Smart speakers come in many sizes, and comparing the Amazon Echo Dot (now on its fifth generation) and the Nest Mini (currently on its second version) are some of the smallest available. These tiny speakers are still loud enough to play music or perform other audio functions for people nearby, and they can also be great desktop companions or even smart alarm clocks in some cases.
Which is the best? Despite their small size, these small speakers have many differences, starting with the design. Let’s look.
To shape
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The second-generation Nest Mini model retains its puck shape, measuring just under four inches in diameter and 1.65 inches in height. It’s small enough to fit anywhere, and comes in several colors to help blend in with your surroundings if you want to. There’s a row of LED indicator lights on top and touch controls for volume along with a mic switch, but there’s not much else to this tiny speaker.
The latest Echo Dot, meanwhile, retains its spherical design closely related to the larger fourth-generation Echo model. At about four inches tall and four inches wide, it’s not quite as good at concealing as the Nest Mini, but you’ll still be able to put it anywhere. There are some basic button controls on top of the speaker, including a mic mute button and an indicator around the base. But the real advantage here is that the Dot’s extra size allows it to offer additional features, notably a version with an LED clock on the side, which allows it to double as an alarm clock – something the Nest Mini can’t. There are also children’s versions with animal covers, which is fun.
Winner: Echo Dot fifth generation
Speakers and sound
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For tiny smart speakers like this one, sound is especially important if you plan to use it to listen to music while you work, get the news when you wake up in the morning, and so on. Here, the Nest Mini brings a 40mm driver built for 360-degree sound and adds tuning software to improve sound quality based on background (as well as better bass than the first model).
However, the Mini was never able to compete with the Echo Dot in terms of sound, and this is still the case with the last few generations of the Dot, which has really outdone itself in terms of sound. The fifth-generation Echo Dot includes improved bass with a 1.73-inch front-facing speaker. It’s impressive how well this speaker can fill a small room or office with sound. There is no competition here.
Winner: Echo Dot fifth generation
Portability and setup
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With speakers this small, many buyers wonder how portable they are or what setup options they offer that differ from larger smart speakers. There’s good news and bad news: Both the Nest Mini and the Echo Dot are designed to plug into a power outlet. You can’t just pick them up and carry them around like some portable smart speakers. However, there are some important details here.
First, there are battery holders that turn any speaker into a portable version as long as the battery lasts. They’re generally easier to find for the Amazon Echo Dot than for the Nest Mini, but even Nest’s model has several battery options. They cost more, but increase portability.
Second, the Nest Mini is designed with mounting slots on the back so it can be easily mounted on a wall, giving you another dimension of placement options. While there are some wall mounts for the Echo Dot, they are more expensive and a much bulkier solution, so it’s not quite as practical.
Winner: Nest Mini second generation
Voice assistants and smart features
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Nest Mini works with Google Assistant and the Google Home app to provide a wide range of app controls and smart home integration options. Anything Google Assistant can do – like answer questions, make calls or schedule events – Nest Mini can do with the right voice commands. Through the Google Home app, you can change settings and set up a wide variety of routines, such as turning on your smart lights and playing the traffic report when you get up in the morning, or automatically locking your door when you’re a certain distance from your home. Google Home compatibility is vital here, but it’s becoming much less of an issue thanks to the rise of the new Matter protocol.
The Echo Dot does much the same with Alexa, which uses a different app and voice assistant technology, but has many of the same capabilities as Google’s version. These features include answering questions, setting schedules, providing notifications (in this case many related to Amazon services), making calls, and creating smart home routines.
But once again, the Echo Dot fifth generation shows the advantage of newer technology. The latest model includes temperature and motion sensors, so you can choose to link certain smart home functions to how warm or cold the room is (like controlling a compatible heater) or whether someone just walked in (like turning on a smart light). It can also enable things like Alexa Guard, which listens for alarms or broken glass and, if detected, alerts you when you’re away. There’s even very handy Eero Wi-Fi compatibility that can turn the Echo Dot into an Eero satellite router to extend your Wi-Fi coverage.
Winner: Echo Dot fifth generation
Prices
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The second-generation Nest Mini is available for $50 from various retailers. You can also get the fifth-generation Echo Dot for $50 and choose to pair it with other devices like a smart plug or Eero router. With similar prices, there’s not much to compare here, although we’ll note that Amazon tends to offer discounts around Prime Days and Black Friday sales.
Winner: Undecided
Which mini speaker is the best?
The latest technology packed into the fifth-generation Echo Dot is truly impressive, and the second-generation Nest Mini just can’t compare. The only reason to consider the Nest Mini between these two devices is if you really, really don’t like Amazon services or Alexa as a voice assistant.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn