Amazon Echo Pop Review: What Is New Smart Speaker Offering?
Amazon, the tech giant known for its innovative smart home devices, has once again captured the attention of consumers with the release of its latest product, the Echo Pop. This new smart speaker is a welcome addition to the highly acclaimed Echo lineup, offering a range of exciting features at a more affordable price point.
The Echo speaker series, renowned for its cutting-edge technology and smart home integration, has gained immense popularity among consumers worldwide. Starting at an affordable price point of $39.99, the Echo lineup offers a range of options to suit various budgets and preferences.
Design and Appearance
One of the standout features of the Echo Pop is its vibrant and eye-catching colors. Amazon has introduced a selection of fresh and lively shades, allowing users to choose a speaker that matches their personal style and complements their home decor.
The Echo Pop stands out from other devices in the Echo lineup with its unique design. Unlike its counterparts, the Echo Pop features a semi-sphere design, which not only adds a touch of visual appeal but also serves a purpose in sound projection. The speaker within the Echo Pop fires sound in one direction, optimizing the audio experience for the listener.
The rear panel of the Echo Pop houses the volume up and volume down buttons, as well as the mute button. This layout ensures convenient access to essential controls, allowing users to adjust the volume or mute the device effortlessly.
In terms of size, the Echo Pop is smaller and more compact compared to some of its counterparts. Weighing just 196 g, the Echo Pop measures 3.3 x 3.3 x 3.6 inches, making it noticeably smaller than the Echo Dot (5th Gen) which measures 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches and weighs 304 g. Additionally, it is significantly more compact than the Echo Studio, which measures 6.8 x 6.8 x 8.1 inches and weighs 3.5 kg.
Despite its smaller form factor, the Echo Pop is slightly larger than the popular Echo Dot (3rd Gen) which weighs 300 g and occupies dimensions of 3.9 x 3.9 x 1.7 inches on a desk. This compact size makes the Echo Pop highly portable and easy to move around, allowing users to enjoy its features and functionality in various locations within their home or even on the go.
Sound Quality
In terms of sound quality, the Echo Pop has been designed to provide an even better audio experience compared to its predecessors. With enhanced audio components and advanced technology, users can expect crystal-clear sound and rich bass, immersing them in a world of immersive music and dynamic audio content. Whether it’s enjoying their favorite tunes or engaging in hands-free voice communication, users will be delighted by the improved sound performance of the Echo Pop.
The Echo Pop distinguishes itself from the popular Echo Dot (5th Gen) by offering a larger front-firing speaker, measuring 1.95 inches. This enhanced speaker size allows the Echo Pop to deliver a fuller and more immersive sound experience, making it an enticing option for consumers who prioritize audio quality.
According to the official press release, the Echo Pop’s speaker is specifically designed to provide exceptional sound in smaller spaces such as bedrooms, dorm rooms, apartments, or any compact area within a home. This focus on optimizing sound for limited spaces ensures that users can enjoy a rich audio experience without the need for larger, more powerful speakers.
The Echo Pop’s speaker is also equipped to support Lossless High Definition sound. This means that users can expect high-fidelity audio reproduction with minimal loss of quality, resulting in a more accurate and detailed representation of their favorite music, podcasts, or audio content.
Furthermore, the Echo Pop features the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP), a Bluetooth profile that enables seamless music streaming to and from the device. This functionality allows users to wirelessly connect their smartphones, tablets, or other Bluetooth-enabled devices to the Echo Pop, effortlessly streaming music or other audio content directly to the speaker.
Functions
Similar to other Echo devices, the Echo Pop is equipped with Alexa, Amazon’s virtual assistant, built-in. This integration allows users to enjoy a wide range of capabilities and perform various tasks with voice commands. With Alexa, users can easily play music tracks, whether from their favorite streaming services or locally stored libraries. The smart speaker can also provide real-time news updates, set timers and reminders, handle hands-free calls, and even control other smart home devices.
To control other smart home devices, such as light bulbs, plugs, locks, and more, users simply need to connect them through the Alexa app. This seamless integration enables users to effortlessly manage their smart home ecosystem, creating a convenient and centralized control hub for all compatible devices.
In terms of connectivity, the Echo Pop supports various protocols to ensure versatility and flexibility. It is compatible with Wi-Fi, enabling users to connect it to their home network for internet access and seamless integration with online services. Additionally, the Echo Pop supports Bluetooth Low Energy Mesh, allowing for easy pairing and connection with other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Furthermore, the Echo Pop is built with Matter support. Matter is a connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) that promotes interoperability between smart home devices from different manufacturers. With Matter compatibility, the Echo Pop ensures broad compatibility and ease of use with a wide range of smart home devices that adhere to the Matter standard.
