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Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni review – this robovac proves it’s hip to be square

3:48 am | October 8, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Tags: UK | Comments: Off

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni preview: one-minute review

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is a robot vacuum cleaner that wants you to be hands-off. It vacuums, mops, automatically empties its dustbin, dumps its dirty water, cleans the mopping pads with hot water and then dries them with hot air. Yes, this is an appliance that really takes a lot of the labor out of some of your household chores.

The X2 Omni’s square-like shape is a departure from the usually circular robots we see from Ecovacs, and the aim is for it to get close to your home's edges and corners, and pick up dust that was previously left untouched by the traditionally circular robots that simply wouldn’t be able to get into corners or close to room edges.

While I am yet to spend a significant amount of time testing the robovac, the couple of cleaning runs I have been able to do suggest that Ecovacs has mostly succeeded in this, but X2 Omni is not perfect.

This robot can and does get closer to skirting boards and furniture than I’ve seen previously, but it doesn’t do this every time, and I think some of the issue lies with its updated navigation abilities. It also seems to bump into objects more frequently than older models I’ve tested, but this may also have to do with its updated square shape, which can make it harder to navigate around certain spaces.

While it may not fit into corners perfectly, the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is a top performer when it comes to vacuuming and mopping, with high suction power and the ability to scrub – rather than just wipe – your hard floors. The app also gives you a high level of control over your cleaning preferences, and Ecovacs’ own voice assistant has improved.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni docked in its auto-empty station — (Image credit: TechRadar / Jasmine Gearie)

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni preview: price and availability

Launched in September 2023 (Australia) / October 2023 (US)
UK release expected in November 2023
Priced at $1,500 / AU$2,499 (UK pricing TBA)

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is quite an investment with a price tag of $1,500 / AU$2,499, making it one of the more expensive options on the market. But for your money, you’re getting a robot vacuum cleaner that does it all: vacuums, mops, empties its own dustbin and dirty water then cleans the mopping pads with clean hot water.

It does all these tasks well, but there are other products out there which offer a similar feature set at a lower price. For example, the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni has comparable performance and was released at a similar price point in 2022, but you can find it on sale fairly frequently.

Outside of the Ecovacs brand, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus is another good alternative, and it’s priced a little lower at $1,099 / £999 / AU$2,199. I’ve regularly seen this model on sale, and it’s TechRadar’s pick for the best robot vacuum you can buy at the moment.

You should also consider the ongoing costs associated with a robot vacuum of this caliber. Replacement dust bags cost AU$29 for a pack of three, and replacement mopping pads will set you back AU$29.90 for a pack of four (US pricing unavailable at the time of writing). These aren’t particularly expensive, but they can clock up depending on how often you use the robovac and will need to replace the dust bags and mop pads.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni: specs

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni preview: design

A new square-ish shape to reach into corners
LiDAR sensor is now built into the chassis
Mopping pads lift up when carpet is detected, but not high enough

The Deebot X2 Omni debuts a new shape with softly squared-off corners – a first for a robot vacuum from Ecovacs. Robovacs have traditionally been circular as it’s easier to get around obstacles, but it presents issues of its own, like room corners remaining largely untouched.

The updated shape is an attempt to address this problem, with a design that allows the X2 Omni reaching into the dusty corners and edges that robot vacuums previously couldn’t reach. It mostly succeeds, and it gets closer to edges and furniture than any other robot vacuum I’ve seen previously, but I'm yet to spend time running this robovac under different conditions to see how well its design change makes it a better cleaner.

One issue with the new shape that I've seen in my short time with the X2 Omni is that it can occasionally get stuck on skirting boards and furniture, as it’s not able to turn as easily as circular robovacs. I don’t think this is much of an issue if you’ll be at home while the bot is cleaning, and the benefits of getting closer to the edges outweigh this issue for me. Perhaps the machine learning that Ecovacs says is in use here might improve its performance.

Ecovacs has previously used a LiDAR sensor perched on top of the bot to help it navigate around your home, but it’s now been integrated into the right side of the robot. It’s been moved to help the X2 Omni fit under low-profile furniture, but in my testing so far, it feels like this change might have impacted the robots ability to navigate. I say this because I’ve been using the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Turbo for over a year now, and it feels like the X2 Omni bumps into furniture more frequently than the X1 Turbo.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni undercarriage with bar brush and mopping pads — (Image credit: TechRadar / Jasmine Gearie)

With the top LiDAR sensor now moved, the X2 Omni has a flat top cover with a brushed-silver finish and a single button to start and stop cleaning. Open the lid up and you’ve got easy access to the robot’s dustbin which holds 14.2oz / 420ml of debris, making it a bit bigger than the X1 Omni’s 13.5oz / 400ml canister. A retractable bumper surrounds the front half, and it contains the robot’s camera along with some of its sensors.

Underneath the X2 Omni is a rubber roller brush, which I have not yet needed to remove and manually clean. This is quite different to previous Ecovacs models that have used a roller brush with soft bristles and silicone fins, which I needed to remove and clean after each use. Thanks to the X2 Omni’s new square shape, the main brush is wider than previous models too. There’s also one side brush that rotates inwards to push dust from room edges towards the bar brush (as we saw in our Dyson 360 Vis Nav review), and there are two rotating mopping pads underneath.

The mopping pads are attached to the bot with Velcro, so they can be removed and thrown in the washing machine if they get especially dirty. Ecovacs has implemented a design change here as well, with the mopping pads automatically lifting up when a carpet is detected. While this works well, I found it didn’t lift high enough to prevent my medium-pile carpet from getting damp, particularly around the edges where fibre meets hard floor.

The charging station may feel a little bulky to some people, but I think the size is just right for what you’re getting. It houses two water tanks inside – one for clean water and another for dirty water – and it’s also got a dust bag for the robot’s auto-empty feature. The result is a robot vacuum that’s largely hands-off in the cleaning process, with little intervention needed.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni preview: setup and app control

Straightforward setup
App provides high level of control
Yiko voice assistant seems to have improved

Like previous robot vacuums from Ecovacs, the X2 Omni is easy to set up. You’ll need to download Ecovacs’ companion app and connect the bot to Wi-Fi in order to use the X2 Omni, and once this is done, it will map your home as its first task.

So far, I’ve only asked the X2 Omni to map my apartment once, and it was fairly accurate. It initially mapped my kitchen and a hallway that leads into it as one single room, but this was easily fixed afterwards by separating the areas in the app. I’d like to give the robot a few more chances before definitively commenting on its mapping capabilities, but my first impressions are that it gets the job done reasonably well.

The Ecovacs app is impressive because it offers a high level of control over your cleaning preferences. You can specify vacuuming or mopping only, if you’d like to do them simultaneously or one after the other. You’ve also got control over suction power, the amount of water you want to use for a mopping run and whether you want it to pass over the area once or twice. You can also set cleaning schedules and adjust the charging station’s settings.

In my Ecovacs Deebot X1 Turbo review, one of my gripes was that the Yiko voice assistant was frustrating to use. The voice assistant has since been updated, and I’ve also discovered that she responds better to a put-on American accent rather than my actual Australian one. The combination of the two means I’ve found Yiko much easier to communicate with this time around, even while the X2 Omni is vacuuming and background noise is high.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni side sensors — (Image credit: TechRadar / Jasmine Gearie)

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni preview: cleaning performance

8000Pa suction is the highest from Ecovacs yet
Rotating mopping are good for maintenance cleaning
Object avoidance appears to have some issues

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni has done a great job vacuuming carpets and hard floors in my testing so far. My carpets are visibly cleaner after each run, though some fibers that are more deeply embedded into the carpet have remained in my testing so far. I have found that suction is strong enough to pick up spills like uncooked rice, and that was without using the highest suction setting.

The X2 Omni has performed well in my mopping tests so far, as its rotating mopping pads help it ‘scrub’ the floor, doing a much better job than competing robovacs which simply wet and wipe the area. I’d like to try some further mopping tests on more dried-in stains before giving a final word on its abilities, but it's looking promising so far.

While the mopping abilities have been quite good, the X2 Omni isn’t able to properly lift the mopping pads high enough to avoid dampening the carpet. In my testing so far, the edges where carpet meets tile have been left slightly damp, though not enough to be worrisome. I’ve only tested it with Medium water flow level, and I’ll need to see how damp carpets can become while using the highest water flow setting before giving a final verdict.

One early critique that I have for the X2 Omni is its object avoidance capabilities. As mentioned, I’ve been using one of Ecovacs’ premium models from 2022 for over a year, and I feel as though the X2 Omni bumps into objects and obstacles more frequently than the older model. I believe this may have something to do with the LiDAR sensor being moved from the top of the robot and being built into the side of the bot instead. It could also be a result of the new softly squared shape, but it’s too early to tell at this stage.

