Amazon Echo Spot 2: Comeback of the smart alarm clock with Alexa

Amazon wants to return to the bedside. With the Echo Spot 2 presented today, the manufacturer is making another attempt to secure a place on the bedside table with a smart speaker at a price of less than 100 euros. Like the original, the new edition is shaped like a halved sphere, but is now available in blue as well as white and black. It is still equipped with a speaker, Alexa microphone and a visual display.

In contrast to the premiere version from 2018, the successor device lacks two key features, namely a front camera and a full video display. Both were not well received at the time. The price was also high at 130 euros. Amazon withdrew the alarm clock ball from the range after just one year without giving a reason. The second generation is more affordable and sounds better suited to the application scenario on paper.

Camera-less, display-free, cheaper

If you don't make video calls from the edge of your bed, you won't miss the missing front camera. This also benefits privacy and intimacy, as unannounced "drop-in" image calls are categorically ruled out.

The circular video display of the product premiere from 2018 has given way to a horizontal digital display. It measures 2.83 inches diagonally and displays 240 x 320 pixels. It cannot display films and series. However, these were also only shown tiny on the original model and with black bars at the edges or with heavy cropping.

With a market launch price of 95 euros, the Echo Spot 2 costs around 35 euros less than the product premiere six years ago. During the Prime Day discount campaign, the online department store is offering a temporary special price of just 55 euros until July 17. This makes the purchase more affordable than the next most expensive model, the third-generation Echo Show 5, which regularly costs 110 euros.

It remains a smart alarm clock

Apart from the camera, display and price, Amazon is sticking to the key product features of the original. The speaker wakes you up with a selection of desired sounds. The display accompanies this with gradually brightening light. It also displays song titles, weather symbols, calendar entries, the date and time on selectable dials.

If desired, it can display smart home buttons. The bedroom light can then be brightened or switched off using touch gestures. The speaker can be integrated into scenes that combine light, music and heating control using Alexa routines. The device connects to the home network and the internet via Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 and 5 GHz).

A microphone responds to requests for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. The alarm clock is set by voice command instead of touch input. Alexa plays back confirmations and information via a 44.5-millimeter broadband loudspeaker. It is designed to provide "rich" sound when listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks from your favorite streaming service. The volume can be adjusted using two buttons on the housing - or again by verbal announcement.

Audio calls to other Alexa contacts and announcements in a household filled with Echo devices can also still be made using the combination of microphone and speaker. If you don't want Alexa to listen, you can cover her ears at the touch of a button.

(dahe)