Key Takeaways
- Amazon’s 2024 Echo Spot returns with a revamped, upscale design.
- Audio quality is exceptional at lower levels, but distortion is present at higher volumes.
- The Spot is perfect for those looking for a smart speaker that will stay out of their way.
At first blush, the 2024 Amazon Echo Spot looks like a device hindered by its simplistic feature set. Compared to the competition, it’s fairly spartan in both design and capability. But, after spending the last few weeks with the newest Spot, I’m starting to think its simplicity might not be a bad thing.
Amazon Echo Spot (2024)
The 2024 Amazon Echo Spot is a more mature and refined smart speaker than its 2017 predecessor. Offering a 2.83-inch, 320 x 240 resolution screen, a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker, and Amazon’s signature Alexa smart assistant, the Echo Spot is a device made for small spaces. Some might find it’s limited features and less-than-stellar sound quality off-putting, however. Those seeking a booming party speaker or bedside video calling capability will likely benefit from looking into other options.
- Classier than the Echo Dot.
- Unassuming design that will fit any decor.
- Great for light listening in small spaces
- Matter support
- Missing a few smart home features.
- Audio distorts at higher volumes.
- Touchscreen responsiveness is lacking
Price and Availability
The 2024 Amazon Echo Spot can be purchased for $80 from Amazon. However, waiting for sales is advisable, as the device can often be found for up to 50% off with the right timing. Other outlets, such as Best Buy, also have stock readily available.
A Spot of Design Maturity
When the first Echo Spot was released in 2017, it sparked media controversy over Amazon’s choice to include a camera in a device that would likely wind up in a bedroom. It just seemed creepy. So, after giving media folks—and some consumers—the collective ick, Amazon nixed the Spot. Seven years later, the device is making a comeback. Only now, the creepy camera is gone, and Amazon looks to be positioning the Spot as its futuristic alarm clock.
You’ll notice an obvious lack of extras upon opening the Echo Spot’s box. There’s the device, an instruction manual, and a 15W proprietary power adapter. When you plug in the Spot, you’re greeted with a QR code that transports you to the Amazon Alexa app for setup. There are no strange swipes to memorize or weird menus to navigate. Simply put, it’s easy to set up, which is beautiful.
Arguably, this new Echo Spot looks made for a nightstand. Its footprint is minuscule, and the egg-shaped design is more polished than the 2017 iteration. It also doesn’t have the gauche “look-at-me-I’m-a-smart-device” vibe of something like the 8th Generation Echo Show. The screen on the 2024 Spot model is a scant 2.83 inches, and it sits atop a 1.73-inch directional speaker.
On the topside, you’ll find two volume adjustment buttons, a microphone mute button, and three pinholes for the microphone array. On the bottom of the device, there’s a thin ring of rubber with eight tiny “feet” that keep the Spot stable on surfaces.
I’d hesitate to call the Spot minimalist. But if any of Amazon’s Echo devices could be labeled as such, this would be it. The Spot also outclasses its more popular sibling, the Echo Dot, boasting much cleaner lines and angles than its spherical counterpart. These design choices make the Spot feel more grown-up.
Sizing Up the Screen Performance
The LCD screen covers a little over half of the front face of the new Echo Spot. However, considering the overall size of the device, it seems much larger. The screen is also gloss black, which adds some polish but tends to attract fingerprints. Under the screen is an ambient light sensor, which lets the display adjust brightness automatically. You can enable or disable this feature in the Spot’s settings.
One weakness I could find with the Spot screen was its responsiveness. I experienced frequent lags and a number of missed touch inputs. These didn’t happen every time, but they happened enough to make me forego using the screen in favor of just using the Alexa app to adjust any settings.
As a bedside clock, however, I feel the screen is the perfect size for checking the time from across the room. I had no trouble seeing it even in bright light, and the overall screen brightness didn’t keep me awake, either. I also found it easy to decipher the weather and smart home controls from a distance. On the other hand, viewing album art while playing music felt a little cramped.
Sound Is Great for Small Spaces
The new Spot’s sound quality is just about perfect for light listening and smaller spaces. I could even see this device being used to replace a bedside sound machine for those needing a bit of extra ambiance to get their beauty rest. But the Spot is not a party speaker.
At middle volumes, music was vibrant and enjoyable, with tracks like Chelsea Wolfe’s Mother Road and Paris Paloma’s labour. For N95 by Kendrick Lamar or Regulate by Warren G. and Nate Dogg, however, the bass response flattened at higher volumes. When I got past about 70% of max, the speaker driver started to distort with any track. And at max volume, treble took over and every song became a shrill mess of competing sounds.
According to my sound level meter, peak volume levels hit 94.4dB when four inches from the unit. At six feet from the unit, I was still seeing levels above 70 dB, which means the Spot can get quite loud. But for the best sound, you’ll certainly want to back off the throttle a bit.
Spot’s Software Is Simply Perfect
Again, Amazon has kept the Echo Spot’s onboard software simple. Tapping the screen brings up a four-icon menu that allows you to control smart home features, adjust settings, switch the Spot to Night Mode, and change brightness. Digging deeper into the settings lets you choose up to six clock faces and six color themes. I found the large weather and clock combo theme the best for my use, but you’ll want to check them out to see which suits you.
Finally, there are a few additional options to explore, including adaptive brightness, a 24-hour clock, Bluetooth device connections, and audio alert customization. The Amazon Alexa app offers a few extra customization features as well, such as basic 3-channel EQ adjustment, different wake words, ultrasonic motion detection, and adaptive listening modes.
However, there are a couple of limitations to the smart home. The first is the lack of an internal sensor to monitor room temperature. The second is a lack of support for eero mesh Wi-Fi systems. So, if you’re using your Echo to help automatically adjust your Amazon smart thermostat, or you’re all-in on the eero mesh Wi-Fi system, then you’ll want to search for other options. The Echo Dot immediately comes to mind, as it offers both features and allows you to stay within the Amazon ecosystem. It’s also almost half the cost of the Spot.
Should You Buy the Amazon Echo Spot (2024)?
After spending a few weeks with the new Amazon Echo Spot (2024), I have to admit I’ve become rather fond of its simplicity. At first, I was skeptical of its limitations. It’s not the absolute best-sounding smart speaker or the most feature-packed, and that’s okay.
It’s still a great device for someone who cherishes when their devices stay out of the way. In fact, I took solace in the way the Spot blended into the background of my bedroom rather than clamoring for my attention. I also loved that it wasn’t feeding me on-screen ads, suggesting news stories, or asking me to open forgotten Alexa Skills like the Echo Show in my kitchen.
Overall, I think the unassuming nature of the Spot is probably one of its biggest strengths. Especially if your life is a constant barrage of device notifications. Using it offered me only the information and entertainment I asked for. No more, no less. If that sounds like digital bliss, then the Spot is likely right up your alley.
Amazon Echo Spot (2024)
The 2024 Amazon Echo Spot is a more mature and refined smart speaker than its 2017 predecessor. Offering a 2.83-inch, 320 x 240 resolution screen, a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker, and Amazon’s signature Alexa smart assistant, the Echo Spot is a device made for small spaces. Some might find it’s limited features and less-than-stellar sound quality off-putting, however. Those seeking a booming party speaker or bedside video calling capability will likely benefit from looking into other options.