Ecovacs says the Deebot X2 Omni has a battery life of up to 186 minutes (1 hour 43 minutes) but this would only be the case if you were using the robovac on its lowest power setting. I haven’t been able to drain the battery completely in my early testing, but this is largely because I’ve been using it in a one bedroom apartment, and it’s always finished cleaning with power to spare. I’ll have more to say on the X2 Omni’s battery life in my full review.

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni on a carpet — (Image credit: TechRadar / Jasmine Gearie)

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni preview: early verdict

Ecovacs has sought to address a problem facing most robot vacuums – their circular shape doesn’t do well at cleaning the edges and corners of our straight-lined homes. It’s been mostly successful in my testing so far, and its vacuuming and mopping capabilities are impressive, but perhaps some navigation issues have contributed to it not always cleaning every nook and cranny. It looks modern and sleek and will be great for someone who wants help vacuuming and mopping their home, provided they’ve got the money to spend.

Govee Smart Kettle review: a clunky, yet clever way to make the perfect brew

11:00 pm | October 4, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

Govee Smart Kettle: Two-minute review

If your regular kettle just isn’t cutting it, you may want to turn to a smart kettle to secure a more intelligent option that can work better around your busy life. Enter the Govee Smart Kettle, a gooseneck kettle capable of heating water to the very degree you need, and with support for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and in-app controls.

You can make great coffee from the best coffee makers, but a gooseneck kettle can see you reach your full potential as an at-home barista, delivering greater control when making loose-leaf teas or pour-over coffee. Add smart temperature settings, and you have a must-have addition to your countertop that will never burn your tea leaves or fail to extract the most flavor from your hot beverages.

Clad in stylish black stainless steel, the Govee Smart Kettle is available from Amazon and directly through Govee for an affordable $79.99. It’s one of only a handful of gooseneck kettles to offer smart home compatibility, providing an excellent way to automate your morning routine – or so you can get your fix as soon as you get home.

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Govee Smart Kettle on the author's kitchen counter — (Image credit: Future / Josephine Watson)

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It’s pretty petite at 11.14 x 8.31 x 8.74 inches, with a capacity of 0.8 liters. However, I found that if you fill it anywhere above about 0.65L, the lid can pop off or water can shoot out of the spout when it reaches boiling. This means the already-small capacity is just about sufficient to handle one larger drink or two smaller drinks.

Frustratingly, the external max water line, which isn’t highlighted at all, sits underneath the handle, making refilling the kettle a bit of a pain. Plus, there’s no window to see how much water is in the kettle. The internal max line isn’t much better, placed against the sloped side of the pot, so you end up doing a sort of squat-and-peek workout while filling.

Its base is fairly simple – four buttons (Hold, DIY, Mode and On/Off) and a series of lights indicating the preset to which the kettle is set. These presets will pretty much cover all of your needs, unless you’re a tea snob such as myself and want to perfect your brew right down to the degree.

The kettle can boil water, reaching a 212°F/100ºC temperature with full capacity in about five minutes – a little slow, but not egregiously so. However, once again the lid presents problems; I nearly scalded my hand trying to remove it, since it’s a little stiff and isn’t externally heatproof.

If you’re detail-oriented then you’ll be pleased to know that the Govee Smart Kettle is super accurate, with my thermometer showing a minimal difference of roughly 32.36°F/ 0.2ºC between the in-app figure and the actual temperature – probably accounted for by the fact that the kettle’s thermometer is in the hottest part of the kettle, the base.

Using the Govee app is pretty easy, allowing you to quickly and remotely set your kettle to whatever settings you need. It’s a little cluttered and clunky, burying a few useful features such as scheduling behind lots of menus and tabs, but it goes a long way to offer those who don’t own one of the best smart speakers a great smart home experience. Unfortunately, weekly and recurring schedules aren’t supported, but I hope to see that change as Govee continues to invest in improving its smart home devices.

If you do opt to use Alexa or Google Home with your kettle, set-up is nice and easy, and during my testing with Alexa it worked pretty effortlessly.

Govee Smart Kettle: Price & availability

How much is it? $79.99 (about £65, AU$125)
When is it available? Available in the US and the EU now
Where is it available? Currently US and the EU only

The Govee Smart Kettle is available from Amazon and directly through Govee for an affordable $79.99. However, at the time of writing, it's only available in the US and the EU. UK customers will have to order it from Govee EU while Australian customers will have to wait until it becomes available in their region.

Should you buy the Govee Smart Kettle?

Buy it if...

You want an affordable smart kettle
At just $79.99, the Govee Smart Kettle is pretty affordable, and offers fairly good value for money.

You want to choose the temperature down to the degree
The temperature control on the Govee Smart Kettle is easy to use, and accurate within a very small margin of error.

You’re a 1-2 person home
If you generally only need to make two smaller beverages or one large one, the Govee Smart Kettle has you covered.

Don't buy it if...

You regularly make drinks for more than two people
The kettle can just about handle two beverages at the same time, and takes quite a while to boil, so regular use for more than two people would become tiresome.

You don’t need bells and whistles
Between the gooseneck form factor, the smart controls and the temperature controls, the Govee Kettle is really one for the hot beverage connoisseur, and you might be better off leaving it to them if you’re not part of the club.

Govee Smart Kettle: Also consider

How I tested the Govee Smart Kettle

I used the Govee Smart Kettle for a month
I used it to make all of my hot beverages
I tested the temperature accuracy, boil performance, timing, app functionality

For a month, the Govee Smart Kettle was my go-to water heater for teas and coffees. I tested all of its temperature settings, as well as some DIY modes I created for teas with highly specific brewing instructions, measuring the app’s live temperature tracking against my thermometer for accuracy.

I timed how long it took to reach full boil, as well as how much water actually could fit in the kettle without its cap becoming loose or water coming out of the spout. I also used the app, testing all of its settings and how easily it integrated with Alexa. I benchmarked this against the Swann Alexa Kettle.

I was supplied an EU model, which I tested using an adapter in my UK kitchen; however, my results were consistent with EU customers.

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb: one-minute review

The Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb is a minor update to the original bulb that was launched in 2021. Not a lot has changed with the new smart bulb, with the sole exception of the addition of Matter connectivity. This makes Nanoleaf’s new light a more futureproof option for a smart home setup.

Before I go into the smart bulb review itself, let’s quickly run through why Matter matters. It’s a connectivity protocol that allows devices from different brands to interact with one another. This makes things like lightbulbs, appliances and other smart gadgets compatible with more brands, and in the case of the Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb, means it can be controlled with more smart home hubs – Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings. If you ever decide to switch platforms, you won’t have to replace any gadgets that are Matter-enabled.

Physically, the Nanoleaf smart bulb hasn’t changed – the Matter Essentials smart bulb keeps the unique polyhedron design from the original version, though there are a few changes to help differentiate it from the older bulbs, like the Matter symbol stamped onto the side.

It’s the software that really counts here, a change that allows the bulb to integrate into your smart home ecosystem, or start a future-proof automated home from scratch. When initially connecting the smart bulb to the app, Nanoleaf will scan for any firmware updates and prompt you to get them. There’s four in total as of the end of September 2023, each improving the reliability and response for Matter pairing, and also adding Circadian Lighting to the Matter-compatible Essentials range (which includes an updated lightstrip as well).

Nanoleaf Essential’s Matter upgrade wasn’t as seamless as it claimed when I first tried adding the A19 | E26 bulb (or A60 | E27 as the fitting is denoted in Australia where the light was tested) to my smart home – there were initial issues connecting the bulb to my Google Nest Hub 2, which was already connected to its iOS app on an Apple iPhone, which felt counterintuitive to how Matter is supposed to work. However, as of August, that issue has been resolved thanks to further firmware updates that were rolled out from both Nanoleaf and Google, and now I can control the bulb with my iPhone and the Nest Hub 2.

Speaking of the Apple ecosystem: it should be noted that not all features of the bulb will work, like Apple Adaptive Lighting, as it’s not HomeKit certified. While the bulb will connect to Apple Home via Matter, you will need a dedicated hub for HomeKit control.

You’d think that an updated smart bulb with new connectivity protocols would warrant a higher price tag, but it’s great that Nanoleaf has kept the price of its Matter Essentials smart bulb the same as the original model. So it’s the same affordable bulb we previously reviewed, but with some nice updates whose value will only become apparent when there are more Matter-enabled smart home devices available.

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb turned on with white light — With over 16 million different color options, the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb can get as bright as 1100 lumens. (Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb review: price & availability

Officially released April 2023
Prices start at $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$39.99 per bulb
Bundle packs available directly from Nanoleaf

Announced earlier this year alongside the updated light strip, the Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb is available to purchase right now directly from Nanoleaf and from third-party retailers in most markets. In the US, you can grab the A19 bulbs for $19.99 individually, or $49.99 for a three pack. In both the UK and Australia, the A60 is the equivalent standard, and has a starting price of £19.99 / AU$39.99 for the single bulb, and £49.99 / AU$99.99 for a pack of three.

