Quick! Echo Dot is a record-low $23 — that’s 55% off — ahead of Prime Day

For almost a decade, the Amazon Echo Dot has been a go-to for anyone looking to dive into the sometimes overwhelming world of smart home tech, and right now, it’s more enticing than ever. The price is slashed to $23 — that’s over half off — before October Prime Day even begins, making this compact speaker even more of a must-have.

Amazon

With over 140,000 Alexa-compatible devices out there, the Echo Dot is a capable hub for your smart home.

$23 at Amazon

Why is this a good deal? 💰

The Echo Dot makes smart home tech and surprisingly high-quality audio available to everyone, and $23 is an especially impressive price — it matches the Dot’s all-time low, and we haven’t seen it dip this far since December of last year. And you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck: The compact design means it can deliver music, podcasts and more in any space that has an outlet and Wi-Fi.

Why do I need this? 🤔

You might be wondering, “What can this little speaker really do?” The answer: quite a bit. The Echo Dot packs a surprising audio punch for its size, allowing you to stream songs and more with clarity. And with Alexa on your side, you can control your smart home devices, turn your lights on and off and even check the weather — all without lifting a finger. Talk about convenient.

The Dot is also a game-changer for anyone wanting to simplify their daily routine. With Alexa, it’s easy to set reminders and create shopping lists just using your voice. You can wake up and get a rundown of your schedule without getting out of bed.

Additionally, with over 140,000 Alexa-compatible devices out there, the Echo Dot is a compact hub for your smart home. You can control pretty much anything, from smart lights to thermostats and even coffeemakers. Check out our full Echo Dot review for a more thorough list.

What reviewers say 💬

With over 100,000 five-star reviews, it’s safe to say that the Echo Dot has more than a few fans. Here’s what some of them have to say:

Pros 👍

“We use this in lieu of a home phone,” said one Dot fan. “My first Echo was a gift and lasted two and a half years. I’m replacing it with this one. My teen likes having it in his room to add reminders, call me when he doesn’t have his phone, as an alarm and for music and audiobooks. I use mine for recipes and dropping in on my son on the way home. We gifted a couple of these to close relatives who live far away so we can ‘drop in’ on each other. Texting is short and sweet but dropping in with your real-time voice is fun for loved ones you don’t get to see enough.”

Another user highlighted how it enhanced their life as someone with limited mobility: “Being able to speak to my Dot has made it so I don’t have to walk or even move if my back or hips are having a particularly bad day. Dot has literally improved [my] quality of life. I have discovered that this small sphere, with its powerful speaker, will be key in maintaining my ability to live independently for as long as possible.”

A final fan who uses the Dot as an alarm clock noted that setup was fast and simple. “I just downloaded the app and it took care of everything,” they remarked. “I set the time, chose a premade sound (because who isn’t in a better mood getting woken up by The Grand Tour guys?), set the light to turn on at 30% brightness and added 10 minutes of Spotify. And it works! I still fumble groggily around for a bit, but I’m awake.”

Cons 👎

Unlike some pricier Amazon smart devices, the Echo Dot doesn’t have a screen. In our testing, tech editor Rick Broida noted that the sound quality isn’t the best at high volumes, and the tap-to-pause feature is a bit finicky. “It was hard to find the sweet spot, and I felt like if I tapped too hard, I might hit the microphone-mute button by accident,” he said. “But, again, just use your voice: ‘Alexa, pause.'”

“One small downside I’ve noticed is that sometimes there’s a slight delay when using smart home controls, but it’s not frequent enough to be a major issue,” said this four-star fan. “For the most part, it integrates well with my other devices and makes managing my home a lot easier.”

Amazon

In addition to controlling your Alexa-compatible devices, the Echo Dot can stream music, play podcasts and make hands-free calls.

$23 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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