Amazon invented the ideal smart alarm clock two years ago in the Echo Spot, a perfect bedside companion for anyone interested in an Alexa-powered home. While expensive at $129.99, it was far better than using an Echo Dot or a traditional alarm clock to wake up to, with plenty of additional usefulness as a kitchen clock or a monitor for various smart home devices. It was one of the first smart displays we were really enthusiastic about, and remains high on our list of recommendations in the category, as well an Editors' Choice. However, the introduction of the $89.99 Echo Show 5 means the Spot has some very strong competition, and both are worthy of your attention. Design, Audio, and Skills The Echo Spot is a tiny globe with a flat edge that comes in black or white. It measures 4.1 by 3.8 by 3.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 14.8 ounces. It has a reasonably sharp 2.5-inch, 480-by-480 circular color touch screen on the front, and a 1.4-inch speaker that radiates out through a grille arou...

The tiny, Alexa-powered, touch-screen Amazon Echo Spot makes a perfect smart bedside or desk clock.

Super cute design; Useful display; Supports all Alexa features; 3.5mm output

Not a powerful speaker; No non-camera option

I got this for the wife for her birthday. She wanted one to replace our apparently outdated Echo Dot that wasn't acting right any more. Allegedly, the Dot wasn't supported any longer and started having trouble processing certain requests, so I purchased the Spot since she likes her other one so...

Adding a screen to the Echo smart speakers has proved a winner for Amazon, particularly here with the diminutive Echo Spot. With the clear, round display, the Echo Spot becomes the perfect bedside companion, giving you a clock and more information on requests, plus the ability to make video calls. The only potential downside is the upcoming Echo Show 5, which gives you a traditional 5-inch screen in an Echo and is going to be cheaper than the Echo Spot when it's released late in June. If you can hold off, wait until we've had a chance to review this new model; if you want the smallest, screen-enabled Echo then the Echo Spot remains a quality product.

Useful screen; Video calling works well; Compact dimensions; More intuitive than audio-only Echo devices;

Sound could be better;

It does heaps, which is great. Given how much it does, the bedroom doesn't do it justice, so we put it in the lounge room. However, it's a bit small there, so one has to squint to see the screen. That's compensated by simply asking Alexa to tell you what you were wanting to know anyway.

Love the Echo, very easy to use, in the beginning you receive daily emails from Amazon with suggestions and tips. Alexa understands all my commands and responds very politely every time. Finding more uses for it every day. The best news is from today, Apple Music is compatible with the Alexa family.

If you're all about having a smart home, owning just one smart assistant probably doesn't cut it. To truly control your home with voice activation, you need smart assistants in multiple rooms so that you're always within range to make a command. Purchasing multiple smart devices can leave a pretty hefty hole in your wallet. Luckily, Amazon is offering $40 off when you buy two Echo Spots together. Amazon's Echo Spot is small enough to fit almost anywhere in your home, but advanced enough to show you news briefings, shopping lists, recipes, and more all from voice commands. The Spot also connects to other Echo and smart devices so your entire home can be synced up. Though it's not just your devices the Spot can recognize — you can make video calls to other people who have Echo Spot and Show devices in their homes. Check it out: Normally two Echo Spots price out at $259.98, but right now when you buy two of the smart assistant devices, you'll save $40. The savings...

I use Alexa Echo Spot multiple times a day, every day. This one was such a great deal!!! The Spot if very helpful for timers, reminders, and can even broadcast to another device in the home, as an intercom system. She can be used to count days, fetch recipes and so much more.

great wireless speaker. Does all my home automation. Very useful in your daily life. Wifi is also great

So much fun I bought a second one.

Good looking bit of kit, alarm, clock etc; all works really well

Having problems in linking with other existing Alexa products for sharing music or using as intercom; store staff knowledge of product surprisingly weak; told amazon employee would be in store; on certain days despite returning on 2 of these days they were not there