Echo Dot 5th Gen Review: The Best Budget Smart Speaker
The Echo Dot 5th Gen is Amazon's most popular smart speaker, and for good reason. At under $50, it delivers Alexa voice control, smart home integration, decent audio, and unique features like a built-in temperature sensor. This review explains why every smart home should have at least one.
Key Features
Improved Audio Quality
The 5th Gen Echo Dot has clearer vocals and deeper bass than the 4th Gen. It is not a high-end speaker, but for its size and price, audio quality is impressive.
Built-In Temperature Sensor
The Dot 5th Gen includes a temperature sensor that can trigger smart home automations. For example, you can have a smart fan turn on when the room reaches 75 degrees.
Eero Mesh Wi-Fi Integration
If you have an eero mesh Wi-Fi system (which we recommend), the Echo Dot can act as a Wi-Fi extender, adding about 1,000 square feet of coverage. This is a unique feature that adds significant value.
Alexa Voice Control
Full Alexa integration means you can control smart home devices, set timers, play music, check the weather, and access thousands of Alexa skills.
Compact Design
The Dot is small enough to fit anywhere — nightstand, kitchen counter, bathroom, office. Multiple Dots throughout your home provide voice control in every room.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Echo Dot 5th Gen if:
- You want affordable Alexa voice control
- You want to extend an eero mesh Wi-Fi network
- You want temperature-based smart home automations
- You are building an Alexa smart home
- You want voice control in multiple rooms
Consider alternatives if:
- You want a smart display (consider Echo Show 8)
- You want premium audio quality (consider Echo or Echo Studio)
- You use Google Assistant (consider Nest Mini)
The Bottom Line
The Echo Dot 5th Gen is the foundation of an Alexa smart home. At under $50, it delivers voice control, smart home integration, and unique features like eero mesh extension. Every Alexa smart home should have at least one Echo Dot — and ideally several distributed throughout the home.
Recommended Product
Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 Release)
Most popular smart speaker with Alexa. Compact design, clear vocals, and full smart home control. Bundle includes TP-Link Kasa smart bulb to start your smart home.
- Compact smart speaker with Alexa
- Improved audio with clearer vocals and deeper bass
- Built-in temperature sensor for smart automations
- Eero mesh Wi-Fi integration (extends network range)
- Works with thousands of smart home devices