Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Which Amazon device is right for you?

Amazon has cornered the market on inexpensive and easy-to-use smart devices with its Echo system. Two of its smallest offerings (currently included) are the Echo Dot (now in its 5th generation) and the Echo Pop, released in 2023. Both are priced under $50 and are often on sale for $20 to $30 — especially during Big Day.

And while the two devices are remarkably similar, there are some important differences you should know before buying. Here’s how the Echo Dot (5th gen) and Echo Pop compare, based on my first-hand experience as someone who has used both.

Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Details

Design: We love the color options

The Echo Dot and Echo Pop are almost the same size, but while the Echo Dot is round the Echo Pop has a flat face. It basically looks like the Dot part.

Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) – as you can see, the Echo Dot is decked out in baby spaghetti fingers.
Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot also comes in three nicely muted colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop is available in other, well, poppier colors (lavender and teal over gray and white).

Overall, I like the look of the Echo Pop better. Bright colors can add a nice splash of color to a corner shelf, or the Pop can serve as an Alexa assistant that’s smarter than the Echo Dot (known around the world as a smart home device).

Both have a modern, clean look that can easily match or integrate into any decor style.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and ease of use

Amazon has made setting up these devices very easy. You’ll need the Alexa app on your phone, and it walks you through the setup step by step. The app is also where you’ll connect other apps like Spotify or Audible to stream to your Echo devices using Alexa voice commands.

The devices themselves are also very straightforward. The buttons on them allow you to mute and unmute the microphone and adjust the volume. Everything else is done with voice commands or the Alexa app. I had no problems setting up either device and both were very responsive to my “Hey, Alexa’s”.

Winner: Type

The sound quality is almost the same

Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as “full sound” that’s perfect for bedrooms and small spaces and the Echo Dot’s sound as “big bright sound” for any room.

In my side-by-side comparison of the Echo Dot and Echo Pop, I couldn’t see a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were great for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing fuller, clearer sound and more volume compared to my smartphone.

The Echo Pop has a speaker that grows slowly. However, the round shape of the Dot can help fill the space with sound no matter where it is placed.

Winner: Echo Dot

Alexa integration and smart home connectivity

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop connect to Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can use Alexa to ask questions, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and open connected apps (like music or streaming apps including Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music).

Personally, I’ve always found Alexa devices to work best in the office and kitchen. They offer a hands-free, screen-free way to set timers (for produce or pizza) or stream audio. A centrally located Echo device is also a great way to free up space in your brain. I’ve used Alexa to remind me to water my plants, put birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in the pool periodically when I fill up the season.

However, the Echo Dot beats the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature sensing and motion detection. So your Echo Dot can use Alexa Cycles that include temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples:

Winner: Echo Dot

Additional factors are considered

The Echo Dot and Echo Pop can both act as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, adding up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.

However, the Echo Dot beats out the Echo Pop in terms of additional features. As mentioned above, the Dot comes equipped with movement and heat capabilities.

Also, the Echo Dot with clock ($59.99) comes with all the features of the 5th gen Echo Dot and a simple LED display that can show the time, temperature, and timer. The Echo Dot With Clock worked well for me as my alarm clock, but it wouldn’t have earned that spot on my nightstand without an LED display so I could look at the time.

Winner: Echo Dot