From the creators of some of the world’s most popular smart speakers comes the Amazon Echo Pop, a new player in the realm of voice-controlled gadgets. Positioned as a smaller, more vibrant sibling to the Echo Dot, this device aims to bring the convenience of a smart speaker into even more homes by offering an affordable and compact alternative.
In this blog post, we will delve into a comprehensive review of the Amazon Echo Pop. From its performance and feature set to its pros and cons, this write-up is intended to help you make an informed decision about whether the Echo Pop could be the latest addition to your smart home ecosystem.
Performance and Features
Sound Quality
Housing a 1.95-inch speaker driver within its tiny frame, the Echo Pop offers a sound quality that is impressively robust for its size. While it may not bring the house down with booming bass, it provides a respectable audio output sufficient for smaller spaces, making it an excellent choice for enjoying music, podcasts, or audiobooks in a cozy room.
Microphone Array
The Echo Pop is equipped with a built-in microphone array, providing hands-free access to Amazon’s intuitive voice assistant, Alexa. This functionality ensures that your digital assistant is always just a voice command away, ready to help you with various tasks.
Echo Pop Capabilities
The capabilities of the Echo Pop essentially mirror those of the Echo Dot, allowing users to:
- Stream music from services like Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora
- Set timers and alarms
- Control smart home devices
- Receive news and weather updates
- Answer queries and provide information
- Play interactive games
Amazon Sidewalk Support
Furthermore, the Echo Pop supports Amazon’s Sidewalk neighborhood network. This innovative feature enables devices to connect with each other even when Wi-Fi is not available, a boon for users residing in areas with weak Wi-Fi reception.
Pros and Cons of Amazon Echo Pop
The Amazon Echo Pop, like any device, comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Pros:
- Compact and cost-effective
- Adequate sound quality for its size
- Extended battery life
- Support for Amazon Sidewalk
- Seamless integration with Alexa
Cons:
- Not as loud as other smart speakers
- Absence of a 3.5mm audio jack
- Lacks Zigbee or Thread support
Design and Specifications
The Echo Pop sports a sleek and petite design, measuring 3.3 inches in height, width, and 1.9 inches in depth. Despite its small size, it weighs a sturdy 10.6 ounces.
The device hosts a 1.95-inch speaker driver and boasts a battery life that can extend up to 10 hours of continuous playback. It supports a range of audio codecs, including AAC and SBC, and can stream music from various services like Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, and more.
The Echo Pop comes in four vibrant colors — black, blue, purple, and white — and is priced at a pocket-friendly $39.99.
Final Verdict
When considering the Echo Pop, remember that it is designed as a basic, easy-to-use smart speaker primarily for smaller rooms or areas. It won’t offer the sound quality of larger, more expensive speakers, but its audio performance is more than satisfactory for its size and price point. Plus, the impressive battery life and wide array of features, including Amazon Sidewalk and Alexa compatibility, make it a worthy contender in the budget smart speaker market.
