Is Amazon Making Mistakes in the Smart Speaker Market?

As a long-time user and fan of Amazon Echo devices, I was disappointed to hear that Amazon has discontinued the Echo Dot with Clock. This particular model was my favorite due to its fabric-covered LED dot matrix display that made time easily accessible without being disruptive. However, Amazon has chosen to replace it with a more expensive model that lacks the visual appeal of the Dot with Clock.

Initially, I thought that the discontinuation might be related to technical defects as my own device started malfunctioning. However, after an argument with Amazon and a replacement Echo, the device started working again after a hard reset and setup process. This raises the question of whether the discontinuation was due to technical issues or simply a strategic business decision by Amazon.

In my search for a replacement for the Echo Dot with Clock, I decided to try the Echo Spot, which comes at a higher price of $80. While the Spot features a screen instead of a dot-matrix display, I found it to be less visually appealing and lacking in functionality compared to its predecessor. Despite its intended use on nightstands, the upward tilt of the screen made it unsuitable for my tall dresser without nightstands in my bedroom.

My colleague’s experience with the Echo Spot differed from mine, as she found it to be a better fit for her needs. However, she also highlighted some drawbacks such as inferior sound quality compared to the Dot and the inability to set alarms with touch. The main advantages of the Spot include music playback controls and the display of time, date, temperature, and weather simultaneously.

After experiencing issues with the Echo Dot with Clock and trying out the Echo Spot, I have decided to stick with the former once it started working again. The discontinuation of the Dot with Clock and its replacement with the Spot raises concerns about Amazon’s decision-making in the smart speaker market. As a loyal customer and tech enthusiast, I hope that Amazon will consider user feedback and preferences in future product developments.