Amazon’s ecosystem (Echo-system?) by no means stops rising. Its latest participant has arrived: the Echo Pop, a $40 good speaker with a half-circle physique as an alternative of the totally rounded types of Amazon’s different Echo audio system.

I’ve been having fun with the Echo Pop as a small desk companion. Its sound is ok sufficient for its value—although different, equally priced Amazon audio system will probably be a greater music expertise—however the greatest enchantment of the Echo Pop is definitely the enjoyable colours and attention-grabbing type issue it has.

Small Footprint

When it is subsequent to the Echo Dot (5th Gen), the Echo Pop seems to be the identical measurement—that’s, when you’re wanting head-on on the Pop’s flat, round face. But if you check out the Echo Pop from the aspect, you’ll be able to see it is solely about two-thirds as deep. Where you actually can see the dimensions distinction is on the underside. The Echo Pop’s base is sort of a full inch thinner than the Echo Dot, giving it a slim oval base as an alternative of a giant rounded one.

That smaller measurement and base helps make it simpler to put into varied spots round your own home. With its half-moon type and single flat face slightly than a complete rounded speaker, it is a good match for desk corners and small cabinets or aspect tables.

The Pop additionally has barely bigger front-firing speaker than the fifth-generation Dot—1.95 inches versus 1.73—letting it sound loads loud from whichever house you have squeezed it into. I positioned mine on the nook of my desk and added it to my Alexa app in what felt like seconds. I already had Spotify related, so I used to be jamming to Dua Lipa’s new song in moments.

The Echo Pop sounded nice with pop music (ha!) and digital lo-fi. But once I turned on sounds with decrease bass notes, I discovered these received misplaced on this little speaker. When it involves sound high quality, the Echo Dot is a little bit higher and solely prices barely extra. You’ll get barely extra strong sound thanks to higher bass, although neither will examine to an even bigger good speaker just like the fourth-generation Echo (8/10, WIRED Recommends).

Sweet Style

If you are much less anxious about unbelievable sound and extra a classy speaker, that is Amazon’s finest providing, and possibly one of the best model alternative out of the world of cheaper good audio system. I’ve three totally different good audio system on my desk, and out of any of the pint-sized choices from Amazon, Google, and Apple, I’d slightly have a look at the Echo Pop than any of the others.