The price has remained the same as the older Apple Home Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb, which has now been discontinued by Nanoleaf but will be supported for the foreseeable future.

The Matter Essentials smart bulb is available in large Edison screw and bayonet fittings at the same price, so you will need to make sure you purchase the correct option for your lamps. A Matter-enabled downlight is also available if you want to change your ceiling lights.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Nanoleaf’s smart bulb is one of the most affordable on the market, coming in cheaper than a similar Philips Hue color globe where prices start at $54.99 / £54.99 / AU$119.95 (with varying availability on products, packs and brightness options in each region) for a single smart bulb with the full color spectrum. That’s a massive price difference, and Signify (the makers of the Hue range) is yet to adopt Matter connectivity.

Price and availability score: 4.5/5

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb unplugged and standing on a desk — The overall design hasn't changed for the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb, but it does now sport a green tip on the Edison screw attachment. (Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials A19 smart bulb review: specifications

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb review: design

Minimal design changes from the Apple Home model
Still the same, unique rhombicosidodecahedron shape
Available in Edison screw and bayonet fittings

Nanoleaf hasn’t made any changes to the design of its Matter Essentials bulb from the previous Apple Home version. It still features a rhombicosidodecahedron shape that makes it stand out on a shadeless, industrial-looking lamp even when switched off.

If you compare the two generations of bulbs with the Edison screw (E26/E27), you’ll notice two minor changes – the tip of the connector is now green instead of white, and the graphics around the base of the bulb have changed. On the side of the newer bulb, there’s a new logo for Matter next to the QR code. Having the latter stamped on the bulb is handy as it means you won’t have to hold onto the information booklet if you need to re-pair your Essentials bulb when moving or swapping them around your house.

Design score: 4.5/5

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb on its side unplugged from lamp — The QR code for the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb is located on the side of its base, so you can still connect it to a smart home ecosystem even if you lose the booklet. (Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb review: setup & app

Connects to Apple, Google and Amazon smart home devices
Simple-to-use app
Requires Nanoleaf app for firmware updates

There’s a couple of ways to connect the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb: through the Nanoleaf app, or via a smart home hub’s app (Google Home or Amazon Alexa). For the former, you simply scan the QR code on the side of the bulb or printed in the booklet, while for the latter you just search for the bulb once you’ve switched it on. You’ll need to have a compatible home hub to connect it to the corresponding apps, so that’s something to keep in mind if you have a preference.

As simple as that sounds, I initially had issues with the bulb refusing to connect to Google Home via the app on my iPhone. I had to use an Android handset (a Google Pixel 7a in this case) to get it working with my Google Nest Hub 2. However, the August update that Nanoleaf rolled out changed this and the Google Home app on my iPhone is now able to control the bulb. That has given me the option of controlling the Matter Essentials bulb with Google Assistant voice prompts. Though, as I don’t have an Apple HomePod, I can’t use Siri as you can’t connect the bulb to Homekit without it, nor can I use my iPad as a home hub since it's not part of the current Home architecture offered by Apple.

It’s important to note that you only get a 15-minute window to connect your Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb to a Matter-enabled device after being powered up. After this time has lapsed, you’ll need to unplug the bulb from its power source, plug it back in and wait 30 seconds – if you don’t wait, you’ll be met with a security prompt.

Nanoleaf app showing how to connect to devices — When you first connect to a Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb in the Nanoleaf app, you'll be prompted to add it to an existing smart home ecosystem. (Image credit: Future)

Considering the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials bulb also still features Thread and Bluetooth connectivity, Matter doesn’t really, well, matter right now. It’s more about futureproofing your setup wherein you can connect multiple Matter-enable devices around the home and control them all with just one hub. If you do have a Matter (or Thread) router, your control options open up. For example, using a Matter hub means you can control your lights remotely or set up schedules. Nanoleaf handily lists all the different routers you can use as a control hub for this bulb, and it’s good to know it extends across different platforms (see the specs list above for a full list of Matter routers).

While you can forgo using the Nanoleaf app after the initial pairing and setup, you will need it for firmware updates and to access specific features like Circadian Lighting and creating custom color scenes, however these can essentially be copied through other apps, but I’ll go into this more in the performance and features part of this review.

The app itself is simple to use, with easy-to-navigate tabs and the ability to group lights together by rooms. Through it, you can download scenes and set schedules, though if you set up a schedule through a different way, like through Google Assistant, this will override the schedule you set up in the Nanoleaf app.

Setup and app score: 4/5

Nanoleaf App features — The Nanoleaf app has a number of exclusive features such as Circadian lighting and scenes, though you can mimic these functions using schedules and automations with other smart home apps. (Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb review: performance & features

Voice control works almost instantly
Screen mirroring still only available with Nanoleaf desktop app
Supports 16 million colors, including cool white

With the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb, you can add it to schedules, adjust its color, control it via voice commands and have it mirror your PC or Mac screen so long as you have the desktop app.

The colors on offer with this bulb are spectacular, with vibrant reds, deep blues, both cool and warm whites, and every color in between. I’d go so far as to say that the colors are more vivid than on a Hue light. With the Nanoleaf app, you can create or download scenes made by other users which will make the bulb switch between colors with different transition options available to adjust to your liking. If you’re really happy with any scene you’ve created, you can make them available for other Nanoleaf users to download too.

Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb next to iPhone XR and Google Next Hub 2 showing the difference between colour selection — There are more color options available on phone apps for the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb than you can select on the Google Nest Hub 2. (Image credit: Future)

It also has the ability to get brighter or dimmer, and you can even set it up to automatically adjust its brightness during the day using the Circadian Lighting feature. The Nanoleaf Matter Essentials A19 smart bulb dimming and brightness are also still fantastic, with the option to go all the way to 0%, and all the way up to the full 1100 lumen it's rated for. It doesn’t quite match the Philips Hues 1600 lumen, but it’s still really impressive, and will easily light up a small bedroom on its own, so long as you’re not using a lamp with a thick shade.

As a low-powered device, there is a small delay when taking voice prompts on the Google Nest Hub 2, but after the hub has registered the prompt, the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials bulb responds almost instantly. You can also make adjustments directly on any touch screen if your home hub has one, and I found any changes I made this way were also incredibly fast to take effect on the bulb itself.

This also means that if you include the bulb as part of any schedules, it will efficiently follow them at the allocated time. With automations through Google Home, you can set the bulb to turn on, change colors, brightness or follow Sleep or Wake lighting effects where the bulb will adjust brightness to simulate a natural sunrise or sunset.

Effectively, I found that I could mimic color scenes or Circadian Lighting this way, but it takes a few more steps to set it up. This does make the Nanoleaf app a little more redundant, though these features are much more intuitive through the app.

Performance and features score: 4/5

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Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb with green light next to Google Next Hub 2 showing it's at maximum brightness — At its brightest, the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb is bright enough to change the color of a room even during the middle of the day. (Image credit: Future)

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Nanoleaf Essentials smart bulb with 4% brightness in a green colour — Even with minimal brightness, the color of the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb is still vibrant. (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

How I tested the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb

Tested with Google Nest Hub 2, iPhone XR and Google Pixel 7a
Kept up to date and tested with each update - latest September 18, 2023 (update 3.5.41)
Disconnected and reconnected into smart home system several times and in different ways

Initial testing of the Nanoleaf Matter Essentials A19 smart bulb involved the Google Nest Hub 2 and the iPhone XR back in late June. At the time, the bulb had issues connecting through the Google Home app on an Apple device, and required an Android handset.

In a bid to troubleshoot, I disconnected and reconnected periodically (both physically and in the app), using a different combination of phone and app each time. In my tests following the August 17, 2023 updates, I found that both the iPhone and the Google Pixel 7a are able to seamlessly pair the device to the Google Nest Hub 2, through the Google Home app.

I used the bulb in a floor lamp for both my bedroom, and used both in-app controls and voice commands to switch it off and on. I also added it to automations within the Google Home app, and synced it to my alarms on the Nest Hub 2 itself to see how it interacted with these settings.

One-minute review

The Philips Hue Smart Button is a wireless controller for the Philips Hue smart lighting system. It works in a similar way to the Hue Wireless Dimmer but is smaller, offers two different mounting options, and is intended to be a quick and simple way to control a bulb, a room, or an entire home with a press.

The button can be programmed to control Hue lights in several different ways. There’s a brief tap and a longer press-and-hold, each of which can be set to do different things. It’s also possible to have the button set a scene depending on the time of day, or it can cycle through several pre-programmed scenes with each subsequent press. A long press is used to dim whatever lights the button is programmed to control.

A wall-mounting plate is included in the box, along with a small disc that's the size of the button itself. Both can be fixed to the wall with the supplied adhesive strips, and the button itself snaps magnetically into place on either plate.

Philips Hue Smart Button: specs

Philips Hue Smart Button: performance

Wireless, powered by a CR2032 coin battery
Attaches magnetically to included wall plate and adhesive disc
Soft plastic finish with discreet status LED

The Philips Hue Smart Button works very much like other Philips Hue accessories, including the Wireless Dimmer and the Tap Dial Switch. Lights respond quickly to a press, and it can be set up to either control Hue lights directly or via the optional Hue Bridge.

