Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen) With Clock Review
This smart speaker from Amazon can display the time, acting as an alarm clock as well as a timer.
&
Last Updated on Nov 28, 2022
What We Like
- Over 100,000 skills available: Alexa is the most popular voice assistant as well as the voice assistant with the most skills.
- Shopping: Most people prefer to shop online through Amazon, easily done through the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock.
- Affordable: At only about $50, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock certainly doesn’t break the bank unlike some smart speakers and displays I can think of.
What We Don't Like
- No screen: You won’t be able to watch movies and TV or video chat with the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock.
- Only available in one color: Unfortunately, the third generation Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is only available in light gray, but the latest iteration comes in glacier white and twilight blue.
- Plug-in: Some people may not want a smart speaker with a power cord.
Bottom Line
A smart speaker and alarm clock in one, this $50 device from Amazon works with over 100,000 Alexa skills. We loved ordering from Amazon and playing music using our voices alone!It has been almost a decade since the cylindrical smart speaker now popularly known as the Amazon Echo hit the shelves. Now, Alexa — the voice assistant that powers the Amazon Echo — is available through many different devices, from the Echo Show smart display, the Echo Dot mini-speakers, and even everyday items like microwaves, eyeglass frames, and TVs.
Today, we’re looking at the Echo Dot with Clock, a smart speaker that displays time and can function as an alarm clock and timer, while also offering all of Alexa’s capabilities. We tested the third generation Echo Dot with Clock, but we’ll also mention some of the key differences between it and the latest generation to see if it’s still a good buy today. Let’s get started.
This year’s Amazon keynote produced a ton of amazing products, from the new Ring Stick Up Cam Battery to the Echo Flex. In this review, I’m taking a closer look at the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock, a smart speaker with an LED display that shows numbers. For those of us looking to get the time or temperature without even having to say a voice command or open your mobile device, this smart speaker is a clever solution. But of course, I want to test it out to see if it works as well as Amazon says it does by creating my own Echo Dot With Clock review. Let’s get started!
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Plug-in |
| Clock, temperature or timer display | No screen |
| Alexa | Currently only available used from third-party sellers, so no guaranteed price |
Video Review
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock Pros and Cons
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock Design
If you’re already familiar with the third-gen Amazon Echo Dot, then the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock won’t be hard to imagine. Basically, it looks exactly the same as the gray smart speaker, with a diameter of 3.9 inches, a height of 1.7 and a 1.6-inch speaker, but with an LED clock on the side. Now, aside from the time of day, you can also have the clock show you the temperature as well as a timer countdown. That way, you don’t have to ask Alexa or touch any device to get this information. And to hit snooze on those mornings where you just can’t get out of bed, simply tap the top of the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock to catch a few more minutes of zzz’s.
The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock also has a ring of light around the top, which actually adjusts automatically based on the brightness of the number display. Like I said earlier, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock needs to be plugged into power and comes with a power adapter. It’ll connect to your mobile devices over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. When it comes to privacy, I like that Amazon included a button to turn the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock’s microphone off so that the device can’t listen for its wake word. After all, we all need privacy at some point or another!
When it comes to functionality and features, the third-gen Echo Dot with Clock we tested isn’t much different from the fourth-gen. I’d say the biggest difference is the shape — the third-gen looks like a giant macaron, while the fourth-gen is spherical. Other than that, they’re identical, so feel free to choose based on your preference.
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock Features
Of course, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is more than just a clock. You also get access to over 100,000 Alexa skills simply by saying the wake word “Alexa”. You can also use it to control other connected devices from a number of different smart home brands. Let’s get into specifics.
Music
At its core, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is a smart speaker, connecting to music, audiobook, and podcasting apps like:
- Amazon Music
- Apple Music
- Spotify
- Pandora
- Audible
If you use any of these applications, you can play audiobooks, songs or podcasts simply by telling Alexa what you want to hear.
Shopping
Now, this aspect of the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock may be a bit dangerous for your bank account, as you’ll be able to shop on Amazon using your voice alone. However, I can see this making for an easier shopping experience than if you had to go on the website.
Cooking
If you keep your Amazon Echo Dot with Clock in the kitchen, you’ll love using it to help make your delicious food. Aside from using the Dot’s display to set times, you can also have Alexa convert measurements, look up recipes from Allrecipes and read them to you step-by-step, buy an ingredient for you, and more. If you’re not much of a cook, you can use the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock to order food through Seamless or make reservations on OpenTable. Basically, if it’s food-related, your Amazon Echo Dot with Clock can be a huge help.
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock Setup
Setting up the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock was really easy. I already had the Alexa app downloaded, and once I plugged in the Dot, the app immediately recognized it and asked me if I’d like to set it up. After connecting it to my home’s Wi-Fi, I customized a few settings, like the device’s location, and I was done! The entire process shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
If it’s your first time setting up an Alexa device, though, you’ll need to follow the steps outlined in the user manual. Don’t worry, it’s not that hard. You’ll only need a smartphone with the Alexa app installed and an Amazon account login. The app will pretty much detect the Echo Dot with Clock automatically once it’s plugged in and booted up.
Amazon Customer Support
We all need help with our technology at one point or another. If that’s the case with your Amazon Echo Dot with Clock, then you can check out Amazon’s online help center, submit a request, or call them on the phone. Now, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock currently has a 4.6 rating on Amazon, but I want to look specifically at customer support.
Out of 81 reviews that mentioned customer support specifically, only 30 were positive, a little less than 40%. It seems like many people who had issues with their devices were disappointed by the help they received. Gerald Fontenot wrote in a recent one-star, mixed review,
“Customer support is lacking for this device. They run you around in circles and a little reluctant to admit the unit might be defective and reluctant to refund. But they will. Most features work well.”
Despite this review, I’m encouraged by the device’s overall rating, as most people didn’t have problems with their Amazon Echo Dot with Clock.
Recap of the Amazon Echo Dot With Clock
Overall, I think the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock would be a great addition to your smart home, or if you lack any IoT devices whatsoever, a fantastic start. However, it’s not for everybody so let me break down who I think it would be good for.
I’d buy the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock if you’d like…
- Low price: For $49.99, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is a cheap way to start or add to your smart home ecosystem.
- Shopping on Amazon: The most popular e-commerce website of all time, it’s no surprise that the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock works with Amazon.
- LED display: See the time, temperature, or the time left on your timer on the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock’s LED display.
But avoid it if you want a smart speaker with…
- Screen: Unfortunately, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is limited when it comes to watching movies or TV shows.
- Color options: The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is only available in Sandstone, unlike the regular Echo Dot.
- Wireless device: You’ll need to plug the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock into an outlet.
That’s it from me! If you want to be in the Amazon ecosystem but don’t think the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is right for you, check out my review of the Amazon Echo Show.
Amazon Echo Dot with Clock FAQs
-
Does the Amazon Echo Dot work as an alarm clock?
Yes, the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock works as an alarm clock, display the time in LED lights on it’s face. You can set an alarm by asking Alexa.
-
Is the Amazon Echo a good alarm clock?
I would recommend the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock as an alarm clock as you can set your alarm using your voice alone and see the time on it’s LED display.