Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation)
bluetooth: Yes
Functions: Alexa voice control, touch control on the device
Dimensions (hwd): 10x10x8.9cm
Finishes: x3 (charcoal, blue, white)
Pronunciation: The latest generation of the impressive Echo Dot maintains the high standard of the series with surprisingly three-dimensional sound at this affordable price, and arguably the smartest Alexa integration to date.
For
- Impressive expansive sound
- Great Alexa integration
- Pleasant, understated aesthetic
In return for
- Sound distortion at higher frequencies and volume
Bluetooth: No
Functions: Siri voice control, AirPlay 2, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos
Dimensions (hwd): 8.4 x 9.8 x 9.8 cm
Finishes: x5 (space gray, white, orange, yellow, blue)
Pronunciation: The HomePod Mini is full of surprises and almost all of them are pleasant; it’s small, sonically satisfying and, perhaps most satisfying of all, not even particularly expensive.
For
- Sophisticated, captivating sound
- Significant smart skills
- Impressive musical discovery
In return for
- Limited Third Party Service Support
- Lacks a full control app
Smart speakers are all the rage right now, and with Amazon recently announcing a range of new and updated models, including the all-new (and silly-named) Echo Pop, that trend is only likely to continue as our homes get smarter and we, inevitably, become more dependent on become of trick-laden technology.
Amazon is leading the way in this push through its impressive AI assistant Alexa, but it’s not the only runner in this particular race. Google has its own smart speaker-cum-assistant courtesy of the Google Nest, while Apple’s Siri-powered HomePod series keeps it from becoming a Jeff Bezos-controlled monopoly.
It’s an interesting match here too, with the recently released five-star Echo Dot undercutting the award-winning Apple rival by a significant margin in terms of cost.
Time to see if Siri reigns supreme or if Alexa is the ultimate AI.
Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation) vs Apple HomePod Mini: price
The award-winning Apple HomePod Mini offers a smaller and more affordable alternative to its bigger brother, the HomePod 2. The Mini’s original price of £99 / $99 / AU$149 has held steady, with a tenner off during Black Friday or holiday sales seasons , but it’s still a surprisingly affordable option from Apple. And it’s still a very reasonable outlay for what remains a very impressive little smart speaker.
The Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation), meanwhile, is a much cheaper option at £54.99 / $49.99 / AU$79. We’ve already seen discounts popping up for this – Amazon UK recently slashed the price to just £34.99 (although it’s back to full price at the time of publication), but this is one to keep an eye out for big discounts all over the year. But even at full price, the Echo Dot is excellent value for money, giving you comprehensive, in-depth Alexa support and a solid-sounding speaker to boot.
**Winner: Amazon Echo Dot (5th generation)**
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) vs Apple HomePod Mini: Design
Most smart speakers aren’t artistic feats, opting for unobtrusive, muted designs that blend into your home’s overall aesthetic without sticking out like a sausage in a trifle.
The fifth-generation Echo Dot continues to rotate as a spherical object, with most of the Dot covered in finely woven speaker mesh and the rest encased in smooth plastic at the base of the device. The Alexa ring, which glows a rather pleasant shade of blue when called into action, encircles the bottom bezel.
The HomePod Mini is quite similar, although there are some key differences. While broadly a spherical design, the top and bottom are cut off to accommodate the base and top control panel respectively, while the speaker mesh is slightly wider and looser than the Dot’s. The top panel attractively swirls around with multiple colors when you call for Siri’s help (and when she answers) – it’s a more premium finish too.
You can also tap the top panel for music playback and volume up/down controls. However, where tapping on the top panel wakes up Siri (aside from just using your voice), Amazon claims you can tap the Echo Dot just about anywhere and get a response from Alexa.
Aesthetically, though, there’s not much to choose from, although the HomePod Mini comes in more colorful hues than the Echo Dot. However, this is mainly a matter of taste, so we’ll consider it a tie here.
**Winner: Draw**
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) vs Apple HomePod Mini: Features
In terms of physical connectivity, the fifth-generation Echo sees a downgrade as it no longer supports a 3.5mm input, so there’s no longer a way to connect a wired source – that could be a bit of a stretch for some could be a deal breaker. However, the same goes for the HomePod Mini, which has never offered a wired connection.
The connection to both speakers must then be done wirelessly, with Bluetooth for Amazon and AirPlay 2 for Apple coming in handy in addition to the Wi-Fi network connection at home.
