Echo Dot (3rd Gen) - Smart speaker with Clock
$34.99
Condition: Amazon Refurbished (2)
Color: Sandstone
Top positive review
159 people found this helpful
New To Alexa/Echo - Bought 2 More After Loving The First - It Even Sings To Me!
By Experienced Reviewer on Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2019
I finally decided to give Alexa a try. I was concerned about privacy and we are a little older so I did not want to have too much technology that would end up frustrating me. It was mainly the low price that talked me into it and the fact that we now have several devices and light bulbs each needing their own app. Having Alexa could simplify using them. I started out just using the app to see how I liked it. It was nice to just use one app rather than 6 different once for different branded light bulbs or outlets. Our first one we got was the darker color without the clock. I placed it in our family room. It has been a lot of fun to use and really does make things easier. I did turn off the ability for her to actually buy things but she can put them in my cart. I like that I can control that feature because I do not want to accidentally order something and not figure it out till it's too late. Usually I will want to go look at a photo anyway so it's nice to have her add items to my cart and then I can go look at them. I connected Alexa with several light bulb and outlet brands and our Roomba vacuum. I think it went pretty smoothly but I wish I had bought Alexa first because I am going to have to go through and rename some things to make it easier to identify them to turn them on. If I had to do it over again I would have definitely bought Alexa first. Alexa is sooo much smarter than Siri! When I ask her questions she has an answer for almost everything. She can play music, play games, read books, give you the news and weather and so much more. Alexa can also make calls and text for you, but I have not felt comfortable doing this. I would have to give Amazon access to my contacts and I just feel as though it's not something I need terribly. I do wish that there was a way to just connect an emergency contact and not my entire list....or just connect my favorites so I could maybe just add family members that I text often or would want her to call or text in an emergency. Anyway that will have to wait until I feel I have more control but it's a nice feature. After we fell in love with our Echo that we bought for our main floor, I ordered two more for our bedrooms that have clocks on them. They are the lighter color which is the only one with a clock. I do wish that the clock came in other colors but it's working out ok for us. Before I move to the clock units I do want to mention that Alexa has quite a range. We have a pretty big downstairs level with a wall between our kitchen and family room. It does have a wide opening but I have my Echo on the other side of the wall. I can be in the kitchen and set a timer or ask her a question and the volume settings work well enough that I can hear her responses. I keep the volume a little higher downstairs so we can use it from any room. Each echo also has a setting for bass, treble and midrange. I thought that the default is way too much bass. I mostly use it for answering questions, so you might feel differently if you are using it for music but I turned the bass all the way down and the treble and midrange all the way up to get the clearest voice. I did the same with the bedroom units too. The ones with the clocks are awesome for the nightstand. They are nice and bright during the daylight and automatically dim in the evening. You can turn the auto-dimming off if you want it bright at night and just set a manual light level. I like it just as it is. The light is bright enough to read it at night but so dim that it's not lighting up my room. I actually use Alexa during the night to ask her the time because then I do not have to put my glasses on. This would be such a great unit for those who are visually impaired. I have low vision but it's corrected with glasses but there are times when I really like not having to search for my reading glasses. I have used it to read me a book or play music or any number of things. Alexa can also play a number of games with you. I enjoy 20 questions. They also have Jeopardy and a bunch of other games suited for a variety of ages. Bottom line is that the Echo Dot with or without the clock is not only a fun toy but a useful tool. I think in years to come this sort of thing will be in everyone's home. Thanks for reading my review Becky Brooks
Top critical review
Does the job, but if adaptive brightness is important, consider carefully before buying!
