6

out of

152

Bluetooth Speaker

True Score Methodology v1.0

Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 Review

Name: Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4
Brand: Amazon

June 6, 2023

Nov 16, 2023 7:00 PM

BLOCK

Updated 11/16/2023 7:00 PM

True Score

82

Absolutely Fresh

16

Experts

583.2k

Consumers

Product Awards

Top 10

GR Certified

Expert Pick

Consumer Favorite

Expert Rankings

(

16

)

Critics were quite pleased with how well the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 was easy to set up through its companion app. They also liked its room-filling sound and extra features such as motion sensing and low power mode. However, its lack of a battery contributed to its poor portability, and it is not designed to be used outdoors.

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Product Snapshot

Overview

The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is an entry-level smart speaker that was first released in mid-2020. Weighing only 0.7 pounds, the speaker is pretty light in weight, and like some of the top-rated speakers in the market, it also has a set of four microphones that make it possible to use its voice assistant functionality. The Alexa voice assistant will only work through WiFi, but owners can stream music and videos from their devices through WiFi and Bluetooth or link their smartphones to use it as a speakerphone. Speaking of which, it has a Bluetooth range of 214 ft, making it a lot more convenient to use than some of the most popular Bluetooth speakers and a good number of the best WiFi speakers in the industry. If you’re looking for a speaker that’s a lot better for streaming content, we have a few ideas on the best soundbar for Roku TV (or any other popular streaming platform).

Rankings (recommended in)

#
3/12
Chart Query Test
#
5/20
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Consensus

our Verdict

The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 received praise from critics for its spherical shape and easy-to-use voice assistant. Expert testers from What HiFi liked how easy it was to set up since, during testing, all they had to do was download the Alexa app onto their smartphones and follow easy prompts. Reviewers from Tom’s Guide were satisfied with how well the speaker could fill a room with sound and also liked that it had a low power mode to reduce power consumption when idle. Also commended was its motion sensing feature, which, they established, could detect when people enter or exit a room.

However, testers were slightly disappointed that the Echo Dot Gen 4 had no battery and had to be plugged into work. This makes it unfit for outdoor use and is a discredit it has in common with the Amazon Echo Gen 4 (which we’ve covered in our Amazon Echo Gen 4 review). If you’re looking for a reliable outdoor speaker, check out our Alpine Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker review.

Reason to Buy

Exceptional Bluetooth range
Room filling sound
Support for Alexa Assistant
Easy to set up
Motion detection

Reason to Avoid

No battery
Not built for outdoor use

Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 Specs

Frequency Low

10hz, 21 herz

Test Results

Test 1	300 feet
Test 2	500lbs
Battery Life	16 hours

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Product Comparison

	Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 Review
True Score	82	NR	NR	NR
Ranking	# 6 / 152	# /	# /	# /
Market Context	The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is an entry-level smart speaker that was first released in mid-2020. Weighing only 0.7 pounds, the speaker is pretty… The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is an entry-level smart speaker that was first released in mid-2020. Weighing only 0.7 pounds, the speaker is pretty light in weight, and like some of the top-rated speakers in the market, it also has a set of four microphones that make it possible to use its voice assistant functionality. The Alexa voice assistant will only work through WiFi, but owners can stream music and videos from their devices through WiFi and Bluetooth or link their smartphones to use it as a speakerphone. Speaking of which, it has a Bluetooth range of 214 ft, making it a lot more convenient to use than some of the most popular Bluetooth speakers and a good number of the best WiFi speakers in the industry. If you’re looking for a speaker that’s a lot better for streaming content, we have a few ideas on the best soundbar for Roku TV (or any other popular streaming platform).	The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is a spherically shaped speaker that is slightly larger than the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 3. The Gen 4… The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is a spherically shaped speaker that is slightly larger than the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 3. The Gen 4 also delivers slightly more bass than the Gen 3 and is available in more color options than the Echo Dot Gen 3.	The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 has a mute function while the Amazon Echo Plus 2 does not, and it also comes with a subwoofer… The Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 has a mute function while the Amazon Echo Plus 2 does not, and it also comes with a subwoofer and an AUX input, both of which are missing on the Echo Plus 2.	At a weight of 12 ounces, the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is heavier than the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen, which weighs about 6.4… At a weight of 12 ounces, the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4 is heavier than the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen, which weighs about 6.4 ounces. The Echo Dot Gen 4 also supports Amazon Alexa, while the Google Nest Mini supports Google Assistant.
Frequency Low	10hz, 21 herz	–	–	–
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Score Card

E

Expert Score

81

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

86

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

82

Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight

?
Higher Category Trust Scores have greater weight on the overall Expert Score & final True Score
Category Trust Score
80
With the 4th generation Echo Dot, Amazon has once again delivered an inexpensive smart speaker… read more
By:
F
Higher Category Trust Scores have greater weight on the overall Expert Score & final True Score
Category Trust Score
62
The Amazon Echo Dot 4th Gen is middling for music. Its balanced mid-range reproduces vocals… read more
By:
?
Higher Category Trust Scores have greater weight on the overall Expert Score & final True Score
Category Trust Score
70
The fourth-generation Echo Dot delivers all of the features of Alexa for a very budget-friendly… read more
By:
?
Higher Category Trust Scores have greater weight on the overall Expert Score & final True Score
Category Trust Score
90
“No bottom line found for this product” read more
By:
?
Higher Category Trust Scores have greater weight on the overall Expert Score & final True Score
Category Trust Score
90
The Echo Dot was already a thoroughly good smart speaker for the price, and for… read more
By:
?
Higher Category Trust Scores have greater weight on the overall Expert Score & final True Score
Category Trust Score
80
The fourth-generation Echo Dot speaker doesn’t offer particularly impressive sound quality, but for $50, it’s… read more
By: