There’s no shortage of Amazon Prime Day Echo deals happening right now. I’ve tried nearly every single Echo Amazon has made, from the tower-like original Echo that sat in my first postgrad apartment to the swath of Echo Show devices you can find in my home right now while I test Alexa+’s early access. But while you’ll find several of Amazon’s smart speakers on sale, there’s only one I recommend investing in right now.
Why? Amazon has four new smart speakers and displays coming later this fall, perfectly timed to be available ahead of Black Friday. If you’re looking for room-filling sound or the best of Alexa’s abilities, it’ll be better to wait for the new Echo Studio ($220) or the new Echo Show 8 ($180) that will have updated features, better sound and screen quality, and Alexa+ access right out of the box.
But if you’re looking for a smaller speaker that will be a fun companion, that can add a little personality to your space while leaving out the cluttered screens and cameras, the Echo Spot is your best Amazon Prime Day Echo deal.
-
Photograph: Nena Farrell
-
Courtesy of Amazon
That’s right, the second-generation Echo Spot is my top pick smart speaker to purchase during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days this October. It came out last year and was an update to the previously retired 2017 smart speaker. It’s a smart speaker I love to come back to since it’s just fun compared to the rest of Amazon’s (and any other major smart speaker maker) ecosystem of smart speakers.
You can customize the clock face with a few different clock and color options, letting you choose something that feels a little more personalized. It’s not as deeply customizable as the old version was, which let you upload personal photos, but the clock faces are more fun than the same screen you’ll find on every other Echo device. It’s made to be a bedside companion and alarm clock, as the Spot will show you the alarm that’s coming up next underneath the time.
I also love that the little screen is perfect for showing specific info like the weather or calendar when you ask Alexa for it, and nothing else. No more cluttered, constantly changing slideshows like you’ll find on the Echo Show 5 and 8; no clutter and ads you didn’t ask for; no more 40-plus options you have to uncheck to stop getting four different pages of sports and news on your Show device. The Spot is the perfect device for anyone who likes a visual aspect to their questions, but doesn’t want to be distracted by ever-changing screens.
While the rest of Amazon’s Echo device deals aren’t bad, the Spot is the one I’m happy to recommend without worrying you might want to replace it in a few weeks when the new Echo speakers and smart displays start rolling out. It’s a fun smart speaker I find myself wanting in my bedroom and office for everyday use, which is saying something when I could choose from any smart speaker to put in those rooms.
