Is amazon echo dot 4th gen worth buying?

Amazon

Amazon Echo (4th Gen)

Ranked #7 in Smart Speakers

511 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Reviewed's pick for most people on Alexa; a mature, low-failure, continuously updated design.

Consolidated from 15 cited sources across 14 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

1 enthusiastic source
10 positive sources
4 neutral sources

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ Reviewed's recommended Echo for most people
✓ Years on the market with a low failure profile
✓ Consistent firmware support

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 8 articles and 7 video reviews

1 enthusiastic source

The Ambient David Ludlow · reviewer · Jan 2026

A brand-new design, better audio, and a processer built for Alexa+, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) is overall the best smart speaker available. If you have the previous model, you may want to hold off upgrading, but newbies and those with older smart displays will find a lot to like.

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10 positive sources

BGR Eduardo Ariedo · reviewer · Jun 2026

Another reason this model is worth the price is because the Echo Dot can do many cool things that older models often can't. For example, it has an accelerometer so you can tap the top to pause songs, or silence alarms. But the most useful feature is the temperature sensor which you can use to make Alexa routines and automate your home according to the change of temperature in a room.

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CNET CNET · 4.1M subscribers · Oct 2020

It’s one of the best smart speakers we’ve ever tested. Check out the video for all of the details including a head-to-head sound comparison with the Nest Audio.

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Tom's Guide Article · Nov 2022

Of all the best Alexa speakers we've tested, the 4th-generation Amazon Echo is our top pick for most people. The new sphere-shaped design is a big visual statement, but look inside and you'll find a sizable 3-inch woofer and pair of punchy front-firing tweeters that give the Echo detail-packed sound.

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Tech Steve Tech Steve · 235K subscribers · Nov 2025

The design is very chic. And on the side of it, you have your power as well as a volume rocker. There's also two farfield microphones on the back of it. There's your power cord input. There's a camera on the front of it for doing video chat. And there's two additional microphones, so it can hear you in just about any room.

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CNET Tyler Lacoma · reviewer · May 2026

If you want to use your Alexa speaker near a TV , I wouldn’t let anyone stop you. Conventional wisdom says Alexas near the TV get activated by random TV dialogue. In practice, I’ve been using Echos since 2017, and I think the TV has only activated them about three times.

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skyforce95 skyforce95 · 18.6K subscribers · Nov 2021

I really like how tactile they are.

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Android Central Article · Oct 2022

Thanks to its sleek rounded design and up-firing speakers, the Echo (4th Gen) is able to provide truly rich sound. You also get a 3.5mm input and Bluetooth support.

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Tech Opened Tech Opened · 3.6K subscribers · Nov 2020

Unboxing the Amazon ECHO 4th generation speaker! Amazing sound quality and punchy bass!

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Reviewed Rachel Murphy · reviewer · Dec 2018

By far, the best, most advanced spatial audio you'll find in a smart speaker. Plus, it's built with Alexa+ in mind.

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HomeTechnologyReview Article

For serious music listening, the Echo Studio is the clear winner.

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4 neutral sources

teckista.com teckista.com · reviewer · Dec 2024

Pros: Warm, balanced 360° audio for room listening.

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One Hour Smart Home One Hour Smart Home · 117K subscribers · Nov 2020

And it does sound better than the previous generations of Amazon Echo devices. It's not quite to the level of let's say a Sonos speaker that is a dedicated home audio speaker. However, the Amazon Echo fourth generation still has all kinds of smart features that allow you to ask it questions, play music, or control smart home devices with voice commands.

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RaavMedia RaavMedia · 26.1K subscribers · Dec 2025

Number seven, the biggest omission is YouTube. Without a native app, you're forced to use the Silk browser, and the playback is painfully slow with constant buffering. >> Even the interface here is mobile YouTube app, which seems so outdated.

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Rick Rick · 352 subscribers · Jun 2025