By Jack on Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2021
I bought this as a replacement for both an Echo Dot (2nd gen) and a digital clock I had on a bedside shelf, in order to make some room on the shelf, and also to get better sound for music streaming. On the latter, it delivers, as the sound is richer and deeper, compared to the less full sound the 2nd gen produced. My main gripe with it though - and one thing anyone for whom the LED display brightness is a significant factor might want to consider before purchasing it - is that the sensor for adaptive brightness is on top of the device, around where the buttons are. Therefore, if the location you intend to place the Echo Dot in is a relatively enclosed space where its top might be obscured from direct ambient lighting, rather than an open-top (such as a nightstand or desk), chances are its sensor would NOT detect the environment lighting correctly in order to adjust the brightness accordingly. It would then assume that the room is dim, and consequently keep its LED brightness relatively low the whole time, so you'll find it really hard to make out the display if there is any amount of ambient light in the room at all. Sure, you could forgo the adaptive brightness option and simply set a fixed brightness value for better visibility, but you'll probably find it far too bright at night. (I've set mine to 20% brightness, which keeps the display brighter than if I'd left the adaptive brightness on, but it's still too dim to read most of the day, or when the room light is on, but is just about tolerable at night). This odd sensor placement is probably why there are so many mixed reviews on the LED's adaptive brightness - some are saying it's too bright, while others (like me) find it far too dim. My previous digital clock that this replaced had its adaptive brightness sensor on the front where the display face was, so the LED brightness was in sync with the light detected on the surface which I was reading it from, which makes perfect sense to me. Obviously this can't be fixed on the device hardware itself, but a software-based fix could partially resolve this, like an option to set the LED brightness based on a timed schedule (so I can set its brightness to increase to a high value in the day, then have it dim to a much lower value at night). Unfortunately, this device is a couple of years old now, so I don't expect anything like this is forthcoming. Anyway, if all that isn't important to you and you'll be placing it somewhere where the display brightness doesn't matter (say, your living room), then it's definitely a great upgrade on any existing older Echo Dots you already own.
Sort by:
Filter by:
New To Alexa/Echo - Bought 2 More After Loving The First - It Even Sings To Me!
By Experienced Reviewer - Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2019
Verified Amazon Purchase
I finally decided to give Alexa a try. I was concerned about privacy and we are a little older so I did not want to have too much technology that would end up frustrating me. It was mainly the low price that talked me into it and the fact that we now have several devices and light bulbs each needing their own app. Having Alexa could simplify using them. I started out just using the app to see how I liked it. It was nice to just use one app rather than 6 different once for different branded light bulbs or outlets. Our first one we got was the darker color without the clock. I placed it in our family room. It has been a lot of fun to use and really does make things easier. I did turn off the ability for her to actually buy things but she can put them in my cart. I like that I can control that feature because I do not want to accidentally order something and not figure it out till it's too late. Usually I will want to go look at a photo anyway so it's nice to have her add items to my cart and then I can go look at them. I connected Alexa with several light bulb and outlet brands and our Roomba vacuum. I think it went pretty smoothly but I wish I had bought Alexa first because I am going to have to go through and rename some things to make it easier to identify them to turn them on. If I had to do it over again I would have definitely bought Alexa first. Alexa is sooo much smarter than Siri! When I ask her questions she has an answer for almost everything. She can play music, play games, read books, give you the news and weather and so much more. Alexa can also make calls and text for you, but I have not felt comfortable doing this. I would have to give Amazon access to my contacts and I just feel as though it's not something I need terribly. I do wish that there was a way to just connect an emergency contact and not my entire list....or just connect my favorites so I could maybe just add family members that I text often or would want her to call or text in an emergency. Anyway that will have to wait until I feel I have more control but it's a nice feature. After we fell in love with our Echo that we bought for our main floor, I ordered two more for our bedrooms that have clocks on them. They are the lighter color which is the only one with a clock. I do wish that the clock came in other colors but it's working out ok for us. Before I move to the clock units I do want to mention that Alexa has quite a range. We have a pretty big downstairs level with a wall between our kitchen and family room. It does have a wide opening but I have my Echo on the other