The HomePod Mini comes fully loaded with Apple’s Siri, familiar to anyone who’s ever owned an iPhone or pretty much any other Apple product that wasn’t the original iPod. Siri is a good assistant to have: smart, capable and attentive to your questions.
Speaking of being responsive, Siri’s knack for always knowing which device is being addressed is particularly clever, especially if you have multiple Apple products in your home. Alexa, meanwhile, can often get confused about who is speaking and who is being addressed, occasionally leading to frustrations.
The usual array of Siri-powered smart functions are all present and correct, including controlling HomeKit-enabled devices, setting timers and alarms, creating reminders, sending messages, making phone calls – the usual stuff, but it’s worth bearing in mind that third-party support is still scarce, with Apple prioritizing its own ecosystem here. Siri can also make announcements to any or all of the other HomePods in the house using the new intercom feature, something Alexa can do as well.
In fact, Alexa can do pretty much everything the HomePod can do and more, not to mention offer a wider variety of third-party app support and, in some cases, respond to questions a bit. In addition to everything mentioned above (controls for compatible smart devices may vary), Alexa has a suite of apps, known as “Skills”, that allow the Echo Dot to become anything you want it to be. Want to play a game? Ask Alexa to start a Harry Potter quiz. Want to have some karaoke fun? Simple. Want Alexa to make different fart noises? You have to grow up, but yes, she likes to participate.
All of this can be tweaked and set up in the Alexa app, an interface that beats the HomePod’s rather sparse, bland Home app. However, where Apple gets its points back is through its excellent music curation using Apple Music, learning your tastes and responding to the phrase “Play something I like” by streaming a new, unheard of collection of songs that fit your habits. to fit. Alexa can’t compete with that.
This depends on what you will mainly use your smart speaker for. If you want smart skills, go for the Echo Dot. If music playback is your top priority, we recommend the HomePod Mini.
**Winner: Draw**
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) vs Apple HomePod Mini: Sound
While this could have been the weakest point for both artists, it ended up being the biggest strength of both models. We’re now at the point where audio manufacturers can get impressive amounts out of the tiniest of devices (just look at JBL and the portable speaker market), and while nothing compares to your bespoke hi-fi setup (or a really good dedicated wireless speaker), this is an area where smart speakers continue to improve.
Amazon promised the fifth generation would be the best sounding Echo Dot, and it’s a promise well kept. Given the Echo’s diminutive size and large bag of tricks, the sound experience delivered is remarkable for the price. Rock, hip-hop, even orchestral tracks, the Dot has some seriously impressive crack at everything.
However, Apple’s effort is simply outstanding for its price and size. The Mini’s sound presentation is refreshingly mature, solid and authoritative, while the well-sculpted bass integrates seamlessly into the overall picture. There’s even excellent tonal balance and consistency, with no overly exaggerated frequencies or coloration from the wider ensemble.
The deciding factor, however, is that the HomePod Mini supports Apple’s spatial audio with Dolby Atmos when connected to an Apple TV 4K and through a variety of headphones, including its own AirPods Pro 2 earbuds. The Mini also supports lossless audio and plays a variety of tracks in up to 24-bit/48kHz quality via Apple Music.
While the Echo Dot is a perfectly pleasing performer, the HomePod Mini offers the more advanced sound quality.
**Winner: Apple HomePod Mini**
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) vs Apple HomePod Mini: Verdict
Amazon and Apple have managed to get some seriously impressive smart speakers out of the bag. Both the new Echo Dot and HomePod Mini look stylish and well-made, they’re both simple to use and easy to set up, and while sound could have been an issue, each manages to deliver enough punch and nuance to its exist as a music player and as a smart assistant.
In the end, your choice may come down to liking Apple more than Amazon, or vice versa. Anyone more aware of Siri’s ways and the wider Apple ecosystem as a whole (and is a regular Apple Music subscriber) will be more inclined towards the charming HomePod Mini, while Amazon aficionados will find little dislike for Alexa’s great integration with the fifth generation of the Echo Dot. However, for true music lovers, Siri’s fantastic curation capabilities may be enough to tip the scales in the HomePod Mini’s favor, as can the implementation of Dolby Atmos for certain tracks.
In reality, though, it’s a close call, especially considering the Dot’s measly cost. If you take both speakers at their full price, the Echo Dot and the HomePod Mini are both reasonably priced for what you get, but if you manage to get the Dot at a discount, it might be hard to resist a five-star performer .
MORE:
Read the full Echo Dot (5th generation) review
These are the best smart speakers money can buy
Check out our original HomePod Mini review
Apple HomePod vs HomePod 2: what is better?