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Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen vs 4th Gen What should you buy

By Mike Prospero published 29 September 2022 Which of Amazon's budget smart speakers is best? (Image credit: Future) The Amazon Echo Dot has been one of the most popular smart speakers, because, well, it's cheap. Amazon typically sells the Echo Dot for less than $50, and often bundles it with some other smart home device, such as a smart light bulb or video doorbell, making it all the more affordable to acquire one of the best Alexa speakers. At the moment, Amazon is selling two versions of the Echo Dot: The Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen), and the Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen). Both are two of the best smart speakers, but have different capabilities and different prices. In this guide, we'll compare the Amazon Echo Dot 3 vs. 4 to help you decide which you prefer. Editor's Note (Sept. 2022): Amazon has released the Echo Dot (5th gen), which has a better speaker, more tap controls, and can be used as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi satellite. It's available for $49.99, and will replace the Echo Dot (4th gen). You can read more about it in our Amazon Event recap, along with everything else Amazon announced.Today's best Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation) and Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) deals (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$39.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$49.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)See all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Amazon Echo Dot 3 vs 4 Specs

Echo Dot (Gen 3)Echo Dot (Gen 4)Echo Dot with Clock (Gen 4)Price$34.99$49.99$59.99Year Released201820202020Size3.9 (dia) x 1.7 inches3.9 (dia) x 3.5 inches3.9 (dia) x 3.5 inchesColor optionsCharcoalCharcoal, white, blueWhite, blueSpeaker1.6-inch1.6-inch1.6-inchPorts3.5mm audio3.5mm audio3.5mm audioDisplayNoNoYes

Amazon Echo Dot 3 vs 4 Price

Whichever Echo Dot you choose, you're not going to pay a heckuva lot. The 3rd-generation Echo Dot typically sells for around $35. The 4th-generation Echo Dot is listed at $50, but is usually about $10 more than the 3rd-generation model. The 4th-generation Echo Dot with Clock - which has a small LCD display that shows the time - is about $10 more than the version without a clock. However, some of the best Amazon deals often bring big discounts to the Echo Dot lineup, so you can usually find them for much less than their list price. For Amazon Prime Day (July 12 and 13, 2022), both models of the Echo Dot are being slashed even more: Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen): was $39.99, now $17.99 (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen): was $49.99, now $19.99 (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot with Clock: was $59.99, now $32.99 (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot Kids: was $59.99 now $24.99 (opens in new tab)

Amazon Echo Dot 3 vs 4 Design

The 3rd-generation Echo Dot has roughly the same hockey puck shape as the first two generations; however, it has fabric wrapping around its sides, and has a slightly curved top, where you can find its control buttons and a circular LED ring. The 4th-generation Echo Dot has a completely different shape; like the larger Amazon Echo (4th Gen,) the newest Echo Dot is spherical, and looks like a Magic 8-Ball that's sitting on its flat side. The majority of the Echo Dot is wrapped in the same fabric as the 3rd-generation Echo Dot, but the rear of the device, where you plug in the power, is hard plastic. It's not as elegant as the Apple HomePod Mini, but it's a nice look. Four buttons on the top let you control the Echo Dot, but in this model, the LED status ring has been moved to the bottom. Check out our guide to decoding Alexa's flashing lights if you've ever unsure what the current LED color means. The Echo Dot with Clock, as you might imagine, looks the same as the 4th-gen Echo Dot, but in the middle of the face is a small LCD display that shines through the fabric, showing the time. Amazon once made an Echo Dot with Clock shaped like the 3rd-gen model, but now the spherical version is the only "with Clock" Echo speaker available.

Amazon Echo Dot 3 vs 4 Audio quality

Both versions of the Echo Dot have a single 1.6-inch speaker. In our tests, we really didn't hear much of a difference between the two; the 4th-gen model had a bit more bass, owing to the larger size of the device. Both are best when you want a little background music, or to listen to news or podcasts. However, neither can hold a candle to larger smart speakers like the Sonos One, HomePod Mini, Google Nest Audio, or even the full-size Amazon Echo. If you know how to use Alexa, you'll be able to stream all kinds of audio using your speaker, from music and meditations to podcasts and audiobooks. See how to play Spotify on Alexa and how to Use Multi-Room Music with the Echo Dot for making the most of the speaker.

Amazon Echo Dot 3 vs 4 Which should you choose

Unless you really like the design or color options of the 4th-generation Echo Dot, there's little reason not to choose the 3rd-generation Echo Dot. It's $10 less expensive, is nearly as good when it comes to audio quality, and gives you access to all the best Alexa skills and Alexa tricks just the same as the newer model. Plus, the more compact shape of the 3rd-generation Echo Dot makes it easier to place in tighter spaces, and companies have made a number of accessories that let you mount it on a wall or next to an outlet. However, we do think the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is worth the extra dough; having a small clock that can show you the time and temperature and be used as a timer is incredibly useful. That's why is the one of the best smart home devices we recommend - period. For more advice on raising your home's IQ, be sure to check out our smart home guide. That way, you can see everything your new Echo Dot, 3rd- or 4th-gen, can work with. Today's best Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation), Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) and Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (4th gen) deals (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Generation) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$39.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$49.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)See all prices (opens in new tab)Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (4th gen) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$59.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)See all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

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Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Mike ProsperoU.S. Editor-in-Chief, Tom's GuideMichael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom's Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom's Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he's not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he's probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight - or chagrin - of his family. More about smart home Best outdoor security cameras in 2022 Best home security cameras in 2022: Top wireless, indoor and outdoor modelsLatest Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black FridaySee more latest ► Topics Smart Home See all comments (0) No comments yet Comment from the forums MOST READMOST SHARED1Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more2iPhone 15 with USB-C is almost certainly coming - here's why3Black Friday deals 2022 - date and best early sales4Early Black Friday deal: This Windows 11 laptop is just $99 right now5Apple Music review: Better value than Spotify1Samsung's massive 75-inch 4K TV just crashed to $579 ahead of Black Friday2iOS 16.1 could be saving the world one charge at a time - here's how3This could be the 200MP camera for the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 4Best Buy Black Friday deals are live - big sales on 4K TVs, MacBooks and more5iPhone 15 with USB-C is almost certainly coming - here's why