You don’t need a Hue Bridge to use the Smart Button, but installing one will unlock greater functionality for both your Hue lights and accessories – most notably the ability to control your lights from the Hue app when away from home.

The button itself is made from a soft-touch, slightly rubberized plastic that gives it a premium feel. It’s a nice finish but one that has a habit of attracting dust and quickly looking unclean. The clicking action feels fairly premium, and we welcome the LED that's hidden beneath the plastic surface and can only be seen when illuminated. This helps alert you to any connection problems and blinks green when the button is pressed.

The mounting plate can be stuck to any interior wall with the included adhesive strips, or mounted with screws, if you prefer. The button also comes with a much smaller mount, which is also magnetic and features adhesive strips on the back. In our opinion, opting for the latter results in a much cleaner setup and means you won’t have the Philips logo slapped across your wall.

Philips Hue Smart Button: app

Quick and easy setup
Simple to configure
Fairly limited customization options

As with other Hue accessories, adding the Philips Hue Smart Button to your lighting system is done via the Hue app. The setup process is quick and easy, giving you the opportunity to name the button (something like "Hallway") and assign it to a room of lights. Alternatively, the button can be tasked with controlling one or more specific Hue lights and lighting strips, or a specific zone similar to one that includes every Hue light in the household.

As well as Hue lights, the Smart Button can control the Hue Smart Plug in exactly the same way. This means it can be used to fire up a heater, a fan, a lamp or pretty much anything that plugs into a wall outlet.

Using the Hue app to change how the button works is easy. You can pick which lights, rooms or zones it controls (ranging from a single light to an entire home), and configure what happens to those lights when you give the button a quick press or a press-and-hold.

By default, a single press activates a time-based lighting setup. Here, your lights will adjust to a certain setting depending on the time of day, with each 24-hour period sectioned into five different lighting presets, each mimicking natural sunlight at that time of day. This means cool, bluish white light in the morning; warmer, more yellow light in the afternoon and evening; and a darker, dimmer orange glow at night. You can change the time and lighting setting for each of these to suit your needs.

Alternatively, a press can cycle your lights through a range of presets. Up to five different lighting scenes can be added, with each button press skipping to the next one.

Lastly, there’s the press-and-hold control. This is far more limited, and it can only be used to either dim a certain set of lights or turn off every Hue light in your home. The latter is pretty useful, especially if you mount the Smart Button by the front door, ready to be pressed to turn everything off on your way out.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to configure this more deeply. We’d like to have a long press turn all the lights off but also turn on a single lamp in the lounge to act as a burglar deterrent. This limitation sums up the Philips Hue Smart Button: it works very well but only if you don’t expect too much from it. More possibilities for customization would have been welcome.

Philips Hue Smart Button review: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Philips Hue Smart Button review: Also consider

If you want to add more smart lighting to your home, here are a couple of options to consider...

Philips Hue Smart Button review: How I tested

I added the switch to my Hue lighting system
I set up and used the switch as part of my daily routine

I fitted the Smart Button to a wall in my hallway and configured the switch to cycle a Hue light bulb in the hall through several scenes when pressed, then turn off all of my Hue lights with a long press.

I also experimented with the settings and used the Smart Button for other uses, including as a portable dimmer switch for my lounge Hue lighting. Being wireless, the button also spent time on my bedside table and at my desk where it was configured to control office lighting.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2023

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus review

6:39 pm | November 21, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: November 2022
• Newer Roomba Combo J9 Plus now out
• Launch price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199
• Official price now: The same, though frequently discounted by circa. $200 / £200 / AU$400

Updated: January 2024. While it's no longer iRobot's leader of the pack, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus still stands as one of the best robot vacuums. Still, we imagine it'll move to a slightly lower position once we've been able to test the more premium Combo J9 Plus. The J7 Plus is regularly discounted at this point; as of writing, it's £749 / AU$1899, and we've seen prices drop to $899 in the US previously during Black Friday. Especially at this discounted price, it's well worth the money, offering one of the most thorough and intelligent cleans we've seen. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

One-minute review

The Roomba Combo J7 Plus (stylized as Roomba Combo j7+) is a revelation. It’s without doubt one of the best robot vacuums on the market right now, thanks to the fantastic features we’ve come to expect from iRobot, and the fact that it can mop too. It’s the first of its kind, introducing a new retractable mop pad mechanic that marks a significant improvement over the bottom-mounted mop pads we’re used to seeing on robovacs, with which there was a risk of dampening carpets.

Otherwise, it mirrors the vacuum-only iRobot Roomba J7 Plus in almost every way – which is no bad thing, considering we were impressed by its intelligence, suction power, and design elements such as the dual rubber brushes that prevent hair from becoming tangled around the brush bar. Mapping is superb, and as the robot learns more about your home, it will suggest areas that might need more attention.

As one of the pioneers in the robovac market, it’s no surprise to see great quality from iRobot. While this model isn’t quite as premium as the Roomba S9 Plus in terms of its suction power, the J7 Plus still holds its own, collecting dust and debris from both hard floors and carpets with relative ease.

It’s an incredibly smart machine, armed with a full gamut of exciting smart features, including object and dirt detection. These are powered by built-in AI that can spot the most common items cluttering your home, and your pets, cleaning around them without incident. Plus, it can pick up particles as small as 0.7 microns and can detect and avoid pet poop, making it perfect for pet owners. Note that iRobot regularly updates its operating system, so you can expect to see new functions added to your bot in the future.

As with other iRobot models, the “Plus” suffix refers to the inclusion of a larger base station that facilitates automatic dirt disposal. After each clean, or whenever the 14oz / 0.4-liter internal dustbin is full, the vacuum will empty itself into a 57oz / 1.7-liter bag in its home base, which can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt, depending on how regularly you clean your floors. Using this feature does mean you’ll have to consider the longer-term cost of replacing the bags, however.

All of these features make the iRobot Roomba J7 Plus one of the most hassle and hands-free robot vacuum cleaners we’ve tested, and during our time using it, we also noticed a reduction in the amount of time we spent cleaning – a real boon when life gets in the way. However, this robot vacuum is very expensive at $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199, so you definitely pay for the privilege of a low-maintenance cleanup.

Keep in mind though that Roomba Black Friday deals are live now. You might find this model at a heavily discounted price.

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ sitting in its base — The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ charging in its base (Image credit: Future)

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus price & availability

List price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199

The iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus robot vacuum and mop is currently available online, and can be bought directly from the iRobot store and Amazon for $1,099.99 / £999.99 / AU$2,199. As well as the self-emptying base, the Plus model comes with two AllergenLock bags, an extra filter, and a spare side brush. If you want to skip out on the base, the regular Roomba Combo J7 will set you back £799 / AU$1,699; as of writing, only the Plus package is available in the US.

There’s no denying this cleaner is expensive, and if this sophisticated robot vacuum’s many bells and whistles don’t appeal to you, it definitely won’t be money well spent. However, especially compared to budget-friendly vacuums, the intelligence and low-maintenance nature of this cleaner make it well worth the money for those with busy lifestyles or an aversion to cleaning. Plus, the mopping function adds only $200 / £100 / AU$400 to the price tag of the regular J7.

Of course, there are ongoing costs to consider, too. You’ll need to replace the self-emptying base station’s vacuum bags if you intend to use this feature regularly, and if you want a deeper clean with the mop pad than just using water, you’ll want to pick up some of the iRobot-approved cleaning solution, too.

Value: 4 / 5

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ with its dustbin removed (Image credit: Future)

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus design

Self-emptying bin
Retractable mop pad
14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin

In most ways, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus mirrors its regular vacuum-only sibling, the Roomba J7 Plus. It’s an all-black beauty with a matte black casing and a gunmetal disc on its flush top. Here, you’ll also find its very minimalist control system: one button you can press to pause and start the vacuum or hold for five seconds to send it home. Measuring 13.3 x 13.3 x 3.4 inches / 33.8 x 33.8 x 8.6cm (h x w x d), it has relatively good clearance but will struggle with some lower-down furnishings.

Of course, the big difference is the retractable mop pad, which sits on the top of the vacuum at the rear. When called upon, the mop pad lifts and tucks beneath the unit in an incredibly satisfying, smooth motion - it's a real feat of design. You can attach the mop pads to the arm easily by sliding and clicking in the snap-fit attachments.

The top-mounted mop arm on the Roomba Combo j7+ with a mop pad attached — Lifting the top-mounted mop arm on the Roomba Combo j7+ with a mop pad attached (Image credit: Future)

The front half of the vacuum is surrounded by a plastic bumper, which has a window through which the robovac’s detectors can sense its surroundings and obstacles. On its underside, there are two bidirectional wheels and one swivel wheel, a three-armed side brush to flick debris out of corners and away from walls, and dual rubber brush bars. These bars are designed to be flexible, working across floor types without damaging them, and preventing hair from becoming tangled.

