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In this article, I compare the Amazon Echo Dot vs Echo Plus [4th Generation vs 2nd Gen]. I’ll review the pros and cons as well as contrast the similarities and differences, so you can see how these two smart speakers measure up side by side.
If you’re in a rush, and really want to know the main differences, here they are:
Apart from the obvious design differences, the Plus has a 3.0″ woofer and 0.8″ tweeter over Dot’s 1.6-inch front-firing speaker. The Plus also includes a Zigbee Hub and temperature sensor, adds a 3.5mm line-in jack, and has five color options. They will both let you control your smart devices, stream music, and take advantage of everything Alexa.
I will expand on these differences and highlight a few more below.
I Love My Echos
Yeah, you heard right. I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to Alexa.
Ask, her I double-dog dare you!
At last count, I have an Echo Show 2nd Gen, an Echo Studio, an Echo Sub, an Echo Dot 4, two Echo Dot 3rd Gens, an Echo Dot 2nd Gen, a Fire TV Cube, an Echo Show 8, and an Echo Plus.
I also have the new Echo Show 15 on pre-order and I’m on the invite list for the Astro Household Robot.
Moreover, I have done a TON of reviews (see links above)` and research on Alexa devices over the past few years. And I spend a lot of time reviewing and replying to questions about Alexa out in forums on Facebook, Quora, and Reddit, so I guess you could say I am somewhat of an authority on Alexa.
Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know a bit about my qualifications and why you can trust my opinions in comparing the Echo Dot vs Echo Plus.
While the 2nd-Generation Plus and 4th-Generation dot have been with us for a while, Amazon recently announced the newer generation Echo devices will support motion detection. Cool.
Both devices have both reaped the benefits of Amazon’s design and functional improvements over the previous generations. However, one of these speakers is significantly larger and proportionately more expensive than the other.
But why the substantially higher price tag? Does the Plus really sound THAT much better than the Dot? And what the heck is a Zigbee Hub anyways? It sounds cool, but do you really need one of those?
Well, dear reader, that’s why we are here today, isn’t it?
Let’s take a closer look.
📚 Related: Why is My Echo Dot Red? How to Fix It
Quick Comparison Chart
Below is a comparison table highlighting the major features of the Amazon Echo Dot Vs Echo Plus smart speakers at a glance. I will provide a full detailed specifications table later in this post.
Last update on 05/14/2023 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I’ll provide a more detailed technical specifications comparison chart down below if you want to see additional metrics.
The Scoop on the Echo Plus
- Meet the Echo Plus - Same great sound as our Echo (3rd Gen) with a built-in Zigbee hub to easily setup and control your compatible smart home devices.
- Enjoy premium sound - Personalize your listening experience by adjusting the equalizer settings. Or pair with a second Echo Plus (2nd Gen) or Echo (3rd Gen) for stereo sound and add more bass with an Echo Sub.
- Voice control your music - Ask Alexa for a song, artist, or genre from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, and more. With multi-room music, play music on compatible Echo devices in different rooms.
- Voice control your smart home - Turn on lights, adjust thermostats, lock doors, and more with compatible connected devices. Create routines to start and end your day.
- Keep your family in sync - Use your Alexa devices like an intercom and talk to any room in the house with Drop In and Announcements.
- Alexa has skills - With tens of thousands of skills and counting, Alexa is always getting smarter and adding new skills like tracking fitness, playing games, and more.
- Designed to protect your privacy - Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a microphone off button that electronically disconnects the mics.
The Echo Plus gives you everything you love about Alexa, and it delivers better sound than its predecessor. Next to the Echo Studio (affiliate link to Amazon), this is probably the best-sounding Echo device of them all. The Echo Plus’s rich base works great in a single or as part of a multi-room music configuration. I actually have six devices connected together but this one just brings the sound to a whole new level.
While the Zigbee Hub isn’t really a big deal in my world, it might be for those who subscribe to the Zigbee ecosystem. The main benefit is that devices that rely on the Zigbee protocol will just work with the Echo Plus, without requiring that you purchase the Hub separately.
The temperature sensor is hot. [See what I did there.] You can pair it with a learning thermostat such as Nest or Ecobee for complete temperature automation. It’s also cool just to get the room temperature. I wasn’t able to get this before.
Our friends over at Pocket-lint have a nice article on Zigbee, so I won’t bore you by trying to replicate any of that here.
The input jack is another nice addition here. With this, you can hook up your Echo to other components via a wired connection.
Thanks to my fellow smart home enthusiast from Automate Your Life for the helpful video review. Dig the funky music, man!
Pros
- Great sound quality.
- Improved design.
- 7 microphones for listening means Alexa listens better.
- Full smart home control, including Zigbee, Nest, Ring, Phillips Hue [with separate Hub], Lifx, and hundreds of others].
- Stereo pairing and input/output jacks.
- All of the benefits of Alexa.
Cons
- It’s a bit pricey.
- I think the Sandstone fabric could get dirty over time.
