We purchased the Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) so that our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and review it. Read on for our full product review.

Amazon’s Echo Dot has become a go-to option for those looking for a compact and affordable smart speaker. The brand has now released a 4th generation of its Echo Dot, and the new version sports a dramatically different look than its predecessors. What else is new and different about the Echo Dot (4th Gen)? How does the new Dot perform? I put the Echo Dot (4th Gen) to the test to find out.

As time has passed and Amazon has released newer versions of its Echo Dot speaker, the company has eschewed sharp edges and hard plastic casings in favor of softer designs. You may recall that the 2nd-gen model had more of a puck shape, with a hard plastic casing and more defined edges. The earlier Dots looked more like networking gear than home devices. That changed with the 3rd-gen Dot, however, which had a more airy feel, slightly rounded edges, and a fabric surround. It made the Dot feel more like a home speaker and less like an office product.

The new Dot (4th generation) is even softer and rounder, with a spherical shape and fabric covering most of the speaker, including the top. The 4th generation Dot comes in three colors: charcoal, glacier white and twilight blue. I tested the twilight blue color.