On the rear half, there’s the 14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin, which can be ejected by pressing the tactile panel next to it. This is also where you’ll find the liquid chamber – and, unlike some other robot vacuums and mops, the Roomba Combo J7 Plus is cleaning solution-compatible, arriving with a sample bottle of iRobot cleaning solution that won’t damage your device. iRobot’s help section suggests Bona Hardwood/Hard Surface Cleaner is safe to use, too.

The rear of the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+, featuring a button to eject the dust bin and water tank. — The dustbin eject button can be a little tricky to operate, but it does make the unit more robust (Image credit: Future)

As with previous models, the Combo J7 Plus comes with plenty of swish features that are designed to make life easier. Instead of manually controlling suction, the clever robovac can detect dirtier areas and increase power if need be, which doubles as a great battery conservation feature if you want thorough cleaning but can’t supervise the vacuum to adjust its suction settings in dirtier rooms. The built-in camera helps the robot navigate intelligently, but also detects obstacles and hazards – from socks to stairs. And, of course, this model comes with iRobot’s Pet Ownership Official Promise – also known as P.O.O.P – to detect and avoid pet messes, thus preventing nasty clean-up jobs.

This model includes iRobot’s Clean Base with automatic dirt disposal. Unfortunately, it can’t clean your mop pads or refill the water tank, but considering it does just about everything else, we’ll let that slide. The clean base measures 12.55 x 13.39 x 15.35 inches / 31.9 x 34 x 39cm and needs clearance of 1.5ft / 0.5m on each side and 4ft / 1.2m in front. Like the vacuum itself, the base is all-black with some textured accents, and a brown-leather tag provides easy access to the bin.

Under the base hood, there’s a pre-fitted cleaning bag and one spare in a neat little compartment that reduces the need for extra external storage space – although additional space to house a spare mop pad and side brush would have been welcome. The vacuum bags can hold up to 60 days of dirt, according to iRobot, and the LED indicator on the front of the canister will turn red when the dirt bag is full.

Design: 5 / 5

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ cleaning the edge of a rug — The Combo J7 Plus did well toeing the line between tile and rug (Image credit: Future)

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus performance

Fantastic pickup on both carpet and hard floor
Object detection works wonderfully
Mop works well once it soaks through

As we’ve highlighted earlier in this review, the iRobot Combo J7 Plus vacuums to the same high standard as the non-mopping J7 Plus model. It performs well on hard floors, collecting both fine debris and larger crumbs, although with larger spills in particular, the side brush will often make a meal of flicking the litter across the floor, which extends cleaning time.

Large spills of fine powders such as those in our flour and biscuit test will be tracked across the floor by the bot, and when overwhelmed by such debris, the vacuum throws some of it back on the ground when making its way to the charging station to unload. When it returned to the floor to finish the job, it mostly collected the remnants; however, some of the oats that had been flung further afield were missed. Of course, the frequency with which your robot vacuum will be collecting large amounts of concentrated debris is fairly minimal. During a regular clean, the vacuum is very systematic and successful at sucking up standard household grime; we never once saw it creating any mess.

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The floor with scattered oats and flour during the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+'s clean up of a heavy spill — The iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus systematically cleaned up the mess... (Image credit: Future)

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The floor with scattered oats and flour after the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ cleaned up a heavy spill — Considering the size and density of the mess, however, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus did a pretty good job at cleaning most of it up. (Image credit: Future)

As stated earlier, there’s no manual control option for suction power on the Combo J7 Plus. Instead, it intelligently detects the dirt level on the floor and makes adjustments itself accordingly. The bot will maintain a winding route around your home while cleaning, but if it detects a messier space, it will pause to go over it before resuming on its path. Similarly, when encountering an obstacle, the bot will pause, find a way around whatever clutter it has identified (we tested with socks, wires and toys), either avoiding the object to continue its journey from the next logical place, or intentionally nudging larger, non-furniture obstacles such as toys out of its way.

The standout feature with the Combo J7 Plus is, of course, its mopping ability, and we were really impressed by how it performed. We were concerned that the mop pad wouldn’t dock neatly below the unit, or that its arms would be too delicate to deliver the pressure required to mop floors well. On the contrary, the Combo J7 Plus was capable of giving our floors a lovely shine-up, especially when we used the cleaning solution sample included with the vacuum. In the app, you can decide for each of your favorite cleaning modes whether you’d like to use a minimal, medium or maximum dose of liquid.

There are a few drawbacks. First, the mop pad takes a while to soak through; in our test, we had to wait about 5 minutes during the cleaning process before we saw consistent, non-streaky results. If the water tank is full, it can also sometimes leave the odd drip mark. If you’re planning to use the mopping function regularly, note that you’ll lose some of the hands-free perks of the self-emptying base station. All of the mopping features, from replacing and cleaning the mop pads to refilling the liquid, are entirely manual.

However, there’s no doubt that the Combo J7 Plus offers a mopping experience that’s far superior to anything we’ve yet seen in a combination robot vacuum and mop. Once it gets going, the mop is great – and it left our floors shiny and mark-free.

The Combo J7 Plus treats carpets with care, giving them a thorough clean before moving on to mop and vacuum the floors. We tested our vacuum to see if we could trick it into mopping our bathroom rug, by moving it around before and during a cleaning cycle. However, the clever little bot was more than capable of identifying the change in texture and storing away its mop so as to not damage or dampen the carpet.

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ docking, and making a lot of noise while doing so — (Image credit: Future)

In general, the Combo J7 Plus was fairly quiet as it made its way around our home, registering a maximum of 68dB on our decibel meter – generally, it’s even quieter, but the volume rises by around 5dB when the vacuum natively boosts its suction. However, we had a nasty shock when it returned to base for the first time. The noise of the self-emptying function scared the living daylights out of us, registering a colossal 90dB – and while it lasts for only a few seconds, it’s loud enough that we’d strongly recommend against using it in any circumstance where you need to be noise-conscious.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus app

Can set vacuum to clean while you’re out
Snaps any obstacles or errors
Works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant

If we were to summarise the iRobot app in three words, they’d be “peace of mind”. The app exists to make owning the Combo J7 Plus as easy and intelligent as possible, guiding you through the initial mapping phase, all the way through to voice assistant setup and map customization. There are tips and reminders, you can check the lifespan of the vacuum’s components, and you can even name your vacuum – we called ours Buttercup!

Since there are no advanced manual controls on the vacuum, the app plays a huge role in managing this robovac. It’s always preferable to give customers the option, but it makes sense to push people towards the app when you consider how many of those price-inflating features depend on user interaction.

Three screenshots from the iRobot app showing map setup, map clean zone suggestions and an instance of an obstacle halting the clean — The iRobot app is really fun, allowing you to do everything from map setup, clean zone suggestions and explore obstacles encountered (Image credit: Future)

Mapping is excellent, and it doesn’t end after your robot’s initial mapping task; the Combo J7 Plus continues to learn. It can detect different surface types and provides estimations in the app of where different rooms start and end. Even in larger, split rooms like our testing environment, it was able to identify where the living room space ended and where the kitchen/dining room began. It also noted the area in my kitchen where I most often stand to cook as a cleaning zone that requires more attention, notifying me in the app that it had a new recommendation.

The zoning feature also helped us solve a particular challenge we face with robot vacuums: doorstops. Living in an apartment with heavy fire doors that close without a doorstop isn’t the best setup for a robot vacuum that can’t open doors, and the bot doesn’t yet recognize doorstops as an obstacle, so it frequently dislodged them. However, with the zoning tool, we were able to fence off the area where our door is and stop the vacuum from imprisoning itself.

App: 5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus battery

Takes roughly two hours to recharge
Difficult to tell how much charge remains
Intelligent recharging while job is paused

Overall, the battery specs of the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus are something of a beautiful mystery; there’s no official word from iRobot on the length of the battery life, but we found it pretty difficult to drain. We were able to complete three full cleans (mopping and vacuuming) of our one-bedroom apartment and still have battery life to spare, so it can last at least 120 minutes.

The vacuum will automatically return to its base between jobs, or if it runs out of battery during a task, the spinning circular light around the button on its lid will let you know when it’s finished charging, shifting to illuminate just the lower half of the button. It does use a “very small amount of energy” when docked, says iRobot, but it’s possible to change its settings in the app to reduce this further.

Battery: 5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus score card

Should I buy the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: November 2022

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus review

6:39 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

One-minute review

Keep in mind though that Roomba Black Friday deals are live now. You might find this model at a heavily discounted price.

