Zigbee-powered smart home controls that allow you to connect compatible devices in your home to Alexa such as lights, switches, thermostats, etc. It has the seven far-field microphones of its predecessor that can hear you even if you are in another room.
You will also have the same Alexa Voice Service functionality and Skills Store that allows you to customize your Echo Dot with thousands of skills, music services such as Spotify and Pandora, connected home devices from Philips Hue and more. You can also use it for booking a ride with Uber or Lyft, listening to podcasts on TuneIn, controlling your smart home devices like Hue lights, and more.
It has the same hands-free control using the wake word and will also be able to control some of your TV functions which you can install through Echo Connect in case your TV supports that. You can use it for streaming with TV shows and movies, playing music in your Fire Tablets or Fire TVs, transferring music to your phone using Alexa voice commands and more.
The software updates of this device as well as the Amazon Alexa app are compatible with Android 4.3 and higher, Kindle Fire HDX 8.9”, 7”, iPad 3, iPhone 5s and newer models. The Amazon Alexa app is also available for Android phones that have 4.2 or higher, iPhones that have iOS 7.0 or higher, Fire tablets such as the 8” HDX and more.
Highlighted Features of the Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen
Here are some of the features that you will get out of this Echo Dot 4th generation.
Voice Control
You can control it with your voice and ask Alexa to play music, read recipes, tell you the news or give you a joke even when your hands are occupied doing other things such as cooking or cleaning up the table. You just need to say “Alexa” and wait until it responds back to give you more commands.
You can control it with your voice and ask Alexa to play music, read recipes, tell you the news or give you a joke even when your hands are occupied doing other things such as cooking or cleaning up the table. You just need to say “Alexa” and wait until it responds back to give you more commands.
Far-field Voice Technology
This device has a built-in microphone that can give you the best sound quality possible, even if you are far from it. You will never have a problem with Alexa hearing you.
This device has a built-in microphone that can give you the best sound quality possible, even if you are far from it. You will never have a problem with Alexa hearing you.
New and Improved Software
This device is equipped with a new and improved software which makes everything faster and more responsive to your commands. Tasks are done in seconds and the service becomes smarter over time due to machine learning algorithms that learn what you like better over time.
This device is equipped with a new and improved software which makes everything faster and more responsive to your commands. Tasks are done in seconds and the service becomes smarter over time due to machine learning algorithms that learn what you like better over time.
Multiple Connectivity Options
You can use this Dot 4th generation with your mobile devices via Bluetooth or a 3.5 mm audio cable, or use it with your home network and several other devices by connecting to the same Wifi network. It does not come included in the box but you can buy it separately for about $15.
You can use this Dot 4th generation with your mobile devices via Bluetooth or a 3.5 mm audio cable, or use it with your home network and several other devices by connecting to the same Wifi network. It does not come included in the box but you can buy it separately for about $15.
Volume Controls
You will have volume controls at hand using either your voice commands or the buttons on top of this device.
You will have volume controls at hand using either your voice commands or the buttons on top of this device.
Multiple Color Options:
This Echo Dot 4th generation comes in two different colours, black and white which you can choose based on your personal preference. This Echo Dot 4th generation comes in two different colours, black and white which you can choose based on your personal preference.
Queries Handling: You will be able to ask Alexa various questions such as for the weather in your city, to play specific songs, sports scores or much more. With this device you can do almost anything with a simple voice command.
You will be able to ask Alexa various questions such as for the weather in your city, to play specific songs, sports scores or much more. With this device you can do almost anything with a simple voice command.
Music Streaming Service
You can stream music and other audio content to it directly from the likes of Apple Music, Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, TuneIn and many more.
Connectivity
You can connect your Echo Dot 4th Generation to any Wi-Fi connection within reach and use it as you see fit.
Limitations of the Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen
The biggest con is that this device does not come with its own speaker or sound system that you can connect it to.
You will have to buy that separately in case you want a better sound quality or simply connect it to your other speaker systems that already exist in your home, which if not many of them should be cheaper than buying one from scratch.
Also, the Echo Dot 4th Generation does not come with an AUX input, only a 3.5 mm audio output, which means that you will not be able to connect it directly to your speaker systems without the use of an additional adapter.
Maybe Amazon should add this as an option in the future so customers can choose whether they want to use Bluetooth or AUX inputs instead of having no other choice.
Bottom Line: The Amazon Echo Dot 4th
generation is one of Amazon’s best products and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a smart speaker for their home which will provide you with all the necessary information you need on a daily basis!
If you enjoyed this Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen Review you might also like to read about some of the other speakers with Alexa and Amazon Fire Stick 4k Review
