The Amazon echo dot with Alexa is a smaller, cheaper version of Amazon’s echo smart speaker. The echo dot is probably the most useful speaker I have ever used because of its versatility. The dot is a voice activated and uses Amazon’s “Alexa” which works similar to the Iphones “siri.” Unlike Siri, Alexa is actually useful, in the sense that she can search for music, check the weather, order things off your Amazon account and even set up playlists for you.

The dot’s most groundbreaking use of Alexa is her ability to control power outlets, lights, fans and even your smart home thermostat. At home I have nest gen 3 thermostats which can be adjusted by the echo dot which sits on the desk in my room. Alexa helps with everyday life and the ability to turn on and off the lights helps even more at night when im already in bed and forget to turn it off.

Of course lights that are compatible with Alexa and switches around the house being compatible with the operating system come at an extra cost and can’t be done with the target brand lights we all buy. The extra comfort comes at a premium and if you buy Phillips hue lights (like I did) the price for two is nearly $34 or $17 a bulb which is a long shot for 10 dollar packs of four regular that you can buy just about anywhere. Also to switch every outlet in your home is gonna cost upwards of $10 a socket. If you have a house with 3 or more rooms it could cost you hundreds of dollars in additional costs.

Aside from the cost of completely outfitting your house for the basic speaker, voice command and inquiry settings for the echo dot powered by Alexa are second to none and cheaper than nearly every other competitor on the market which makes amazons product most attractive. Last week on Black Friday the echo dot had a $10 discount and so did all of its Phillips brand compatible accessories so the deals are out there especially with Amazon’s buy 6 get one free promotion that they will have through January. Overall for $50, Alexa is the best smart home, automated, beautiful piece of technology I will ever own until amazon makes a new one. I would 10/10 recommend this product to all amazon prime account holders and anyone looking to make their home smart. Grade: A