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus price & availability

List price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199

Value: 4 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus design

Self-emptying bin
Retractable mop pad
14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin

Design: 5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus performance

Fantastic pickup on both carpet and hard floor
Object detection works wonderfully
Mop works well once it soaks through

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Performance: 4.5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus app

Can set vacuum to clean while you’re out
Snaps any obstacles or errors
Works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant

App: 5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus battery

Takes roughly two hours to recharge
Difficult to tell how much charge remains
Intelligent recharging while job is paused

Battery: 5 / 5

iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus score card

Should I buy the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: November 2022

Sonos Roam review

6:17 pm | March 1, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Speakers | Tags: Google Assistant | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: April 2021
• Cheaper Sonos Roam SL now available
• Launch price: $179 / £179 / AU$299
• Official price now: $179 / £179 / AU$299

Update: February 2024. Coming up to three years after its launch, the Sonos Roam is a still arguably the best Bluetooth speakers for a lot of people thanks to its flexibility at a good price. It has the full Sonos Wi-Fi connectivity to act as a multi-room speaker, as well as Bluetooth support, a tough design, and a bass-forward sound that's suited to outdoor use. The big wrinkle is the Sonos Roam SL, which Sonos says is exactly the same but lacks built-in voice assistant support – we haven't had a chance to test this, but since every component is apparently the same apart from the lack of Alexa/Sonos Voice Control, we're inclined to believe Sonos. It's also worth nothing the Sonos Move 2 is now out, as Sonos' latest portable speaker, but it's over double the price and way more than double the size and weight, it's not quite a replacement for this product. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Sonos Roam: Two-minute review

The Sonos Roam is the latest portable wireless speaker from the multi-room audio company, and the brand’s CEO Patrick Spence calls it “the smartest speaker we have ever built.”

Following in the footsteps of the larger Sonos Move, the Roam comes with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, which means it can work as a portable speaker as well as part of your wider multi-room Sonos system – and with Google Assistant and Alexa onboard, it doubles up a smart speaker too.

At $179 / £179 / AU$299, it’s the cheapest and smallest Sonos speaker to date, and therefore the most affordable entry point into the brand's multi-room audio ecosystem. For the avoidance of confusion, the Sonos Ray is a newer product from Sonos, arriving on June 7, 2022, ($279 / £279 / AU$399) but the Ray is a demure plug-n-play soundbar, rather than this portable Bluetooth beauty.

Back to the Roam then, and in spite of its (relatively) low price you’re getting a lot for your money here. Its slick design means the Sonos Roam won’t look out of place in your home, while a rugged, waterproof and dustproof build and a decent battery life make it ideal for listening to music outdoors. It also comes with Google Assistant / Alexa support, so you can control it with your voice alone, and use it to control your other smart devices.

If the idea of a Bluetooth speaker with built-in microphones makes you feel uneasy, Sonos also offers a version of the Roam that comes without them – the Sonos Roam SL is also slightly cheaper owing to the omission of mics, in a similar vein to the Sonos One and Sonos One SL speakers.

To make that transition from indoors to outdoors as seamless as possible, the Sonos Roam comes with a host of cool features. The first of these is Sound Swap – simply hold down the play button and the Sonos Roam will ‘throw’ your audio to the nearest other Sonos speaker available.

Another, Automatic Switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, means you can simply walk into your home and the Sonos Roam, having previously been paired with your Bluetooth device, will connect to your Wi-Fi, without the need to set it up and reconnect manually.

Finally, the Auto TruePlay feature first introduced with the Sonos Move has been upgraded here, so the Roam will automatically tune its soundstage to your environment, whether you’re on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Of course, all these flashy features would be pointless if the Sonos Roam didn’t sound great – but we’re happy to report that, despite its small stature, the Roam delivers a powerful sonic performance, with remarkably prominent bass, even if it does lack the rhythmic accuracy you'd expect from an audiophile speaker. If you do count yourself among the audiophiles of the world, you may find the bass to be slightly overpowering – though those forceful low frequencies work well outdoors, where there are no walls for the sound to bounce off.

The Sonos Roam's combination of class-leading connectivity features, powerful sound, and excellent design means it's our pick for the best portable speaker of 2021 and 2022, though take note: it doesn't beat the seriously talented Sonos One in terms of audio quality.

In any case, we think Sonos has achieved its aims of creating the smartest Sonos speaker to date, and for that reason, we'd absolutely recommend buying it if you're looking for a portable speaker that can slot into your existing home audio system as easily as it can provide tunes around a campfire or at the beach.

And Sonos isn't one for resting on its laurels either. In September 2021, the Sonos Roam got even better thanks to an upgrade that brought improvements to connectivity and battery life. Downloading the update via the Sonos S2 app improved the Roam’s power management to help extend the Roam’s battery life when not actively being used. Neat!

The sonos roam speaker in a tree. — The Roam is the cheapest Sonos speaker to date. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Price & availability

Available to buy now
$179 / £179 / AU$299
Cheapest Sonos speaker to date

The Sonos Roam is available to buy for $179 / £179 / AU$299; that's $20 / £20 / AU$20 more than its original launch price in April 2021, after Sonos announced a nearly product-wide price hike.

That price tag makes it the level-cheapest Sonos speaker to date in the US and UK, equalling the Sonos One SL, which also costs $179 / £179 (although it gets a bit confusing in Australia, because here the One SL costs AU$269). It's also cheaper than Sonos' first portable smart speaker, the Sonos Move, which costs $399 / £399 / AU$649 – a price that puts that speaker firmly at the top end of the Bluetooth speaker market, although it earns that price tag thanks to its array of Sonos smarts and powerful audio.

It’s still not cheap by any means though; one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, the UE Boom 3, costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95, and the cheap and cheerful Tribit Stormbox Blast is only $199 (which is around £163 or AU$290, where sold) – although of course, neither come with the smart assistant compatibility of Sonos’ latest device.

If you don't want your Roam to come with voice assistant capabilities, you can save money on the new Sonos Roam SL. It's available for $159 / £159/ AU$269.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker outdoors — The rugged Bluetooth speaker comes with a IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Design

IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating
0.95lbs / 0.43kg
Rugged build

While the Sonos Roam retains the minimalist aesthetic of the brand’s previous devices, its design is still quite the departure for the audio company, with a focus on ruggedness and portability.

It’s longer and thinner than the comparatively squat Sonos Move, and is similar in size to a water bottle – or the newer Cleer Scene (which is very similar in shape to the splendid JBL Flip 6). It’s far lighter than the Move too, weighing in at 0.95lbs / 0.43kg, and you can easily hold it in your hand or sling it in a bag when on the move.

That light build, combined with an IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating, makes it more easily portable than its predecessor, and rugged enough to withstand the elements. In fact, Sonos says it can survive being three feet underwater for 30 minutes.

On the front of the speaker is an embossed Sonos logo in white; above this, is an LED that indicates the speaker’s connection status, while an LED on the opposite end indicates battery life.

The control buttons are on the left end of the speaker when it’s placed horizontally – you can also orient the speaker vertically, with the buttons on the top. There are volume up and down buttons, a play/pause button, and a button for turning the microphone on and off. The play/pause button can be double-pressed to skip to the next track, or triple-pressed to go back to the previous track.

To pair the Roam with other Sonos products, you need to press and hold the play/pause button; keeping the button pressed for longer will activate the aforementioned ‘throw’ feature, switching your audio to the nearest other Sonos speaker. Slightly embossed, the buttons feel more tactile and easier to use compared to the touch-sensitive buttons on top of the Sonos Move – and they’re more accessible for those with visual impairments.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker in a garden — You can stand the Sonos Roam upright, or on its side. (Image credit: TechRadar)

On the back of the speaker is the power button – you need to press and hold this until you hear the pairing tone to connect the Sonos Roam to a Bluetooth device. Beneath the button is a USB-C port for charging – you get a USB-A to USB-C connector in the box, but you’ll have to use your own adapter.

The ends of the speaker are slightly concave, which Sonos says increases its drop-resistance, and helps to prevent accidental button presses, so you don’t jack the volume up to 11 every time you brush past it.

The buttons themselves are described by Sonos as “tactile and slightly embossed”, with the raised design making it easy to hit play or change the volume. They’re very responsive, and we didn’t experience any lag in between hitting the button and the resulting action; the Sonos Move’s buttons are touch-sensitive, so the ability to feel the buttons will likely be a welcome feature for anyone with visual impairments.

Coming in 'Shadow' black and 'Lunar' white, the Sonos Roam boasts a “precision-engineered” honeycomb grille – it’s not a wraparound grille though, so don’t expect true 360-degree sound.

the sonos roam being held — The design of the Sonor Roam works just as well indoors as it does outdoors. (Image credit: TechRadar)

You have some flexibility when it comes to placing the speaker – the Roam can be positioned horizontally for stability on uneven ground, or vertically for a smaller footprint, with its triangular shape funneling sound upwards. If you do place the Roam horizontally on a flat surface like a table, small feet on what is, in this orientation, the bottom of the speaker help to keep it stable.

If you wish, you can buy a $49 / £44 / AU$79 wireless charging stand for the Roam. Simply place the speaker on the stand and it’ll snap into place with magnets, giving the Roam a permanent home inside yours.

