Smart Speakers are becoming popular and are part of most modern homes. If you have a Wifi router and Broadband connection at home, having some of the smart home gadgets like Echo Dot or Echo Show can uplift your experience.
Smart Switches, Fans, and lights are other must-have home automation IoT devices many millennials are buying for their smart homes.
Amazon Echo is probably one of the coolest and most affordable smart speakers that you can buy for yourself or your kids or parents.
Let’s check out why it is so popular and does it fits your needs.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)
Amazon’s smart speaker Echo Dot (4th Gen) now comes with a spherical design and is recently launched globally.
It is already available for pre-order from Amazon and will start shipping from 26th October 2020.
The smart speaker is available in three colors namely black, white, and blue.
The cost of both variants varies.
Echo Dot 4th Gen Price and Features
The new Echo Dot (4th Gen) is available for Rs. 4499 for the standard variant and the variant with a LED clock is available for Rs. 5499. There is a price cut recently and both Echo Dot is available for Rs. 1000 cheaper.
It has been touted as one of the most famous smart speakers that will be available in the refreshed design.
The new design will certainly leave you in awe of it. The speaker produces a loud and crisp sound with robust bass. Amazon is touting that the new speaker offers significantly better bass than the older gen echo dot.
I have the 3rd Gen Echo dot and I love the sound output of the tiny speaker. It works flawlessly and there is really nothing to complain about it considering the price.
The LED display echo dot showcase the time, outdoor temperature, or timers. It is an excellent replacement for the table clock.
You just need to tap its top to snooze. The feature that will strike you immediately is that the light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness, day or night.
It has the capacity of streaming scores of songs from Amazon Prime Music, Gaana, JioSaavn, Apple Music, Hungama, and Spotify.
You can also access your favorite songs in several languages. You can use your voice to control lights, ACs, TVs, geysers, and much more in case you are using Alexa-enabled switches or have smart devices.
You will be required to buy smart lights, plugs, and other accessories separately.
Meanwhile, Alexa is ever-ready to assist you in English, and it can even understand Hindi.
Unlike most other speakers that fail to recognize voice commands, it comes with 4 microphones, and it can listen to you even from a distance.
Echo Dot 4th Gen With LED Clock
Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen is also available with a gorgeous-looking Digital LED Clock. The Echo Dot has all other specs and features the same as the standard 4th Gen Echo Dot but comes with a Digital LED Clock. You can use the Echo Dot as a table clock to quickly check the time or can even use it as an alarm clock apart from listening to music or news.
Echo Dot 3rd Gen
On the other hand, the Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen is available for Rs 3,499. Amazon is not discontinuing the old design yet. The Echo Dot 3rd Gen has also got a price cut and is available now for just Rs. 2499.
You can buy it in four colors namely black, grey, purple, and white. The smart speaker with Alexa comes with 360 degrees sound.
You just have to ask Alexa for what you want to hear. It may include music, news, scores, weather updates, alarms, kids’ rhymes, stories, etc.
Alexa will assist users both in English and Hindi. You will be allowed to stream several songs from Amazon Prime Music, Gaana, Apple Music, Spotify, and JioSaavn.
Further, we can access songs in various Indian languages. Moreover, we can voice control smart lights, AC, geysers, water pumps, air purifiers, etc. with the help of a smart plug. Also, It is available with four microphones.
Comparing Echo Dot (4th-Gen) Vs. Echo Dot 3rd-Gen
| Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Echo Dot 3rd Gen | |
| Size | 100 x 100 x 89 mm | 99x 99 x 43 mm |
| Weight | 351.3 gram | 300 gram |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Dual-band WiFi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) WiFi networks. | Dual-band Wi-Fi supports 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5 GHz) networks. Does not support connecting to ad-hoc (or peer-to-peer) Wi-Fi networks. |
| Generic name | Speakers | Speakers |
| Audio | 1.6” built-in speaker for voice feedback. 3.5 mm stereo audio output for use with external speakers (audio cable not included). | Built-in speaker for voice feedback when not connected to external speakers. 3.5 mm stereo audio output for use with external speakers (audio cable not included). |
| System requirement | Echo Dot comes ready to connect to your WiFi. The Alexa app is compatible with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices and also accessible through your web browser. | Echo Dot is all set to connect to your Wi-Fi. The Alexa App offers compatibility with Fire OS, Android, and iOS devices and also accessible via your web browser. |
| Included things in the box | Echo Dot, power adapter (15W), and Quick Start Guide. | Echo Dot, power adaptor (15W), and Quick Start Guide. |
Fire TV Stick Vs. Fire TV Stick Light
Amazon has also launched an update to its Fire TV range with the two latest streaming sticks namely the Fire TV Stick and the Fire TV Stick Lite.
The Fire TV Stick can be termed as one of the most economical streaming players or you may say it was until the company launched Fire TV Stick Lite for users.
The two streaming players fall below the Fire TV Stick 4K. With the latest launch, users will enjoy a more economical way to access Prime Video, Netflix, etc.
Amazon claims that the latest Fire sticks have emerged twice as robust as the previous generation and just use half of the power.
The new Fire TV Stick price is set at Rs 3999 while the price of the Fire TV stick Lite is Rs 2,999. Amazon asserts that Lite is the most powerful streaming media player at this price range. If you desire to save some bucks, then Fire TV Lite should be an ideal choice as it will help you save nearly Rs 1000.
Fire TV Stick Lite can play an HD-quality video along with Dolby Atmos Audio with an HDMI cable. Additionally, you will receive a version of the stunning Alexa Voice Remote. It has emerged a highly affordable Fire TV Stick that has been certified as Climate Pledge friendly.
However, it fails to support 4K, UHD, or Dolby Vision. Its remote fails to control the basic functions of the TV.
And, Dolby Atmos Audio can be accessed through HDMI pass-through cable.
Another difference is that the Fire TV Stick Lite has no Volume Up and Power Buttons that are available on the Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020).
Meanwhile, Amazon Fire TV Stick will cost you $10 more than Fire TV Stick Lite. It will get you complete Dolby Atmos Audio integration and a complete Alexa Voice Remote that has the capacity to control your basic TV functions such as power and volume.
Moreover, It is 50 percent faster than the earlier generation.
Further, It cannot support 4K, UHD, or Dolby Vision.
Fire TV Stick Vs Fire TV Stick Lite Comparison
| Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite | Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) | |
| TV Volume and Power Button | No | Yes |
| Audio | HDMI pass-through backing for Dolby Atmos Audio | It has Native Dolby Atmos Audio |
| Picture quality | 1080p Full HD with backing for HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+, and HLG | 1080p Full HD with support for HDR, HDR 10, HDR10+, HLG |
| Storage | 8GB | 8GB |
| Remote | It offers Alexa Voice Remote Lite | It offers Alexa Voice Remote |
| Price | Rs 2,999 | Rs 3,999 |
The two devices more or less share several similarities.
There is a difference of Rs 1000 between the cost of the two.
If you are wondering which one you should opt for, you may purchase either one and you won’t be wrong.
Fire TV stick has emerged more advance for a negligible extra cost. And, for those with an essential tool like Dolby Atmos speakers, soundbars, Fire TV Stick should be the ideal choice.
Meanwhile, for those who just desire to watch TV without caring about the latest features, Fire TV Stick Lite should be the streaming player of choice.
