Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Which Amazon Device Is Best for You?

Amazon has cornered the market on affordable, easy-to-use smart home devices with its Echo lineup. Two of its smallest (but still feature-packed) offerings are the Echo Dot (now in its fifth generation) and the Echo Pop, which debuted in 2023. Both are priced under $50 and regularly go on sale for $20 to $30 — especially during Prime Day.

And while both devices are surprisingly similar, there are some key differences you should be aware of before purchasing. Here’s a comparison between the Echo Dot (5th Gen) and the Echo Pop, based on my personal observations as someone who has used both.

Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specs

a chart showing the Echo Dot and Echo Pop specifications

Source: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

Design: We like the color selection

Echo Dot and Echo Pop are almost the same size, but while Echo Dot is round, Echo Pop has a flat surface. It basically looks like a cross-section of Dot.

Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — As you can see, the Echo Dot has been decorated with spaghetti sticks for little kids.
Source: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot also comes in three fairly muted colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop comes in some, well, Pop musicpier colors (lavender and turquoise, as well as gray and white).

Overall, I like the look of the Echo Pop a bit more. The lighter colors can add a lovely splash of color to a corner shelf, and the Pop can serve as a more discreet Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is pretty widely considered a smart home device).

Both models have a modern, elegant look that will easily complement or fit into any decor style.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and ease of use

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

The sound quality is almost identical

Amazon describes the Echo Pop sound as “full sound” that’s well suited for bedrooms and small spaces, and the Echo Dot sound as “larger, vivid sound” in any room.

In my Echo Dot and Echo Pop comparisons, I couldn’t tell a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were excellent for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing a fuller, clearer sound and increased volume compared to my smartphone.

Alexa Integration and Smart Home Connectivity

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

Personally, I have always found Alexa devices most useful in the office and kitchen. These provide the ability to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or stream audio hands-free and screen-free. A centrally placed Echo device is also a great way to free up space in your brain. I used Alexa to remind me to water my plants, send birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in my pool at regular intervals while filling it for the season.

However, the Echo Dot outperforms the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature detection and motion detection. This allows your Echo Dot to perform Alexa routines that require temperature or movement, while Echo Pop cannot. Some examples:

Winner: Echo Dot

Considering additional features

If you already have an Amazon Eero network, Echo Dot and Echo Pop can serve as WiFi extenders, extending your WiFi range by up to 93 square meters.

However, the Echo Dot once again outshines the Echo Pop in terms of additional features. As mentioned above, the Dot comes with motion and temperature detection features.

Additionally, the Echo Dot with Clock ($59.99) has all the features of the fifth-generation Echo Dot, plus a simple LED display that can show the time, temperature, and a countdown timer. The Echo Dot with Clock served me well as an alarm clock for a while, but it wouldn’t deserve its spot on my nightstand without an LED display so I could check the time.

Winner: Echo Dot

Our Winner: Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop

Echo Dot and Echo Pop are much more similar than different. The Echo Pop is about $10 cheaper and slightly nicer (and available in more interesting colors). However, it lacks the motion and temperature sensing features that would allow it to perform some of Alexa’s most useful and practical commands and routines.

If you’re just looking for an easy-to-use speaker for playing music or setting alarms in a room at home, the Echo Pop is a good choice. However, for a more functional smart home assistant, it’s best to pay the extra $10 and buy the Echo Dot.