Echo Pop Review - What Were Amazon Thinking? 

I bought a pop for £17 on Prime day and am pretty pleased with it. I actually prefer the sound to the dot which i think is muddy. The pop has less bass but i think the sound is cleaner.

Every single echo device I’ve owned I’ve gotten at least 75% off. I would never pay full price for one

Is the sound really more directional? Both have one upwards angled small speaker. And is directionality in such a device desirable?

I LOVE MY FELX i got two of them one in the kitchen and one in my kids bedroom!

It fits just fine in my room and bathroom

Yeah, I was VERY impressed with the echo dot sphere, as I was with the second puck, with the fabric. Because of the price-and _because a sphere (and puck) echo *w/o a clock* is a “different device” than a sphere (and puck) dot *WITH* a clock, when it comes to Bluetooth pairing them, to act as L and R stereo speakers-I bought a set of two of each, because I’d initially bought one of each to pair, thinking two clocks would be overkill... However, because those wouldn’t pair - being “different devices,” and all, which won’t work for using such a pair to double your volume, as L and R speakers. In short, I made a clock set and a non-clock set. While at first, I was PO’d that that were the case, though, given the sound-when I FINALLY got them to pair-was so good, I was glad I’d bought two pair - especially because they were in their first year and on sale for $25 and $30 (w/o and w/ clock), during Black Cyber Week, which gave me time to get the first set, try them, and then buy the matching device, for each - not to mention that I got the blue-grey ones, which are nicely subtle. Those I added to three six fabric puck dots-mostly for IoT management-two of which are stereo paired and sound great, too. When echoes go on “real sale” (i.e., over the holiday and on Amazon Prime Days, during which I bought five fabric pucks (two are as yet unused), because they were $18 and came with a $15 LED million-color lightbulb, as did two of my spheres. I also have a full-size sphere echo in the living room-which I forgot over the holidays for $50-to which I plan to add a second, to replace my receiver in that room, and just Bluetooth them to a 5-CD carousel player, which will make up my entire “living room stereo,” as good as the full-size sphere echoes are... Prior to that overhaul, I’d had eight plastic pucks (one portable, connected to a battery and a small, powered external speaker (because those plastic pucks sound like crap), in a Ziploc bag, for the back yard. However, as you point out-which is probably the biggest “flaw” in the design of _every_ echo/dot, *since the plastic pucks,* is that damned barrel power supply. It not only makes the length of the cord fixed, but it’s also why I still use a plastic puck, as a portable one. It makes _no sense for Amazon,_ either. Sure, they _might_ get some folks to buy another power supply from them, but they also sell the USB outlet/charger, cables, AND USB batteries (for portability), that people are much more likely to replace - possibly more than a couple times. I have _absolutely no idea_ why Amazon chose to go the traditional barrel power supply-especially for the sphere and now the pop, which could use USB C cables that output the amount of power that the louder speakers _might_ need, although I can only imagine that the full-size echo sphere might use... As for the pop “fitting into” their product line, my bet is that it’s a test market to see how well the new design goes, ‘cause they’re fresh outta “dot-shaped” devices - with the puck and the sphere. I was wondering where they could go next, with it, and for two years, they have, too - else they wouldn’t still be selling the sphere, which has been the new model for over two years, not to mention still selling the fabric puck, either four or five years on, now... So, it could be something as simple as a shape change - with “pop,” they aren’t painting themselves into a shape corner...

Got mine on Prime Day for my daughters bedroom. Pretty pleased with it, much better than the older dot I had in there previously (the puck shaped one) - Wouldn't pay full price for it however

i dont care what anyone says about it im in love with mine

I got mine for 8$ US, i was going to return it then realized how cheap it was and figured heck for even just a way to control lights and appliances and use for drop ins and listening to my audiobooks and spotify out on my back porch, its worth the 8$ for sure. Its a bit frustrating trying to figure out the set up mode cus the 3 buttons on top are a bit vague as far as what button to press...figured out its supposed to be the vol up and down same time for 15sec...didnt work for me..still hasnt so it just sits here unplugged

I admit I wanted the sphere echo dot but this one was so cheap on Prime Day, it was more appealing of a deal

Smidgen = an english technical term to mean a gnat's whisker smaller or larger

Thanks for the review. I agree, but if you place these in a cavernous Livingroom with one of their sub woofers, they actually sound fine. One alone though, yes, you can do better.

I got two pops and a philips bulb for £39 in the black friday sale today

the Pop is great tbh

Happy Sunny evening Stu

The flex is so convenient to plug in without wires hanging anywhere, i.e.: 1) In my RV ceiling-mounted AC receptacle, out of the way, for issuing commands when I enter, and "Intruder in RV!" 2) Bathroom sink receptacle with sensor, how's the weather? time? 3)On back outside door light which has a built in receptacle, bought from aliexpress to issue commands from backyard, with sensor to turn on smart bulb, turn on outside everywhere! 4) Carport with sensor to turn on light. "Warning, Hungry Bear in Garage!" It's also perfect for using the audio out to a receiver to make a dirt-cheap streamer- a terrific use no one ever figured out. It's just ridiculous as motion activated night light, as it requires buying 2 flexes, an individual sensor and a separate nightlight accessory, totalling $60...when the motion sensor itself already has an unfortunately slightly-too-dim little led which lights temporarily to indicate activation. If this were brighter it would suffice if it could be programmed for duration to remain on a little longer. If the flex had a slightly better speaker, and a slightly better DAC, it might just be the most useful echo of all time! Oh also you can use the built in USB receptacle to charge random things and run USB devices, although I don't believe a USB plugged in extension cable used this way can be controlled by routines.

