Faisal Ghaffar 
The latest Echo speaker from Amazon is Echo Pop and to put it simply, it is one of the worst products of the company. It sounds and looks worse that the Echo Dot and offers less features. The half-spherical device is almost the same size as the Echo Dot and its price is only $10 less than at $39.99.
The features
Some of the smart home sensors that are notable in Echo Dot are nowhere to be found in the Echo Popand it delivers a flat audio performance that makes the middling sonics in the former sound a lot better than they actually are.
But, the Echo Dot does have Alexa support and her features, which is definitely a perk. The Pop also offers support for Amazon’s Sidewalk neighborhood networks and the new Matter standard. Moreover, it can also function as an extender for the Eero mesh Wi-Fi routers of Amazon. However, the Echo Dot is also capable of all these and it also has a premium feel, while the Pop does not.
The size
When it comes to size, you will find that the Echo Pop and Echo Dot are very similar in sizes, as it measures 9.9 x 8.4 x 9.1cm. But, the Pop looks smaller because of its half-spherical design, even though there is not that much of a difference. Nonetheless, there is a difference in the weight, as the Pop weighs 195g, while the Dot weighs 303g, which means the former is significantly lighter.
But, this only makes the Pop feel cheap. Moreover, it is made of plastic with just the front covered with fabric. The Dot, on the other hand, has more fabric covering and this gives it the premium feel.
The changes
You will find that there is no Alexa light ring on the Echo Pop. Instead, there is a thin indicator light for Alexa that can be found on the top edge. There are a trio of buttons behind this light, which are for turning the volume up and down and microphone mute. There is no Action button on the Pop that can be used for silencing alarms and setting up the speaker.
You can snooze alarms by just tapping on top of the Echo Pop. The charging port can be found on the back of the speaker, but there is no 3.5mm audio jack. But, you can use Bluetooth for connecting a secondary speaker if you want.
Voice commands can be used for controlling your smart home devices with the Echo Pop, thanks to Alexa support. With the introduction of Matter, the number of smart devices supported has increased. As far as communication features are concerned, you can enjoy the same ones on the Pop as those on other Echo speakers. You can also use the Echo Pop as a jukebox. But, there is no temperature sensor, or built-in motion sensor that can be found in the latest Echo Dot.
The Verdict
Had the Echo Dot been launched with a lower price tag, it might have been worth it, but given that it does not deliver an impressive audio performance, it is not value for money.