- A few customers had complained about issues with the Line In feature but it seems to be fixed now.
The Scoop on Echo Dot 4th Gen
I bought a 4th Gen Echo Dot last Black Friday, and after I received it I was literally blown away by how much of a sound upgrade it was over the 3rd Gen Dot. I still love my 3rd Gen Dot and use it in my multi-room music configuration. But, the 4th Gen just sounds better. And it’s still super cheap.
Craig’s Tech Talk does a nice job reviewing the latest generation Echo Dot. I like the one with the clock too, Craig. Cute!
Pros
- It’s inexpensive – huge value for what you get with Alexa .
- Compact size is unobtrusive.
- Updated design complements other Echo devices.
- Great sound from a tiny speaker, better than its predecessor.
- A better power supply that previous version.
- Cooler light ring than the previous version.
- Works great in multi-room music configurations.
Cons
- Fewer microphones mean sometimes you need to repeat commands.
- No Zigbee Hub like the Plus [but hey, did I mention this is cheap! LOL].
Echo Dot vs Echo Plus: Similarities and Differences
Similarities
- Both the Plus and the Dot give you the world of Alexa.
- They both come in Charcoal, Heather Gray or Sandstone [or as we like to say in Boston, black, gray and white].
- Both have Alexa’s updated design and light ring.
- They will both let you control smart home stuff.
- Both the Plus and the Dot allow you to stream music.
- You can use both speakers in multiroom music configurations.
- They both have an output jack so you can hook up an external speaker, like the Echo Sub for instance.
Differences
- Echo Plus weighs more and is bigger than the Dot.
- The Echo Plus has more speakers for listening and does actually listen better.
- Echo Plus has two premium Dolby speakers compared to Dot’s single-but-much-improved speaker.
- The Echo Plus is significantly more expensive than the Echo Dot [by a factor of five at the time of this writing].
- Echo Dot does not include a Zigbee Hub but the Echo Plus does.
📚 Related: Echo 4th Gen vs Echo Plus
The Verdict
I think the question to ask when trying to decide on the Echo Plus vs the Echo Dot is: Where are you going to put the thing? If this is going beside your bed or in a small bedroom, then the Echo Dot [or even the Echo Show 5 or 8] is probably a better choice. Or if it’s going in a smaller room maybe. Like a bathroom. I have a Dot that hangs from a GFI plug in my bathroom using an outlet mount and it’s really cool.
📚 Related: Best Amazon Echo Dot Accessories
Our friends over at All Things Tech seem to agree that the location is really an important factor in deciding if you want to the Echo Dot vs Echo Plus:
I like to ask Alexa to read my Flash briefing when I’m in the shower in the AM. The Echo Plus is more appropriate for a larger bedroom, living room, family room, den, dining room, or anywhere that you want to have a better music experience.
To summarize:
Buy the Echo Plus If
- You want a premium sound experience and can afford it.
Buy the Echo Dot If
- You want a great little smart speaker with Alexa at an affordable price.
Heck, Buy Both If
- You can afford it and want to pair two great Alexa speakers together in a multi-room music configuration.
Echo Dot vs Plus: Full Technical Specifications
Following are the full technical specifications comparing the Echo Dot vs the Echo Plus,
NOTE: If you are on mobile, you may need to swipe left/right to see the full details.
Last update on 05/14/2023 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Did I forget any specs that interest you? Leave me a quick comment below and let me know. Thanks!
What’s in the Box?
This section details what’s in the box for each remote.
Echo Plus
The Amazon Echo Plus box contains the following:
- Echo Plus
- Power Adapter (30W)
- Quick Start Guide
Echo Dot
The Amazon Echo Dot box contains the following items:
- Echo Dot
- Power adapter (15W)
- Quick Start Guide
Echo Dot vs Echo Plus: Your Turn
So what do you think of my review of the Echo Dot vs Echo Plus?
Do you like the smaller size and smaller price of the Dot over the Plus?
Or are you a music lover and can’t wait to try out the premium sound that the Plus delivers?
Please leave me a comment below and let me know. I read, reply to, and publish every comment that you guys send. Well, at least the non-spammy ones.
Related Links
If you liked this post comparing Echo Dot vs Echo Plus, you may also enjoy some of our other Alexa posts. I’ll list a few of them below.
- Echo Studio vs Echo Plus: Which Sounds Better?
- Echo Studio vs Echo Sub: Oh Yeah, Alexa’s Got Bass!
- Echo Dot Kids vs Echo Dot: 7 Big Differences
- A+ Alexa! 19 Awesome Amazon Echo Device Gifts
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About the Author
Tim Brennan is a technology blogger and host of the @TecTimmy YouTube channel. He shares insights about smart home tech at oneSmartcrib, home theater systems at UniversalRemoteReviews, and the future of AI in writing at Writeinteractive. A graduate of the Northeastern University School of Journalism, he has written about technology for 30 years. He lives on the ocean in scenic Nahant, Massachusetts.
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for a fun take on all things tech.
