Amazon brought the Echo Spot back from the dead; after launching in 2017, the original Echo Spot was discontinued in 2019. Five years later, out of nowhere, it made a comeback with several upgrades attached — which we’ll outline here.
The new and improved Echo Spot has every reason to be considered one of the best smart speakers on the market. It does have a screen, but it’s quite small and you can’t watch videos on it, so we’re not sure if that also makes it one of the best smart displays.
No matter which category you want to place it in, here’s your complete guide to all the features and upgrades in the 2024 version of the Amazon Echo Spot, and how it compares to its predecessor in terms of size, features, price, and everything else that matters.
Echo Spot (2017) vs Echo Spot (2024): Price and Availability
You can pick up the all-new Amazon Echo Spot for the official price of $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$149. However, like many Amazon Echo speakers, you can expect it to be regularly discounted – and indeed, it’s already been cheaper as part of the Amazon Prime Day sale just days after its release.
We expect to be able to get it for less during other major sales days, from Black Friday through the holiday season. In short, it’s an affordable smart speaker (the standard Amazon Echo retails for $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149).
The old Echo Spot is no longer available for sale. When it was in stock on Amazon, the asking price was $160 / £119.99 / AU$210 – that’s significantly more than the new edition, although it was often sold at a discount.
Echo Spot (2017) vs Echo Spot (2024): design and screen
The Echo Spot (2017) and Echo Spot (2024) share a similar kind of design language in that they both look like orbs cut in half, with a screen on the front and plastic on the back. There’s also definitely a passing resemblance to the Echo Pop launching in 2023.
In terms of dimensions, the original Echo Spot measured 10.4 x 9.7 x 9.1 cm (WxHxD) from front to back. The circular screen measured 2.5 inches, with a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels, and weighed 420 grams.
In comparison, the dimensions of the new model are 11.3 cm x 11.1 cm x 10.3 cm, which means that it is a little larger. It also has a large 2.8-inch rectangular screen, which works with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The new Echo Spot weighs 405 grams.
Without a doubt, the 2024 version of the Echo Spot is more modern, as you would expect seven years later. The thick bezels are gone and half of the front panel is dedicated to the speaker grille. You can also get it in black, glacier white or ocean blue, while the first-generation model was available in black or white.
Echo Spot (2017) vs Echo Spot (2024): Features
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Echo Spot (2017) | Echo Spot (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 420 grams | 405 grams |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 10.4 cm x 9.7 cm x 9.1 cm | 11.3 cm x 11.1 cm x 10.3 cm |
| Screen: | 2.5 inches, 480 x 480 pixels | 2.8 inches, 240 x 320 pixels |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm output | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Speaker size | 1.4 inches | 1.73 inches |
| Colors: | Black White | Black, glacier white, ocean blue |
Echo Spot (2017) vs Echo Spot (2024): Features and Performance
Amazon is billing this device as a “customizable smart alarm clock,” which gives you an indication of what you can do with the display: it works for widgets and notifications (like a wake-up timer), but you can’t watch movies on it.
There are several built-in clock faces to choose from, and the visuals can change to show details of the audio currently playing or to indicate the current weather forecast. Several color themes are also available: orange, purple, magenta, lime, teal, and blue.
The original Echo Spot from 2017 was capable of displaying videos, albeit at a very reduced size, so in this regard some features were lost. Of course, if you need video, you can opt for one of the Echo Shows, such as the Amazon Echo Show 8.
Speaking of video, the old Echo Spot could make video calls, while the new Echo Spot can’t, partly because it no longer has a built-in camera. Audio calls via Alexa are still supported, and the three physical buttons on the back are also the same, letting you turn the volume up, down, and mute the mic.
The Echo Spot (2024) only has one jack on the back, for the power cable. The Echo Spot (2017) also had a 3.5mm audio-out jack, but that has been dropped. You can still connect a larger speaker to the new Echo Spot via Bluetooth, as you could on the old Echo Spot.
According to our tests, the audio performance is significantly better than on the old model. The display also looks much better, even if it technically runs at a lower resolution. The seven-year difference is noticeable here.
When it comes to Alexa’s features, the two speakers are on par: Amazon’s digital assistant hasn’t changed much over the years, though it’s a bit faster and more accurate these days. You can use voice commands to check the weather, search for news, control your connected smart home devices, get sports scores, and everything in between.
We’ve already compiled a list of the best Alexa skills and commands , and you can also create custom routines on any Echo, including both versions of the Spot. All of this can also be managed through the Alexa app for Android or iOS, and that hasn’t changed between the two versions of the Echo Spot.
Echo Spot (2017) vs Echo Spot (2024): Should You Buy It?
With the original 2017 Echo Spot permanently retired, you don’t have to choose between it and the new 2024 Echo Spot when it comes to your next smart speaker upgrade: it’s more a choice between the latest Echo Spot and any other Amazon model, or any other smart speaker for that matter.
The Echo Spot (2024) is a great choice for anyone looking for a compact and affordable smart speaker. It’s perfect for the kitchen or a bedside table. While the screen can’t do video, it does give you something extra compared to audio-only speakers. If you need a device to watch the best Prime Video movies, go for an Echo Show. Overall, it’s a complete upgrade from the previous model.
As for other smart speakers, there’s no real equivalent from Google, Apple, or anyone else. This is especially interesting if you’re already invested in the Amazon ecosystem—maybe you already have an Echo or two at home, or maybe you have a Ring video camera (which Amazon owns).