Amazon Echo Spot

Amazon Echo Spot

Gaze into the abyss, and the abyss gazes back. That's what's running through my head on my first night testing the Amazon Echo Spot. I'm lying in bed struggling to fall asleep as I sometimes do, and it's sitting there displaying the time on my nightstand with its camera aimed straight at my face.

Amazon Echo Spot

The Spot fills out Amazon's smart speaker lineup. You now have the Amazon Echo for general-purpose use, the Tap to take out to the patio, the Spot to sit by your bed or kitchen counter, and the Echo Dot to fill in the gaps.

Amazon Echo Spot review

We're still not 100% sold on a screen being a critical part of the Echo experience, but the Echo Spot feels significantly more focused and purpose-driven than the slightly aimless Echo Show – especially with a £80 difference in price. The smaller sized screen feels more useful here, but it also doesn't need to do as much to justify its presence. It's an effective bedside clock and ideal for alarms, timers, or playing music, and while Alexa still doesn't have a lot of critical skills that have visual components, that doesn't sting here as much as it does with the larger, pricier Echo Show. If you're new to Alexa, you're probably better off starting with the cheap Echo Dot or the baseline 2nd-generation Echo. But if you're looking to add another Echo to your home, especially one away from your main living area, or you really think you'll the most use from an Echo in your bedroom, then the Spot is well worth considering. It's shipping today in the UK, directly from Amazon.

Amazon Echo Spot review review

Amazon Echo Spot review

When Amazon released the Echo Show , many thought it was too expensive, too big and - dare we say - ugly. So if you were hankering after an Alexa speaker with a screen but didn't like the Show then the Echo Spot might fit the bill.

Amazon Echo Spot review

Amazon's latest Echo refresh has brought with it a design flourish that was sorely missing from its original line-up.

Amazon Echo Spot

Products like the Echo Spot live and die by their features. This is the first of its kind to come through the testing rooms and it has performed well. It has a number of useful features, the display is sharp and it looks rather elegant.However, it's a much greater investment than the Echo Dot or...

Amazon Echo Spot Review

The newest member of the Echo family is Amazon's best-looking hardware yet.

Despite its weaknesses, then, I rather like the Amazon Echo Spot. It's a rather well made, attractive-looking smart speaker that, like the Echo Show, adds an extra dimension with the addition of the touchscreen and webcam.

Amazon Echo Spot: A budget Echo Show that's just as smart

In an effort to push its own paid-for music and video streaming services, Amazon has dropped the price of its Alexa-powered alarm clock. For a limited time – I'm afraid we don't know when this deal ends – you can pick up an Amazon Echo Spot for only £95 – that's £25 off.