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My previous Echo Dot, purchased back in 2018, was a third-generation. It was a white shuffleboard stone covered in cloth and it is amazing. I'll never say it's not; in fact it's so amazing that I passed it on to my mom and she enjoys it a great deal.So, my main motivation for purchasing this, the fifth generation issued in 2022 – aside from familiarity with the brand – was I needed a Matter hub so my then-incoming Nanoleaf smart lightbulbs could work with my voice. But of course it is so much more.First thing I see is that the Echo Dot is no longer a white shuffleboard stone but is a smaller, navy blue sphere. Aside from being my favorite color, and thus very pleasing to look at, I find it that it is not practical any longer to mount on my wall because of its increased focus on the forward firing speaker; if I had mounted it, it would not be effective in spreading out to my entire room – the top of the speaker is reserved for the buttons which were present on the third-generation: volume up, volume down, action/wake and mute microphone, which leave no room for a speaker in that area. So it sits pretty on my side table facing the rest of my room, and does fine.First thing I hear is the sound quality is so much better than the third-generation Dot. The third-generation was okay in that regard, but it tended to sound a little overexposed when the volume was up high. Now, I don't find myself connecting via Bluetooth to my sound bar nearly as much because the speaker quality is just that good. The quiet parts of music are quiet and calming the way they should be, but the bass thumps quite effectively, surprisingly for such a small and lightweight speaker.So after I'd established the smart speaker in my room for about a month, I felt the time was right to go ahead and get my Nanoleaf Essentials bulbs, to upgrade the ones that I had no longer been able to use for a year since they had stopped working with any voices assistants, to facilitate compatibility with the then upcoming network standard: Matter. I am very happy to say that Matter compatibility is there and it is wonderful.I can't speak for the internal workings because I'm not an engineer; I will say – though I may be wrong about this – that I believe it would be more rocky if I did not have a Thread Border Router already in the form of my Nanoleaf shapes controller; I have the shapes arrangement atop my desk called Dragon, and it has worked wonderfully for me since around last September, and only – at this point anyway – required regular firmware updates to be compatible with ongoing technology.Now, I'll tell you the procedure for adding the Nanoleaf Essentials bulbs to Alexa via Matter – I would assume by extension any Matter device, providing you have a thread border router like I mentioned before. After adding the bulbs to the iOS Nanoleaf app as normal – also updating the firmware for each bulb via said app! I have a feeling that was very important – add them also to Alexa via the Add Device flow, one at a time. There was a menu item that showed itself at the top telling me that it had detected each new bulb on my network and I only had to select that item to add it, scan the QR code on the sticker that came with the bulbs (I applied the sticker to a sheet of paper and labeled it according to the positions of the bulbs) and wait just a bit for it to be connected and it just works!Another new feature which the third-generation did not have is a temperature sensor! After a short period of calibration after plugging the device in, Alexa will be able to tell you the temperature of the room that it is situated in! I ask her for this often when I'm trying to determine how best to cool my room during these hot summer months. When my door's closed during the day, my room can get up to mid 80s, which is horrible, but with the door open to allow a draft and breeze, the temperature's equalized with the rest of the house and I get mid to upper 70s which is much better.There is an ultrasound presence sensor, which sounds not unlike sonar, which I have not had a use for yet, but I imagine routines can be enabled or suppressed with its use.One borderline negative thing I will say about it which I'm okay with because, again, I have Bluetooth connections – they eliminated the 3.5 mm jack to save internal space inside the device, so you will no longer be able to directly connect external speakers, as I did at one point before I had to change that arrangement.Once again, Amazon comes through with flying colors with their products, helping make our homes smarter and more amazing and just better to live in! Get this speaker if you are looking to build a smart home, and for best results, get more than one so you can use the awesome "drop-in" intercom system, and truly awaken the potential of the smart home!

The Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) is an impressive addition to Amazon's line of smart speakers, delivering a powerful and seamless voice-controlled experience. The compact and sleek design makes it easy to place the device in any room, blending effortlessly with your home decor. The speaker's audio quality has been significantly improved, producing clear and rich sound with enhanced bass compared to its predecessors. Whether you want to listen to your favorite music, check the weather, set reminders, or control smart home devices, the Echo Dot's virtual assistant, Alexa, responds promptly and accurately to your voice commands. With a wide array of compatible smart home devices, the Echo Dot serves as an excellent central hub for your smart home automation needs, providing unparalleled convenience and accessibility.The 2022 release of the Echo Dot brings a host of new and improved features to the table, elevating the overall user experience. The upgraded processor ensures faster response times, resulting in a more seamless interaction with Alexa. Moreover, the device's far-field voice recognition has been refined, allowing it to hear and interpret commands even in noisy environments. The Echo Dot also incorporates a physical mute button for added privacy and peace of mind when you want to ensure that Alexa isn't listening. Additionally, the inclusion of Bluetooth and a 3.5mm audio jack allows you to connect external speakers or headphones, granting you more flexibility in your audio setup. The device's smart home integration capabilities continue to expand, making it a valuable addition to any smart home ecosystem.One of the standout features of the Echo Dot (5th Gen) is its affordability without compromising on quality and performance. Compared to other smart speakers on the market, the Echo Dot delivers excellent value for its price point, making it an attractive option for users looking to enter the world of smart home technology. With regular software updates and ongoing improvements, the Echo Dot remains future-proof and ensures that users can enjoy the latest features and advancements for years to come. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just someone seeking to simplify daily tasks, the Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) is a versatile and reliable smart speaker that offers an unparalleled smart home experience.