Amazon Echo Dot Fifth-gen vs Echo Dot 4th-gen

Latest launch, filled with options

Amazon Echo Dot (Fifth Gen)

The sound high quality is best than it ever has been, with the identical capabilities as its larger, dearer siblings. It is the one to decide on.
Execs

Improved sound

Temperature sensor

All of the enjoyable of Alexa
Not as feature-rich, however nonetheless high quality

Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen)

The older speaker provides a lot the identical expertise and Alexa is simply as succesful — however there are fewer options, and it does not sound nearly as good.
Execs

All the talents of Alexa

3.5mm connection

Might need extra reductions

From Echo Pop to the wall-mountable Echo Show 15, the Echos are available all styles and sizes. Nevertheless, one of the vital popular smart home hub units is the Echo Dot. It hits the right candy spot between value and efficiency, so you’ll be able to put Alexa in nearly each room if you want. The Echo Dot has seen fairly a number of modifications because it was first launched in 2016 — what began life as a brief puck, as if the highest had been sliced off the unique Echo, has skilled fairly a number of glow ups.

By the third-generation, it gained a cloth exterior that made it look a lot smarter than the earlier two variations. The largest change got here in 2020, with the introduction of the 4th-gen Echo Dot. This modified the form from a cylindrical puck to an nearly spherical design with a flat base. After which in 2022, the Fifth-gen Echo Dot was launched, the latest model of the machine.

How does the newer Fifth-gen Echo Dot evaluate to the 4th-gen model? When you already personal a 4th-gen Echo Dot, is it definitely worth the improve? We went head-to-head with the 4th-gen Echo Dot vs Fifth-gen Echo Dot to see what the variations are.

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Value, availability, and specs

The Echo Dot (4th-gen) launched in 2020 at a value of $50, earlier than being up to date by the Echo Dot (5th-gen) at the same price of $50.

Amazon units fluctuate in value rather a lot, nevertheless, via varied gross sales like Prime Day and Black Friday, so the Echo Dot Fifth-gen is usually out there for much less. It is also one in every of Amazon’s hottest units and is broadly out there via retailers.

You may discover that the Echo Dot 4th-gen is now tougher to seek out and much more costly via Amazon, as a result of it is the older machine. Though on some third-party websites, like eBay, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover a whole lot. The 4th-gen is probably going not going to be a brand new buy for many readers, but when you have already got this speaker, we intention to reply whether or not it is best to improve to the Fifth-gen, or if you happen to can stick together with your present speaker for a number of extra years.

Check out the specs to see what the important thing variations are.

	Amazon Echo Dot (Fifth Gen)	Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen)
Dimensions	100 x 100 x 89 mm	100 x 100 x 89mm, 328g
Woofer Dimension	1.73in	1.6in
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm, Matter
SMART ASSISTANTS		Alexa
OTHERS	Temperature sensor, Accelerometer	None

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Design and construct

Aesthetics after which some

The design of those audio system is just about the identical, with similar dimensions, however you may discover that the Echo Dot 5th-gen is heavier, most definitely as a result of it is obtained extra tech inside. That weight does not make any actual distinction, because the machine will simply be sitting on a shelf in your house.

Whereas each are fabric-covered spheres with the Alexa mild ring across the base of the machine and 4 buttons for management on the highest, there is a distinction across the again of the machine. Sure, regardless of the spherical form, there’s a front and back to those audio system, with the plastic of the bottom elevating up the again half. Right here you may discover that the brand new mannequin solely has an influence connection, whereas the 4th-gen has a 3.5mm audio output as properly, permitting you to connect it to audio system or headphones with a wired connection.

Each audio system can be found in Charcoal and Glacier White colours, however the Echo Dot Fifth-gen provides a brand new Deep Sea Blue possibility. Each are additionally available as the Echo Dot with Clock too, with the newer machine providing a extra detailed show. Visually, there’s not a number of distinction.

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Sound high quality

Notable enchancment

The large change is within the audio high quality that every Echo Dot can produce. The speaker inside has been upgraded, with the Fifth-gen Echo Dot having a barely bigger driver. It is a single-speaker system, and the 1.6-inch driver within the 4th-gen Echo Dot has at all times sounded good for its measurement. Nevertheless, the Fifth-gen Echo Dot has a 1.73-inch driver and, as we present in our evaluation of the most recent Echo Dot, the brand new speaker ends in richer audio, for a greater expertise total.

An Echo Dot sits next to a house plant and Funko pop.

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Options and {hardware}

Sensors and app-support

Each of those units are constructed round Alexa, Amazon’s sensible assistant. That service is common, so you’ll entry the identical options and data or work together together with your sensible dwelling in the identical methods. In each circumstances, your settings are managed by the Alexa app in your telephone.

One huge distinction is that the Fifth-gen Echo Dot has further sensors. This features a temperature sensor, which can be capable of offer you a temperature studying for the room the Echo Dot is in, which mirrors the characteristic on among the bigger Echo units. That temperature sensor can be leveraged by Alexa Routines. For instance, you’ll be able to create a routine to activate the fan if the room will get to a sure temperature, or a routine to activate the heating if it will get too chilly.

The opposite addition is the accelerometer. This permits faucet interactions along with the buttons on the highest of the machine. You possibly can faucet to snooze an alarm or faucet to pause music, for instance. These faucet gestures will not be price with the 4th-gen Echo Dot.

Each units can be utilized as a part of a stereo pair, could be added to teams, and may make the most of most of the different in style options of Alexa, reminiscent of Alexa Calling. Each the 4th-gen and Fifth-gen Echo Dot may also develop into a part of an Eero network, extending the mesh community for higher connectivity when you’ve got different Eero units. Each the 4th-gen and Fifth-gen Echo Dot are Matter appropriate, too, though they do not supply Zigbee help, which could be discovered within the 4th-gen Echo, Echo Plus, Echo Present 10, Echo Studio, and Echo Hub.

4th-gen Echo Dot vs Fifth-gen Echo Dot: Well worth the improve?

Catch it if you happen to can

Amazon Echo Dot 5th gen vs Echo Dot 4th gen side by side.

The variations between these two audio system are minor, however the Fifth-gen Echo Dot opens up a variety of prospects via the addition of latest sensors that the 4th-gen Echo Dot cannot match. The newer Echo Dot additionally sounds higher and has extra tech inside. When you’re shopping for new, you may discover that the older Echo Dot is tougher to trace down, so it is a straightforward advice for the Echo Dot Fifth-gen.

The Amazon Echo Dot 5th gen smart speaker against a white background.

Editor’s Selection

Amazon Echo Dot (Fifth-gen)

When you already personal a 4th-gen Echo Dot, nevertheless, there is no big purpose to improve. The temperature sensor and accelerometer are good to have, however most individuals purchase the Echo Dot to make use of as a sensible speaker, and apart from a slight elevate in sound, the expertise right here goes to be very related. It’s possible you’ll be higher off holding fireplace till the Sixth-gen is launched. The longest hole between generations has been three years up to now, so with the Fifth-Gen Echo Dot being launched in 2022, the following era is probably not that far-off.