Amazon’s Echo line-up is crowded. Between Dots, Shows, and Studios, it’s easy to get lost. So when the Echo Pop arrived, promising “full sound” in a new compact shape for under £50, we had to ask: is this just a cheaper, slightly oddly-shaped Echo Dot, or is it the new default choice for anyone wanting to get Alexa smarts into a small space?
We’ve dug deep into the specs and, more importantly, into the real-world experiences of hundreds of users, to find out if this is the new budget champion for your bedroom, kitchen, or student digs.
Echo Pop (Newest gen) | Full sound compact Wi-Fi and Bluetooth smart speaker with Alexa | Charcoal
Compact Design, Full Sound: Delivers impressive sound from a compact body that’s specifically designed for small spaces like bedrooms and offices.
Complete Voice Control: Use your voice to ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, and audiobooks from providers like Spotify and Amazon Music, or stream directly from your phone via Bluetooth.
Instant Smart Home Hub: Instantly add voice control to any room, allowing you to manage compatible smart plugs, lights, and other devices using the Alexa app or your voice.
Built-in Wi-Fi Extender: Features eero Built-in, allowing it to act as a Wi-Fi mesh extender to boost coverage for compatible eero networks.
All-in-One Personal Assistant: Use Alexa to set timers, check the weather, get news updates, make calls, and access tens of thousands of skills for everything from relaxing sounds to music quizzes.
In Detail: What is the Echo Pop?
The Echo Pop is Amazon’s new entry-level smart speaker. It ditches the familiar “puck” or “orb” design of the Echo Dot for a new semi-sphere, front-firing design. At just 99mm wide and 196g, it’s tiny, unobtrusive, and clearly built to blend in.
It’s available in a few colours (including Charcoal, which we’re focusing on) and is made from recycled materials.
But the main story is its purpose: it’s a full-fledged Alexa speaker, a Bluetooth speaker for your phone, and (crucially) a smart home controller with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Matter support. It even has a hidden feature: it can act as a Wi-Fi extender for an eero mesh network. On paper, it’s a lot of tech for under £50. But does it deliver?
Design and Build: A New Shape for Small Spaces
The first thing you’ll notice about the Echo Pop is its new shape. The front-firing speaker means it’s designed to be placed against a wall or in a corner, unlike the omnidirectional Echo Dots which are meant to sit in the centre of a room.
It’s properly compact. Many users are surprised by its size, with one noting it was “smaller than I thought I will be,” adding they weren’t complaining. This is its superpower. It’s what reviewers describe as “unobtrusive,” “sleek and modern,” and a device that “fits anywhere.” This isn’t a statement piece; it’s a smart utility that’s designed to disappear into a room.
The build quality gets a nod, too, especially the use of 100% post-consumer recycled yarn for the fabric. On top, you’ll find the standard Echo controls (volume up, volume down, and the all-important microphone-off button). One user, who uses the Pop as a high-tech alarm clock, commented that the controls are “easy to grope for in the night,” which is exactly the kind of real-world experience we look for.
Audio Performance: How “Full” is “Full Sound”?
This is the make-or-break question. Amazon claims “full sound” from a single 1.95″ front-firing speaker. Can a speaker this small actually sound good?
The answer, overwhelmingly, is yes—with a crucial caveat.
Multiple users are “genuinely impressed” with the performance. One review highlights that “despite its small size, the sound quality is rich and clear with a solid bass response,” calling it “perfect for bedrooms or small living spaces.” Another was equally surprised, stating the “sound is full and surprisingly rich for its size,” with “great clarity on vocals and enough bass to fill a small room.”
So, it’s powerful. One user even said the sound is “better than I was expecting” for such a small device.
Now for the caveat, which is best summed up by one of the most helpful user reviews: “It’s not a hi-fi speaker, and it lacks bass, but it was never meant to be.”
This is the perfect context. If you’re expecting it to “beat my cinema system,” as one user joked, you’ll be disappointed. This device isn’t for “serious music listening.” But for its intended purpose—what one owner calls “podcasts, radio, or background music”—the sound quality is described as “excellent.”
Alexa, Setup, and Smart Home
A smart speaker is only as good as its smarts, and setup can be a real pain point. Thankfully, the Echo Pop seems to have perfected this.
The setup process is universally praised as “effortless,” “instant,” and “very easy.” One user summed it up best: “Set up was pretty much plug and play.” Another was delighted that the device “arrive[d] synched to your account so pretty much plug them in and away you go.”
Once running, it’s a full-power Alexa device. Users report that “Alexa responds quickly” and the “voice recognition is sharp even with background noise.” It’s a brilliant, “compact, affordable gateway to Alexa,” perfect for setting timers, checking the weather, or controlling smart lights.
It’s also a proper smart home hub, with support for the new Matter standard, meaning it’s future-proofed for controlling your other compatible devices.
The Secret Weapon: eero Built-in
Here’s a feature that most people will miss: the Echo Pop has eero Built-in. If you have an Amazon eero mesh Wi-Fi system, this little speaker isn’t just a speaker; it’s a Wi-Fi extender.
This is a genuine game-changer and adds enormous value. As one eero user confirmed, “These are a very cheap and convenient way to extend your Eero mesh… to boost wifi range.” For just £44.99, you’re getting a smart speaker and a mesh network node that Amazon claims can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage.
While the vast majority of users report stable Wi-Fi, it’s worth noting that a small minority “experience issues with the device stopping to connect to the internet.” However, for most—especially eero users—the connectivity is a massive plus.
Echo Pop vs. The Competition
So, why buy the Pop over Amazon’s other small speakers?
- vs. Echo Dot (Newest Gen): This is the main rival. For about a tenner more (£54.99), the Dot offers "Big Vibrant Sound" from a larger 3.0" woofer and dual tweeters. If your main priority is room-filling music, the Dot is the clear step-up. The Pop is for background audio; the Dot is a proper mini music speaker.
- vs. Echo Show 5: If you want a screen, you'll need to jump to the Echo Show 5 (around £89.99). This gives you a 5.5" display for video calls, visual timers, and camera feeds. The Pop is audio-only, which many users prefer for bedrooms to avoid a glowing screen.
Our Verdict
The Amazon Echo Pop absolutely nails its brief. It’s not a hi-fi powerhouse, and anyone expecting one is missing the point.
This is, as one owner perfectly described it, the "perfect, affordable gateway to Alexa." It’s an outstanding high-tech alarm clock that's "better value for money than an alarm clock" (but infinitely smarter). It’s the ideal kitchen companion for timers and radio, and a brilliant, unobtrusive speaker for a student's desk.
The sound is far better than it has any right to be for the size and price, and the setup is flawless. If you have an eero mesh network, the decision is even simpler: it's a "no-brainer" for extending your Wi-Fi.
If you're looking for a cost-effective, great-sounding, and surprisingly capable little smart speaker for a small space, the Echo Pop is the new budget champ.
Pros
Cons
Final Rating: 4.7/5
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Additional Information
- Manufacturer: Amazon
- Release Date: 2023
- ASIN: B09WX6QD65 (Charcoal)
- Dimensions: 99 x 83 x 91 mm
- Weight: 196 g
- In the Box: Echo Pop, 15W power adapter (Glacier White), Quick Start Guide
Further Reading
For more perspectives on the Amazon Echo Pop, why not check out CNET, RTINGS.com, or TechRadar?