Well, I don't know about the Pop - yet. But I can say that buying a black Dot and getting a white cable for it drives me up a wall.

Hi Stu. My speculation is that the Pop costs Amazon less to build, thus expanding their profit margins. Why do I think that way? Not enough yachts!

Board of directors .... How can we make this Echo Dot about 50% cheaper to make ? ... Engineers .... Um, we could cut it in half ?

Good review. Unlike you I just don’t like the design. It looks like a part that’s fallen off of Tweaky, the Buck Rogers robot 🤔

No more tech hauls? I looked forward to those

Yeah but, I want lavender - matches my bathroom color scheme.

Hey atleast it's not a preprietary port on the device. It's a barrel jack. Find out the polarity and you can make your own!

It can't sound better if it's directional, my echo dot sounds nice as the music bounces off the wall

Could you get 2 Pops and use them as a not very good stereo pair? Might be useful on a desk or something.

$18 Pop vs $30 Dot

Pretty obvious from the start that you didn't like it. Should have just fessed up & saved us 11min. Watched other reviews on this without the bias & negative body language. Much more enjoyable.

There's a pop deal atm. £39 for 2 pops (£16.36 each) inc a smart plug (£7.26). They are really pushing it. Wonder how it all compares with the google offering.

Corporate greed!! 🤢

Apparently Amazon is realizing it as well, the pop is now only 17 USD on sale

£19.99 spring sale seems fair

Like a lot of stuff car manufacturing is the worst they seem to redesign even if it aint broken ,and to add insult to injury they make it worse.I am sure i got my dot with display for £30 on a deal over 12 months ago ,maybe wrong though

I’m sticking to my old gen 2 dot… but did get 2 gen 5 with clock. The thing that I find stupid is they removed the in put for external speakers. (Headphone socket)

I see the Echo Flex as literally an input only device. I have smart bulbs in every single light in our house, including the halls/landing. Of course, in some hallways there's room for a table to place a normal dot on. But for cases like the landing, there's just no room for a table. Yes, of course I could shout to other echo devices in other rooms, but being able to control the landing lights without shouting is good for me. Never however, play music through the flex!

Current at 17.99 on prime day

Echo Pop is just a half of Echo Dot! 😂

It’s down to £17 at minute so I may purchase one for the bathroom.

Doesn't even have an audio jack, can only connect via Bluetooth to external speakers. Even the flex has an audio jack.

It’s a bit like the new iPad, it’s a worse product, 5 year old tech in a new case at an unreasonably high price, yet I know people that bought one because it’s “new”, I guess that’s what will happen here?

Seems pointless, we have a small Amazon speaker in the dot, mid in the echo and large in the studio. This doesn’t fit in anywhere unless it was a budget entry level

If Echo Pop was metallic with decent componants, then yes, it would probably succeeded where your dot failed. But because its plastic, lighter than the Dot and has a coiled lead, it would be difficult for it to stay in its angled position, let alone the distorted sound causing it to move. I would of thought Amazon would have improved the cylinder Dot speakers with a thicker light band, so it can act as a wifi speaker as well as a night light (for those toilet inconveniences in the middle of the night), with an early morning or late night light up/down fades - basically, replacing the average Hue smart lightbulbs. Just a suggestion.

If you are relying on Whatever Echo system to play you your music is good enough to provide true HiFi, then you will always be dissatisfied. For me, Alexa is nothing more than a research module for music that satisfies my music requirements. Once I discover something that satisfies my music tastes, I purchase the song, and listen to it through my real Hi-Fi System

Yep it’s £17.99 on prime now 😂

I hate that Amazon removed the Echo Flex! I think it was a great platform for smart home additions, motion sensors, etc. It had good enough sound for the locations i would have used it in and now I can't get it! I think the Pop is a useless piece of garbage!

For me idc abt it but it's so funny how triggerd he is abt this product 😂

It looks like it was designed with "cut the cost and try to disguise that cost-cutting as a redesign for another reason" type thinking. Essentially it looks like what it is, a half Echo Dot that costs more.

Personally I think we should've gotten a 2nd gen echo flex as opposed to this

Yes, of course they're going with the Nike school of corporate greed. Make a cheaper, less quality product each year whilst charging incrementally more for it. 🤦

Seems like someone made it of an afternoon when there was nothing much else on. OK but unnecessary.

Bought something on Prime and they gave me a credit to buy this thing for AUD $20 instead of 79. I'll pass.

£14.99 at most! They should stop taking the piss!

it’s always goads me that IN AUSTRALIA the mesh is activated YET THE LICAL PRICE still reflects it

What “was” Amazon thinking, derp.

Ayoo first! Haven't even watched it but bet itl be good!

Plop

Don’t listen to Paul Hibbert or you will end up buying lots off smart home tech and your wife will get angry. Plus there is more smut on his RU-vid than on only fans😀

Louis Rossmann's video of the woke amazon turning off a smart house makes me reject this kit ...period.

I bought pop and then instantly I replaced it with dot. Dot is way better than pop.

****************WAS

3rd

I really hate it. I hate the shape of it (I wanted to make boob jokes the minute I saw it), and the name makes me think the appearance of it is a popped balloon. And now that I've heard it, I dislike it even more.

first time i have seen or heard about this, do not like it already.