side of the wall. I can be in the kitchen and set a timer or ask her a question and the volume settings work well enough that I can hear her responses. I keep the volume a little higher downstairs so we can use it from any room. Each echo also has a setting for bass, treble and midrange. I thought that the default is way too much bass. I mostly use it for answering questions, so you might feel differently if you are using it for music but I turned the bass all the way down and the treble and midrange all the way up to get the clearest voice. I did the same with the bedroom units too. The ones with the clocks are awesome for the nightstand. They are nice and bright during the daylight and automatically dim in the evening. You can turn the auto-dimming off if you want it bright at night and just set a manual light level. I like it just as it is. The light is bright enough to read it at night but so dim that it's not lighting up my room. I actually use Alexa during the night to ask her the time because then I do not have to put my glasses on. This would be such a great unit for those who are visually impaired. I have low vision but it's corrected with glasses but there are times when I really like not having to search for my reading glasses. I have used it to read me a book or play music or any number of things. Alexa can also play a number of games with you. I enjoy 20 questions. They also have Jeopardy and a bunch of other games suited for a variety of ages. Bottom line is that the Echo Dot with or without the clock is not only a fun toy but a useful tool. I think in years to come this sort of thing will be in everyone's home. Thanks for reading my review Becky Brooks
This is really unique clock echo Dot Alexa device
By Carl/Paul - Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
What a unique echo Dot it is really well made and of course it is everything you expected to be for Alexa The clock that is attached to this echo Dot is uniquely lit so when you have high 100% light bulb shining in your room the display lights up accordingly and when you turn off the lights or turn it down to a smart light let's say 50% or 2% or whatever the display on the echo Dot Alexa device dims accordingly so you don't have anything bright when you turn off all your lights and go to bed but you can still see a dim leaded digital clock it is really unique and wonderful of the way they built this thing and of course it's just like an echo Dot performs with all the tasks that Alexa forgive you at the same time very nice speaker as well
This is what technology "OUGHT" to be
By Brian - Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2022
Verified Amazon Purchase
Just wonderful on all counts!! It's like being in some futuristic sci-fi movie. The voice recognition is better than Siri, Google and Cortana. And of course, it's especially adept at tracking and accurately reporting your Amazon deliveries (seems Alexa has the inside scoop!) Now if i had a wishlist - I would like to see the following improvements: 1) Alexa should say "Bless You" whenever I sneeze. 2) I want the ability to turn off Alexa's mic with a voice command such as "Alexa we'd like to speak privately". After all - if Stanley Kubrick did it in "2001" - then there's no reason Alexa can't do it in 2022! 3) Users should be able to programme additional random responses to common sayings. For instance - when i say "Thank You" - I want one of Alexa's RANDOM responses to include "Da Nada" or something silly like "it's what I live for" - or some other phrase not currently on the list! Sure I can manually programme in ONE response for Thank You - but it would be better if i could add it to the LIST of possible responses already on there (eg - "You're Welcome", "No Problem", and "Of Course"). 4) (similar to previous) Alexa currently has about 8 or 9 "sounds" it can make (applause, dog barking, car horn, etc). What if Users could "Add Sounds" we record ourselves! Suppose I want Alexa to make the sound of my kettle whistling or maybe the sound of my my car starting up. I should be able to add such sounds by myself! 5) Users should be able to record and "Add Sounds Listened For". Right now it listens for a VERY limited list of sounds (eg - dog barking, water flowing, a person's cough) - but suppose i want to make it listen for the sound of my doorbell or my cat - or maybe the sound of opening my sliding glass door? I should be able to input such household sounds! Or - if nothing else - if Alexa can listen for the sound of a dog barking then she SHOULD be able to hear a cat meow! 6) Alexa should be able to carry on a conversation with a list of responses to which Users can add manually. Sort of an extension of the existing "Adaptive Listening" / where it listens to and responds AFTER it's heard the Wake Word. - - - - - - - - - - - - But this is all just ideas for an already FANTASTIC system!! I received my Alexa Echo Dot from my brother-in-law as the perfect GIFT! I had HEARD reviews critical of its sound. Bit think the sound of superb! Rich and resonant - and the app let's me control bass and treble! But if your unit is on a corner or behind something and it's muffled - just connect it to a portable Bluetooth speaker (which ISN'T behind something and muffled) and you're good to go! Also use the smartphone app to turn your smartphone into a 2nd listening device / speaker! The possibilities are numerous! This is one great product and I highly recommend it!!
