If you’re looking to upgrade the tech in your home, you don’t have to spend thousands to make things a bit slicker. In fact, there are plenty of lower-cost ways to bring your house to life – whether that’s through incredible speakers or smart tech.
In fact, you can nab the latest generation of Amazon’s smart speaker, the Echo Dot, for just £22.99 right now – down from its original price of £54.99. You can even save a further 25% if you trade in an existing device for the new one.
And people love the Echo Dot – in July this year, PC Mag gave it an ‘excellent’ four star rating, praising its “convenient tap gestures” and “well-balanced sound”. So what do you get for your money?
READ MORE: Amazon’s ‘great value’ Smartwatch worth £100 with ‘the same features as Apple’ on sale for £22
READ MORE: Amazon’s ‘game changer’ electricity saving gadget slashed to almost half price
This compact smart speaker has amazing sound quality, with clear vocals and rich bass, and Alexa built in – so you don’t even need to press a button to turn your favourite song on, you can just ask the speaker. And it’s not just for music – you can use the Echo Dot as an alarm, your own personal weather update, and even pair it with compatible light bulbs and thermostats for extra control.
The device comes in charcoal, deep sea blue and glacier white, with all colours reduced right now. But you’ll have to hurry – the offer ends on October 16 at 8:55am.
Over 32,000 shoppers have reviewed the Echo Dot, giving it an impressive 4.7 stars out of 5. “The Echo Dot (5th generation, 2022 release) has truly exceeded my expectations! From the moment I set it up, I’ve been amazed by its versatility and the quality it offers. The speaker delivers a rich, vibrant sound that fills the room, making it perfect for music, podcasts, and even sleep sounds, which I now use every night to unwind,” one shopper wrote.
Another was more succinct in their praise, writing: “For a tiny speaker it does kicks out big sound, value for money, easy to set up, really good quality.” While a third praised the design: “The design of the 5th Gen Echo Dot is sleek and modern, fitting seamlessly into any room. The fabric finish adds a touch of elegance, making it look more like a decor item than a tech gadget.”
However, some shoppers levelled some criticisms at the gadget, like one who complained that the Alexa function “babbles on with excessive and irrelevant detail when asked some questions”. While another said: “The lack of a display limits its functionality compared to higher-end Echo models.”
If you did want a screen, you could spend a bit more on the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen), which costs £89.99 from Currys. Or for something really premium, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker retails for £379.95.