Article Image

Echo Spot vs. Echo Pop: Which Amazon device is better for your smart home?

The Echo Spot is much more expensive than the Echo Pop, but does its built-in touchscreen make it the better choice for your home? Here's what to know.

The Echo Spot is a new smart alarm clock from Amazon, though it looks eerily similar to the existing Echo Pop. Both offer a similar, semi-ircle design — though the Echo Spot is equipped with a touchscreen while the Pop is largely controlled via voice commands. There are a handful of other differences between the Echo Spot and Echo Pop, and since the Echo Spot is much more expensive than the Pop, you’ll want to take a close look at both before opting for the fancy new gadget.

From pricing and design to sound quality and additional features, here’s everything you need to know about the Echo Spot and Echo Pop.

The Echo Spot costs $80, while the Echo Pop is half that price at just $40. You’ll find the Spot in three different colors (white, black, blue), whereas the Pop is offered in four colors (white, black, lavender, teal). Both feature a flat, circular face and small overall footprint, though the top half of the Spot is equipped with a 2.83-inch touchscreen. Aside from the touchscreen, the two devices look remarkably similar.

The Echo Spot uses a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker. Despite its lower price, the Echo Pop uses a larger 1.95-inch front-firing speaker. It’s still not enough to fill a large room, but for a living room or home office, it sounds great. The Echo Spot is no slouch, but the slightly larger speaker on the Pop certainly gives it an advantage in this category.

Both devices support Alexa voice commands, can sync with other Alexa-enabled devices, and work with apps like Spotify and Amazon Music. The only notable difference is that the Echo Spot comes with a 2.83-inch touchscreen display. This allows you to quickly check the time or see what song is playing. You can also customize it to better suit your personality or home decor. This makes it great as an alarm clock, as you can glance over to your nightstand to see the time or tap the screen to snooze.

Aside from the touchscreen, much is shared between these Amazon devices. Here’s a look at what’s available on both the Pop and Spot:

If you’re looking for a smart alarm clock, the Echo Spot is the clear winner. Its touchscreen display makes it a better bedside companion than the Echo Pop, even if most other features are shared between the two devices. Conversely, if you need a smart speaker to serve as a central hub for your smart home or to fill your room with music, the Echo Pop is the better option. Not only does it have a larger speaker, but it’s half the price. All you’re really missing out on is a touchscreen, and if you plan to use voice commands to control your music and apps, there’s no need to drop $80 on the Spot when the $40 Pop will suffice.

Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.

Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.

This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.

Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.

With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.

Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.