It’s almost the end of the year, and some of us are thinking of ways to improve our lives for the new year. Why not start with right when we wake up? A smart alarm clock can help with this. Back in July, Amazon announced a new generation of its Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Available in black, glacier white and ocean blue, it lists for $80, but right now you can get one for just $45, a $35 savings. That price matches the best we’ve seen. It also makes a great gift, especially for someone who loves to press snooze on their alarm.
Like its predecessor, the new Echo Spot has a touchscreen and displays a variety of custom-designed clock faces. It’s also Alexa-enabled, allowing you to use your voice to set alarms, access the weather, play music tracks and issue commands to all of your Alexa smart home products. Amazon says the new Echo Spot “builds on what our customers loved most about the original product — like the semi-spherical shape, access to Alexa, and the compact and vibrant display — and reimagines it with even better visuals and improved audio quality.”
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
When the original Echo Spot came out in 2017, former CNET editor Ry Crist described it as “the love child of Amazon’s most expensive Echo gadget, the touchscreen-equipped Echo Show, and its least expensive Alexa gadget, the pint-sized Echo Dot.” With a launching price of $130, the original had its plusses but wasn’t quite as compelling as we’d hoped.
The screen on the new Echo Spot has a bigger diameter with no bezel around it. But it’s more of a semicircle rather than the fully circular screen found on the original. This newer version has a 1.73-inch front-firing directional speaker that Amazon says offers upgraded sound from the original, with “clear vocals and deep bass.” It can also easily connect with all of your household smart devices like smart doorbells, lights and more.
Unlike Amazon’s Echo Show products, the screen is designed to display rudimentary animations, not full-scale video. Also, there’s no integrated camera, so you can’t make video calls (the original had a camera). That’s probably a good thing if you’re concerned about privacy issues.
On that front, like other Alexa-enabled products, Amazon says the new Echo Spot is equipped with privacy controls, including a mic-off button, the ability to view and delete your voice recordings, and more.
If you’re in the market for other Amazon finds, check out the best Amazon deals happening right now.
Why this deal matters
This is the newest 2024 model of the Echo Spot and it matches its record-low price. With Christmas just around the corner, it makes a perfect gift. You can’t go wrong when it’s almost half off.
Best Last-Minute Gifts, According to CNET Readers
Based on their popularity, here are the holiday deals that you should be considering
Will this item arrive in time for Christmas?
If you’re ordering this as a holiday gift, you probably want to know if it’s going to arrive on time. With Christmas and Hanukkah both taking place on Dec. 25 this year and Kwanzaa kicking off the day after, it’s important to note shipping deadlines for USPS, FedEx, UPS, Amazon and others.
Where delivery is no longer possible, be sure to assess your in-store pickup options or check out these great digital deals for the holidays.
This Amazon Echo Spot will arrive before Christmas, according to Amazon for both Prime members and non-members.
CNET is always covering a wide array of deals on tech products and much more. Start with the hottest sales and discounts on the CNET Deals page, and sign up for the CNET Deals Text to get daily deals sent straight to your phone. Add the free CNET Shopping extension to your browser for real-time price comparisons and cash-back offers. And peruse our gift guide, which includes a full range of ideas for birthdays, anniversaries and more.
Read the full article here
