I have multiple Amazon Echo smart speakers in my home, and out of all of them, my favorite is the Echo Dot with Clock. I adore the fabric-covered LED dot-matrix display that allows me to easily see the time without being too bright or intrusive. Unfortunately, I have some disappointing news to share – Amazon has decided to discontinue the Dot with Clock model in favor of a pricier and less visually appealing option.
According to Amazon spokesperson Liz Roland, once the current inventory of the Echo Dot with Clock is sold out, it will not be restocked. The reason behind this decision has not been disclosed by Amazon. Initially, I thought the discontinuation might be due to some hidden defects as my own Echo Dot with Clock had some issues recently, but after getting a replacement from Amazon, it started working perfectly again.
When I tried to purchase a new Echo Dot with Clock, I was surprised to find that Amazon no longer carried them. Only refurbished models were available, with the blue model being available at Amazon and Target. As a result, I decided to try out the Echo Spot as a replacement, which comes with a screen instead of the dot-matrix display.
Despite being more expensive at $80, I found the Echo Spot to be inferior to the Dot with Clock for my needs. The screen was not visually appealing, and the tilted design seemed more suitable for a nightstand rather than my tall dresser. Since I do not have nightstands in my bedroom, the Spot did not fit my requirements. My colleague, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, is currently reviewing the Echo Spot and finds it to be a better option than I do. However, she notes that the audio quality is not as good as the Dot and certain basic functions, like setting an alarm via touch, are missing.
The Echo Spot does offer music playback controls and the ability to display time, date, temperature, and weather simultaneously. Despite this, now that my Echo Dot with Clock is functioning properly, I have decided to return the Spot and the credit Amazon provided me.
In conclusion, the discontinuation of the Echo Dot with Clock may disappoint many users who appreciated its simple and unobtrusive design. The replacement options, such as the Echo Spot, may not be suitable for everyone, especially those who preferred the dot-matrix display. It will be interesting to see if Amazon introduces a new model that can fill the void left by the Dot with Clock for those who valued its unique features.