Amazon is expanding its Alexa family of devices again, and instead of releasing an entirely new device, it’s bringing back a familiar face. Echo spotThe small smart display often found on a bedside table or desk is officially back after disappearing in 2019.
The Echo Spot is now being billed as a “customizable smart alarm clock,” and its feature set and design updates that stick to the general semi-circle formula certainly fit that bill. Central to the experience is the front-facing display, and unlike the original, which had a circular screen with thick bezels around it, Amazon opted for a 2.83-inch touchscreen that sits on the top half of the device in a semi-circle of sorts.
Here you can see the time and date at a glance, but Amazon has also developed a variety of clock faces to choose from, as well as special visuals for core functions like alarms, playing music, and displaying the weather. With the latter, the team behind the Echo Spot designed illustrations for many forecasts, such as a shining sun, storm clouds, or even a snowflake.
To better match the visual interface to your space, you can choose from six colors: orange, violet, magenta, lime green, teal, or blue.
Below the display sits a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker hidden behind a mesh grille, and it appears to be the same as the one in the 5th-gen Echo Dot or Echo Dot with Clock . That means the audio should be pretty solid for the bedroom. There are microphones on board so Alexa can hear your requests, and there’s a mic mute button at the top. It’s sandwiched between a volume up and volume down button.
Unlike the Echo Show 5 or Show 8, which some use on a bedside table, the Echo Spot doesn’t have a built-in camera, so any privacy concerns should be alleviated. As for audio recordings, you can still delete those Alexa requests or queries via the Alexa app on Android or iOS. It does have a sensor for detecting motion, so you can tap the top of the Echo Spot to dismiss morning alarms.
Overall, the Echo Spot seems like a versatile device that isn’t meant to handle a long list of tasks, but is designed to function as a smart alarm clock.
Amazon has focused on designing the interface around the most common questions and ships it with several watch faces to choose from. It also looks quite similar to the Echo Pop or Echo Dot, even down to the colors, as the Spot comes in black, glacier white, and ocean blue.
The Echo Spot costs $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$149, but if you’re a Prime member, You can score it for just $44.99 through July 17, 2024Amazon called the discount a celebration of Prime Day. And in addition to the site’s spectacular deals, the launch of a new smart display is a fun way to join in the festivities.