Overall, we think the design of the Sonos Roam is really attractive. While many of the best portable waterproof speakers are finished with garish colors and functional materials, the Roam retains the slick aesthetic of the brand’s home speakers, and its light and compact build makes it ideal for listening to music on the go.

If Sonos’ goal was to make a speaker that works just as well indoors as it does outdoors, it has succeeded.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker on a table — You get a powerful sound from the Roam, but the bass can be overwhelming. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Audio performance

Powerful sound
Bass can be overwhelming indoors
Comprehensive support for streaming services

In spite of its small size, the Sonos Roam delivers a powerful sonic performance with remarkably prominent bass. Inside the speaker are two class-H amplifiers, with a high-efficiency motor that Sonos says increases the power and range of the audio output, as well as a custom racetrack mid-woofer, and a tweeter.

While the sound isn’t as room-filling as that provided by the larger Sonos Move, the Roam comes pretty close, thanks to some clever design choices when it comes to the transducer.

Key specs

Weight: 0.95 pounds (0.43 kg)

Battery life: 10 hours

Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5

Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer

NFC: Yes

Aux-in: No

The transducer transforms the electric signal into wave-shaped changes in air pressure – the sound you hear – and for that it needs space to move, as well as space within the speaker to pack in as much air as possible.

As Sara Morris, Principal Product Manager at Sonos explains, the team managed to keep the size down by making the transducer part of the housing itself, allowing the Sonos Roam to be “smaller, lighter, and still have a really good sound.”

Sonos has certainly succeeded in that regard. Listening to Childish Gambino’s Feels Like Summer, thumping bass lines drive the smooth synths, while the clear and rich falsetto vocals soar above the mix.

If we’re nit-picking, we’d like to hear a little more from the mids and lower trebles, as some of the detail is lost amid that powerful bass; in fact, if you’re using the Roam inside, you may want to adjust the EQ settings to increase the treble frequencies. Those powerful low frequencies work very well outside, where there are no walls for the sound to bounce off, but inside, it can be slightly overpowering.

Listening to Gorillaz' Glitter Freeze, and the whining synths sound clear without being overly harsh, while the driving bass lines are powerful. The Sonos Roam lacks the kind of rhythmic accuracy and dexterity of audiophile speakers, but for a speaker of this size, we weren't disappointed by the overall presentation of our music.

As for support for music services, there’s support for AirPlay 2 on Apple devices with iOS 11.4 and later, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music, 7Digital, Sonos Radio, and more via the Sonos S2 app.

the sonos roam on a garden table — The Roam isn't quite as sonically powerful as the Sonos Move. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Sound Swap

Throws sound from your Roam to another Sonos speaker
Works in reverse

Sound Swap is one of the best features on the Sonos Roam, allowing you to ‘throw’ the music from your Sonos Roam to the nearest Sonos speaker available, and vice versa.

All you need to do is hold down the play/pause button until you hear the third tone (one more than if you were pairing two speakers), while holding the Sonos Roam close to the other speaker. Your music should then begin playing from the second speaker – or if you’re casting to a Sonos system, the full speaker setup.

We tried Sound Swap with our home cinema system, comprising a Sonos Arc, two Sonos One SL rear speakers, and the Sonos Sub, and it worked seamlessly. Being able to bring the Sonos Roam in from the kitchen to our living room and continue listening to our music on a surround sound system without messing around with our phone was wonderful.

As mentioned this feature also works in reverse, so holding down the play/pause button will cause the Roam to pick up audio that’s playing on another speaker or setup – handy when you’re taking the Roam out into the garden for example.

the back of the sonos roam speaker — You can charge the Roam via the USB-C at the back of the speaker. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Connectivity

Easy setup
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
Automatic Switching

In spite of its focus on portability, the Roam is very much part of the Sonos ecosystem, which means you can use it as part of a wider multi-room audio setup, or pair two speakers for stereo sound. Pairing the Sonos Roam with other Sonos speakers can be done by simply holding down the play/pause button.

Unfortunately, though, you can’t use two Sonos Roams as a pair of rear channels for your home cinema system. We expected this to be the case, as the same is true for the Sonos Move – the company puts this down to sync issues, and the potential for a directional soundtrack to lose its focus if a speaker isn't optimally positioned in a room.

The Roam works with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5, so you can use it in the home or on the move, and the new Automatic Switching feature makes this transition more seamless than ever, with the speaker automatically connecting to your Wi-Fi network when in range, and re-pairing with your phone when you’re out and about.

To start using the Sonos Roam you’ll need to connect it to your Wi-Fi network via the Sonos S2 app – this isn’t super-clear from the instruction leaflet included in the box, but you won’t be able to pair via Bluetooth without doing this first.

Setting up the Sonos Roam took us just a few minutes. To get started, you’ll need to download the Sonos app if you don’t have it already, and then tap Settings > System > Add Product.

When you begin connecting the Sonos Roam to your network, you’ll be prompted to enter an 8-digit code that you’ll find on the bottom of the speaker – this can either be entered manually, or automatically using NFC.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll hear a chime to let you know that the code has been entered successfully, and the speaker will begin connecting to your Wi-Fi network. You may also have to wait for the Roam to update, if an update is available.

Once connected, you can turn on Auto Trueplay, add your voice assistant of choice (Google Assistant or Alexa) and toggle other settings. There’s also a ‘product tour’ within the app, to help you get to know the Sonos Roam’s controls and features – it’s a neat touch that makes the setup process feel really easy.

Sonos Roam review: Voice Assistant

Google Assistant or Alexa
Smart home control
Requires Wi-Fi

Both Google Assistant and Alexa are onboard, and you can use your voice assistant of choice to control the speaker hands-free, control your other smart home devices, check your calendar, ask questions, and more – you will need to be connected to Wi-Fi to take advantage of these features.

Setting up the Sonos Roam with Google Assistant is super easy, with the Sonos app directing you to the Google Home app to configure your settings. We found the microphones were able to pick up our voice pretty clearly, even with music playing at a medium volume.

It's a shame that you can't call on the voice assistant while using Bluetooth, but it's certainly not a dealbreaker – and we daresay the experience of using Google Assistant over Bluetooth would be more frustrating than helpful.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker on a garden table — You can only use the Sonos Roam's voice assistant while connected to a Wi-Fi network. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Battery life

10-hour battery life
10 days in sleep mode
Supports wireless charging

The claimed battery life of the Sonos Roam is 10 hours, though we found that this came in at around nine hours while playing at a medium volume, and the company says the speaker can last for up to 10 days in sleep mode – it’ll automatically go into sleep mode when you stop playing music.

That battery life almost matches the Sonos Move’s 11 hours, and that of most decent portable speakers on the market.

You can charge the Sonos Roam with any Qi-certified charging device, but if you want to keep it in the family, Sonos sells a dedicated wireless charging stand for $49 / £44 / AU$79, which features magnets to hold the speaker in place. You also get a USB-A to USB-C connector in the box, so you can use your own adapter.

Should I buy the Sonos Roam?

the sonos roam being held on a picnic blanket — The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy today. (Image credit: Sonos)

Buy it if...

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Sonos Roam review: Also consider

Not convinced by our Sonos Roam review? We've picked out three more Bluetooth speakers for you to consider below:

First reviewed: April 2021

Looking for more? Check out the best wireless speakers you can buy

Amazon Echo Spot review

3:22 pm | November 19, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Speakers | Tags: AU, FREE, UK, US | Comments: Off

Editor's note

There's a new Echo Spot in town! Following the quiet discontinuation of the original Echo Spot from 2019, Amazon has rejuvinated the product with an all-new design, some clever features and improved hardware.

- Josephine Watson, Managing Editor of Lifestyle, 27/12/2024

Amazon first launched the original Echo smart speaker in 2014, but since then its Echo range has expanded to include the high-end Echo Plus, the screen-packing Echo Show and the teeny, tiny Echo Dot. There are now Echo devices to suit every mood, every room and every budget. But one of our firm favorites is still the Echo Spot.

That's because it has everything we could want from a smart speaker: cute looks, portable design and a video screen, which means it looks just as at home on your desk, your kitchen counter and your bedside table.

The Spot doesn't quite have the monopoly on compact smart displays as it used to, though. The new Echo Show 5 apes the rectangular shape of the larger Echo Show, but with a 5.5-inch screen around the size of a smartphone. At a lower price tag, too, it can be hard to justify the Spot in its stead – though if you're sold on its cute and quirky appearance, this is likely the model you'll want.

Alexa speakers: Echo | Echo Dot | Echo Plus | Echo Show | Echo Spot

The best things about the Amazon Echo range in general apply to the Echo Spot too, including a decent price tag, heaps of functionality, and a voice interface easy enough for complete tech beginners to get a hold of. With that in mind, it’s no wonder the Echos have become essentials in a smart home setup over the last five years.

