

The Amazon Echo Show 5 allows you to make video calls, watch TV or movies through your streaming services or display your photos. You’ll also need to keep it connected to a phone or other Google or Siri connected device to use those features on the speaker. Consequently, it doesn’t function as a smart home speaker the way the Echo Dot does. In order to use the voice commands, the device needs to be connected to a phone via Bluetooth. It also has battery backup in case the power goes out in the middle of the night. This allows you to dim the device if you are a lighter sleeper or leave it bright during the day. The TIMEBOOST has a USB phone charger and a backlit display with five levels for brightness. This lets you wake up to alarm tones during the week and music on the weekend. You can even choose different sources for different alarms. They also allow you to designate different sources for the alarm itself, so you can wake up to music or alarm tones. The option for dual alarms is great for partners, stubborn sleepers or those who like to wake up later on the weekends. If you prefer to keep it simple and wake up to the radio, it has four FM presets. However, the iHome also syncs with Siri and Google Assistant in case your preferred voice assistant isn’t Alexa. Like the 4th Gen Echo Dot, the iHome TIMEBOOST can also take calls, tell you the weather, give you the latest news and stream music. While the LED emits a softer light, it is still bright and may not be the best option for light sleepers. Its small and compact yet elegant design makes it a pleasing choice for people who appreciate minimalist decor. You can even eliminate the need for having your phone in your bedroom and take calls directly on the Dot. Since it’s a full Echo Dot device, you can ask Alexa to play the news or tell you about the weather.Īnother cool feature is being able to connect them in each bedroom so you can wake up the rest of your family in the morning. Voice commands make it easy to set an alarm and turn on other smart home connected elements, like your lights, before you get up. Unlike some of the other options on our list, this alarm clock does not require another Google home device to run the voice command features. With the ability to connect to the rest of your smart house, the Echo Dot is a great option for people who want many smart home features conveniently built right into their alarm clock. If you need to snooze, you can easily tap the top of the speaker for some more sleep or say, “Alexa, snooze.” You can use voice control to tell Alexa when to wake you up. The 4th Generation Echo Dot now includes an alarm clock to sync up your house even more than it did before.