Additionally, the Echo Pop supports Amazon Sidewalk, a shared network of devices. This network allows compatible devices to stay connected even when the Wi-Fi connection is lost, extending the range and connectivity capabilities of the Echo Pop and other Sidewalk-enabled devices.
Privacy is a significant concern when it comes to smart home devices, and Amazon has taken steps to address this with the Echo Pop. The smart speaker is designed to provide clear visual indicators to users regarding the status of the microphone and Alexa’s listening mode.
On the top of the Echo Pop, there is a light bar that serves as a visual cue to indicate when the microphone is active and Alexa is listening. When users activate the voice assistant by using the hotword, such as “Alexa” or another customized wake word, the light bar illuminates in a vibrant blue color. This blue light acts as an indicator that the microphone is picking up voice commands and is ready to assist.
By incorporating these visual cues and a dedicated mute switch, the Echo Pop offers users greater control over their privacy. The blue light when the microphone is active and the red light when it is muted provide a clear understanding of when the device is listening and when it is not, allowing users to confidently engage with the smart speaker while maintaining control over their personal information.
In a notable feature that sets it apart from other Echo devices, the Echo Pop from Amazon serves a dual purpose as an eero Wi-Fi extender. This unique functionality allows users to not only enjoy the benefits of a smart speaker but also extend their Wi-Fi coverage area by up to 1,000 square feet.
To take advantage of the Wi-Fi extender capabilities, users will need an eero compatible router. Placing the Echo Pop within range of the router is essential for optimal performance and connectivity. Once the physical placement is set, users will also need to link their eero and Amazon accounts to enable the integration and functionality.
Once the initial setup is complete, the extended Wi-Fi coverage provided by the Echo Pop can be highly beneficial for users. With the added coverage area, users can expect improved connectivity and internet access in areas of their home that were previously experiencing weak signals or dead zones. This expanded coverage can be particularly valuable in larger homes or spaces where the Wi-Fi signal may struggle to reach certain corners or rooms.
In terms of performance, the Echo Pop’s Wi-Fi extender functionality can provide speeds of up to 100 Mbps, ensuring reliable and fast connectivity within the extended coverage area. This enables users to enjoy smooth streaming, online gaming, web browsing, and other online activities without interruptions or slowdowns.
Price and Availability
The highly anticipated release of the Echo Pop is scheduled for May 31, 2023. However, Amazon is offering interested buyers the opportunity to pre-order the device ahead of its official launch. The Echo Pop is available for pre-order on Amazon’s website, allowing customers to secure their device before it becomes widely available.
What’s particularly noteworthy is the introductory price of the Echo Pop during the pre-order period. Priced at $39.99, the Echo Pop offers an attractive price point, making it more affordable than the Echo Dot (5th Gen), which is currently priced at $49.99. This introductory price makes the Echo Pop an enticing option for individuals looking to enhance their smart home experience without breaking the bank.
It’s important to note that while the pre-order price is set at $39.99, the listing on Amazon indicates that the price could potentially change once the product is officially released. As with many new products, pricing adjustments are common, and Amazon reserves the right to modify the price accordingly. Therefore, interested buyers should keep an eye on any updates regarding the pricing of the Echo Pop closer to its release date.
Conclusions
Overall, the Echo Pop brings new features and affordability to Amazon’s lineup of smart speakers. With its unique semi-sphere design and front-firing speaker, the Echo Pop offers a compact and portable option for users seeking an improved audio experience. Its placement between the Echo Dot models fills a gap in the product range, appealing to those who desire better sound quality than the entry-level Echo Dot (3rd Gen) but at a more affordable price than the Echo Dot (5th Gen).
The Echo Pop retains the iconic Alexa experience, allowing users to perform a wide range of tasks and control various smart home devices with voice commands. The inclusion of the light bar and mute switch addresses privacy concerns, providing clear visual indications of the microphone status and offering a straightforward method to disable the microphone when needed.
So, the Echo Pop presents a compelling option for consumers who seek a stylish, feature-rich smart speaker with improved sound, privacy considerations, and the added benefit of extended Wi-Fi coverage. With its attractive price point and versatile functionality, the Echo Pop is poised to be a popular choice among buyers looking to enhance their smart home ecosystem.
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