The new Echo Studio may be best suited to audiophiles who want to blast their tunes, and the Echo Show is probably best in the kitchen, allowing cooks to watch recipe videos on YouTube – but the Amazon Echo Spot is the sort of device that can fit in just about anywhere.

Of course this is all subjective, and depends on how your home is set up, but if you do want our styling as well as our tech recommendations, then the Echo Spot is ideal for sticking next to your bed, much like the recently launched Echo Dot with Clock.

But enough about its looks. Let's explore how the Echo Spot is to use, whether its circular screen is useful day-to-day and how well its audio quality shapes up against its rivals.

Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot: has Amazon's new smart display made the Spot redundant?

Amazon Echo Spot: design

With features and performance, Amazon's Echo Spot is much, more more than a smart alarm clock – even if that's the impression it gives off. For a lot of Echo Spot owners, chunky alarm clock may become the device's default use, but you'll find it's a lot more versatile than that.

In fact, the Amazon Echo Spot carves out its own niche in the Echo line up, and that's to its credit. The gadget's neatly curved shell does more than enough to make up for some of the design failings of its siblings.

So where the big, bulky and brash Amazon Echo Show tends to take over any area you put it in, for example, thanks to its black slab look and large screen, the Echo Spot is much more refined in its compact, circular design.

Try Amazon Music Unlimited with a FREE trial: US | UK | AU

The Echo Spot is proof that the best way to do a desk-based video device is to forgo the TV-lite look, and just go with something that's compact and well designed instead. Tech companies, please take note.

If you had to place this in context in the Echo line-up, it's a cross between an Echo Dot and a smaller version of the Amazon Echo Show – the rectangular video-driven gadget that looks a lot like a miniature TV.

This is no Echo Dot replacement, though: the price puts it out of contention for that, and it's also a lot more versatile. To say it's a Dot with a screen would be doing it a disservice (sorry, Dot, we love you really).

Size-wise, it's about the equivalent of a mango. Sure, mangoes may not be the most scientific way to measure things, but at least it gives you an indication that it’s a pretty compact device with a curved back and screen that's angled up, making it easy to view.

The Amazon Echo Spot is a great-looking device, certainly something you won't mind having on show in your home... unlike the, er, original Show, which we always felt like tucking away on the kitchen counter.

Amazon Echo Spot: features and setup

The Echo Spot unit we reviewed was black but there's also a white one available. The screen is relatively small at 2.5 inches, with a 480 x 480 pixel resolution.

On the top of the screen there's space for a camera and on the top of the Echo Spot as a whole there are three buttons, which all sit flush against the surface for a really streamlined look.

Anyone familiar with the Echo range will know what they are: volume up, volume down, and a mic mute button – that last one disables the camera too, so it's the button to press for a little added privacy.

Plus, there are four small pin-prick holes too, housing the four-array mics that listen out for the wake word and for you barking commands at Alexa.

On the back of the Echo Spot you have the standard Amazon branding, a slot for power and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The speaker grill for the Echo Spot is right at the base of the device, which makes it invisible when viewing the device face-on. Bluetooth functionality is also available for streaming audio to or from another device.

Setup is similar to other Echo devices, except for this one you can type in your Wi-Fi details straight on the screen instead of going through the Alexa app, thanks to that handy built-in display.

Admittedly, it's a little bit fiddly putting in your details that way (it asks for your Amazon account password too) but the whole process should take less than five minutes. Then your Amazon Echo Spot is really ready to go.

Once your Echo Spot is up and running, you have the option to watch Amazon's promo video, which tells you what you can do with the device and gets you started. It's not a masterpiece, but it's worth sitting through so you get an idea about what you've just bought.

Then you get that warm chime sound, which means Alexa is online and ready to take orders. Once this appears it's a good time to read our best Amazon Alexa skills article, as well as follow the prompts that come up on the screen to find out what your new Echo Spot can do.

Swipe right on the screen at any time to bring up a whole load of Alexa commands you can use, which is a really nice way to learn what to do with the digital assistant. If you're looking for some fun and silly extras, give our Alexa Easter Eggs list a try, too.

These prompts can be turned off in the Spot's settings, and it's here in the settings where you can toggle home cards on and off as well (little blurbs of information that come up on the home screen).

You can have the home screen include your messages, weather, notifications, upcoming events, reminders, drop ins and trending topics.

Amazon Echo Spot: performance

What you get from the Amazon Echo Spot in terms of performance depends on what you actually use it for. Like the rest of the Echo range, the smart Echo Spot is extremely versatile – in fact it may be the most versatile of the lot.

If you do use it as an alarm clock, then it's got everything you need. There are a myriad of clock faces to choose from on the Echo Spot, both analog and digital, and they're mainly color-based – so you have the choice of things like Tangerine, Onyx, Bold Teal, Modern Fuschia and Copper (there are a couple of themed ones thrown in too).

We really liked the Record face, so give that a whirl, and there's an owl one available as well if you prefer something a bit more natural.

The Echo Spot also has a night mode, which is really handy and works well: put this on and it will dim the screen for the hours that you choose.

The Echo Spot can wake you with a song or a radio station. For the latter, made possible by the TuneIn skill, you need to say "Alexa, wake me up to [radio station] at [time]."

You can also read your messages on the screen and make calls. This is a new-ish addition to the Alexa smart commands in the UK that's been in the US for some time now.

When we used the Echo Spot on our desk, it made us veer more towards the video functionality of the device. You can use the Amazon smart speaker to get your daily briefings, so BBC News (for example) will show you its briefing in video form.

At first, trying to watch a 16:9 video on a small, round screen looks a little strange, but Amazon has given the Echo Spot the option to 'zoom' the picture to fit the round shape. This probably wouldn't work on a larger display but we preferred using this mode on the Echo Spot.

The round screen is also perfect for room-to-room calling. This is functionality that Alexa has been able to do for a while and it works really well, turning the Spot smart speaker into an intercom of sorts.

Ask Alexa to drop into another Echo Spot speaker, and a face pops up on the screen so you can have a chat, much like FaceTime.

You can also 'drop in' on people in your phone book (if you and they allow it). This works really well on the Echo Spot – there's a blurred image for 10 seconds or so, just in case you need to make yourself decent, and then the screen appears clear.

Like the Echo Dot there's an integrated speaker and we were surprised with how good it sounds, considering the speaker's compact size.

Unlike the Echo Dot, which is only really passable for things like voice, the Amazon Echo Spot had a nice sound to it. You will probably want to hook it up to a better speaker system via Bluetooth or aux if you're an audiophile, but if it's on your bedside table, then you won't complain about the sound.

If you listen to something with Amazon Music, then you also get the added bonus of having lyrics come up on the screen.

This can get addictive, watching the lyrics flow – and when it comes to swear words, we can confirm that Alexa kindly stars them out so your eyes aren't unduly offended.

Another way Amazon wants you to use the Echo Spot is as a smart cam monitor.

We saw a demo where you could get a smart cam video link up on the screen – from a compatible smart cam – where it was streaming from a nursery. The stream on the demo was clear and bright.

Unfortunately, our current setup at home is Hive and at the time of this review, the Hive View wasn't compatible (but might be soon).

In theory, this is a fantastic idea, especially if you have the camera set up in a nursery as we do. It will also work with a number of smart home brands, including Netgear Arlo, Logitech, Nest and smart doorbell manufacturer Ring (now owned by Amazon of course).

When it came to using the Echo Spot in the kitchen, we found it great to watch something on Amazon Prime while cooking our food. It synced really well with our Prime Video account and knew which episode of Red Oaks we were watching.

Having the ability to call up recipes and times and actually see them on the screen was a real boon, too – the ability to have multiple timers running at once really helped when cooking a roast dinner.

Again, this is functionality you can have on other Echo devices but having it at-a-glance on the screen is great and means you don't have to whip your phone out for this sort of stuff.

The Alexa digital assistant continues to get smarter across all these Echo devices too, including the Echo Spot. Vague requests can now be directed to the appropriate skill, so you don't have to remember the exact wording every time.

Another recent update means Alexa can more naturally understand what you're blabbing on about. It can also now keep listening and keep responding to questions even if you don't say "Alexa" each time.

Amazon Echo Spot: final verdict

The Amazon Echo Spot does everything the Echo Show does, but it all feels better in this smaller form factor. The design is great – it's available in black and white – and we can easily see the Spot being used in the bedroom, kitchen or even on a desk. In fact, you may want it in all of these places.

That's the thing with the Amazon Echo Spot – much like other Echo smart speakers, Amazon wants you to have a multitude of them in your home so you always have access to video chat and Alexa no matter where you are.

But the added screen enhances the look of the Spot and opens up the possibilities for it being much more than just a smart speaker – even if it Amazon hasn't nailed the video capability as of yet. The lower price of the Echo Show 5, too, makes the Spot harder to justify, but it has enough design charms to keep it in the runnings.

Still not sure whether you want a Spot or a Dot? Check out our guide to which Amazon Echo device is best for you?

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