We’ve all had that thought: is it really worth upgrading? You see the shiny new version, the marketing buzz, and suddenly the speaker you bought last year feels ancient. That’s exactly where the Echo Dot 5 and Echo Dot 4 land us. Same shape, same size, same Amazon vibe. So why is the 5th generation trying to tempt us again?
We got curious, too. We lined them up, tested them in real spaces—living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms. And what we found wasn’t a flashy leap forward, but a quiet, subtle evolution. The kind you only notice after a few days, when you catch yourself saying, “Huh, that’s actually nice.”
So let’s not assume newer means better. Let’s take a close, human look at what really separates these two speakers—because while they may look like twins, they don’t always act like it.
That design déjà vu feeling
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: you won’t notice any design difference at first glance. The Echo Dot 5 and Echo Dot 4 are both spherical, about 10 cm wide and 8.9 cm tall, and they carry that same minimalist fabric-wrapped look. They blend in on a shelf, a bedside table, even a kitchen counter. No one’s buying these for design flair.
The button layout hasn’t moved either—volume up/down, action button, and mic mute are all still on the top panel, easy to find without looking. Even the colors are nearly identical, although the 5th gen version has a slightly more refined finish. Blink and you’ll miss it.
The only measurable difference in size is weight: 340 grams for the Echo Dot 5 vs 328 grams for the Echo Dot 4. That’s… nothing. You won’t feel it when moving it around. So from the outside? This round is a draw.
A speaker that finally sounds like a speaker
Now here’s where things get interesting. You turn them both on, ask Alexa to play your favorite playlist—and the Echo Dot 5 immediately starts pulling ahead. It’s not a huge leap, but it’s real.
The 5th gen packs a 44 mm front-firing speaker, up from the 41 mm driver in the 4th gen. It doesn’t sound dramatic until you listen. Mids are clearer, bass is punchier, and voices come through with more warmth—especially in podcasts or radio streams.
And then there’s volume. The Dot 5 gets louder without getting distorted. If you’ve ever tried filling a small room with music using the Dot 4 and found it a bit thin, the 5 feels like a subtle fix.
But—and this is a big one—the Echo Dot 4 includes a 3.5 mm audio output, and the Dot 5 doesn’t. That one tiny port lets you connect it to external speakers, turning it into a mini smart hub for your existing setup. If you’re into tinkering or already have decent audio gear, that missing jack might be a dealbreaker.
Smart upgrades that aren’t just for show
Here’s the part that caught us off guard. The Echo Dot 5 doesn’t just sound better—it’s smarter in a way that sneaks up on you.
First, the temperature sensor. Sounds small, right? But suddenly you’ve got a speaker that knows when the room’s too hot or too cold. You can set routines like “If the room hits 27°C, turn on the fan.” That’s the kind of automation that starts making your home feel genuinely smart, not just voice-controlled.
And if you go for the version with the display? That glowing LED behind the mesh now shows you the time, the temperature, or countdown timers. It’s one of those features that seems minor until you catch yourself checking the Dot instead of reaching for your phone.
These are small touches—but they add up. The Dot 4 works fine. The Dot 5 works better, more quietly and naturally. And that’s what makes a difference when you’re using it every single day.
Still the same Alexa under the hood
In terms of brains, both models are running the same Alexa ecosystem. Voice recognition is fast, accurate, and consistent. Whether you’re setting alarms, adding items to your shopping list, or asking for weather updates, you won’t notice a difference between the two.
They both support multi-room audio, stereo pairing, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. You can use them as intercoms, set up routines, or stream from your favorite services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music. The smart home integrations are identical—lights, plugs, thermostats, cameras—they all work across both models.
So if you’re just after the Alexa experience and don’t care about audio or sensors, both models do the job perfectly well. That’s where the decision starts getting personal.
A smart home hub that listens and learns
Amazon’s been refining how Echo Dots fit into a smart home, and both the Dot 4 and 5 are deeply embedded in that mission. You’re not just buying a speaker—you’re buying a little nerve center.
Both devices support hands-free calls, announcements, intercom features, and voice-activated routines. You can walk into the kitchen and say “Alexa, good morning,” and suddenly the lights turn on, the weather’s read out, and the coffee machine starts (if you’ve got it connected, of course).
But the Dot 5 gives you a little more control. With that added temperature sensor, your routines become more dynamic. You’re not just reacting—you’re automating. It’s a small shift, but if you’ve ever wanted your home to adapt to you, rather than the other way around, the 5 nudges you closer.
The green angle: both thinking ahead
This part surprised us. Both Echo Dots are part of Amazon’s push toward sustainable design. They use recycled fabric and aluminum, and their packaging has taken a turn for the eco-friendly. It’s not front-and-center marketing, but it’s there, and it matters if you care about long-term impact.
Neither one feels cheap or plasticky. They’ve got that familiar soft-touch finish and the same rubberized base to keep them stable. Design-wise, they still feel like polished little orbs that just happen to make your life easier.
One last thing: updates and support
One concern that always creeps in with tech: how long will it last? Luckily, Amazon tends to support its Echo devices for a good while. The Echo Dot 4 is still getting updates, and there’s no sign of that stopping soon.
But the Echo Dot 5 is newer. It’s likely to get a longer runway of support, which means you might get more value over time. Not a deal-breaking factor, but if you’re the type who keeps devices until they fall apart, that’s something to keep in mind.
So… which one should you get?
We’ve used both. We’ve tested them, tweaked them, lived with them. And here’s what we’d say:
The Echo Dot 5 is the better speaker. Full stop. Better audio, more sensors, a touch of visual feedback, and a smarter role in your home setup. It doesn’t scream “look at me,” but it definitely acts like a smarter device.
The Echo Dot 4 still holds its ground if you value flexibility—especially that 3.5 mm audio jack. That’s a feature we miss, and if you’re planning to plug it into something bigger, that older model becomes more appealing.
But if you’re just looking for the smartest, smoothest, most seamless experience? The Echo Dot 5 does more with less. It doesn’t just listen—it understands the space it’s in.
It’s not a revolution. But sometimes, the best tech doesn’t need to be flashy. Sometimes, it just needs to quietly make your day a little easier. And that’s exactly what the Echo Dot 5 does.