Great purchase
By gladys - Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
Bought this like 4 yrs ago still going strong. Use it everyday alarms, weather updates, package/delivery updates info, play music worth every penny
So far so good
By Peter B. - Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2020
Verified Amazon Purchase
I'm a first time alexa user, so have no previous experience with prior echo dot generations. That said, I liked the 3rd gen primarily for the clock feature. I believe the echo dot 3 performs very similarly to previous generations other than the new clock/alarm feature, so I'll focus this review on that aspect. Unlike others who've reviewed this, I found that the device does come with an auto-dim function for the clock, and it came with that setting turned on right out of the package. You can turn if off in the alexa app if you prefer. Perhaps they've updated it since release. You can also customize the degree of the base light level, and the overall amount that it dims through the alexa app. Spending a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the alexa app is worthwhile, as you'll find more ways to customize your echo post set-up. The degree of light projected by the clock is quite nice, as my eyes are very light sensitive in the dark, and my old alarm clock was always too bright even on the dimmest setting. The echo I have set at 30% light at night and its light is nice and soft. Doesn't project light into your eyes when you look in it's direction in the dark. The ring does light up when the alarm goes off, but not nearly as brightly as it does during the day. Nor has the ring woken me up more than the sound it emits, which is what I prefer in an alarm clock. The color of the clock numbers themselves cannot be changed, though that might be able to be adjusted in a future update. It's a nice clean white light, that's a little on the cool side, without going blue. The alarm clock features itself are not very broad. Don't expect a fully customizable experience like you might have on any smartphone, where you could select a specific song to wake up to, for example. You get about 20 different tones that are similar to the default selection of ring tones and sounds you might have on a smartphone, as well as a dozen or more entertaining voices speaking different "wake up" messages. But that's pretty much it. Personally I just chose one of the tones instead of the spoken wake up recordings, as it does a better job of waking only me, and not my wife. The volume level of the alarm is fully adjustable through the alexa app, including a gradual increase of the alarm volume. The button on top to turn off the alarm is a bit small and flush with the surface of the echo dot, so it's not terribly easy to find when you're groggy from sleep. It's much easier to just speak out loud, and tell alexa to shut up, or ask her to delay the alarm for 10 minutes. Alexa is able to hear me even if I'm speaking in a low voice so as not to wake my wife, though I'm sure it helps that the echo dot is located on my side of the bed. I've been using my echo about 2 weeks now, and overall it's been a good experience. Sure there's a little learning curve if you're new to alexa like I am, but so far I've found the device to be what you'd probably expect if you're an experienced alexa user, with no strong negatives. I'd recommend it if you're looking for an echo dot, and want a clock and (relatively simple) alarm feature.
*Echo Dot - Gen 3* is AWESOME & WORTH EVERY PENNY! MUCH BETTER than 2nd Gen Dot! UPDATED REVIEW!
By JMA - Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2019
Verified Amazon Purchase
I initially gave this only 1 Star due to it's appearance and "look." But every other aspect of the "Echo Dot 3rd Gen Alexa Device" I'm reviewing and commenting on right now I would give 4/5 or 5/5 Stars normally. Before I spoke with an Amazon rep during their phone call to me just minutes ago, I did not due to the quality of the "look" of said received item (Echo Dot). Even though it didn't "look" right, it worked perfectly. Now, I have been contacted by Amazon.com via phone # on file (which is even MORE AWESOME because they reached out to me the quickest and in the kindest way possible)!!! So, very quickly after my review, Amazon without hesitation showing their grace and professionalism they offered to make things right. Therefore, I am now giving this Echo Dot #rd Gen Alexa Device 5/5 Stars all around and an A+ for all those youngsters out there! :p This Echo Dot works GREAT and responds from far away too! It hears/responds from great distances (more than I expected) and I LOVE how I just learned about Alexa's "Routines" and how to make Custom "Routines" as well as adding new, unique and impressive "Skills" which are EPIC! Thank you so much "TAMI" (aka the Amazon rep who called ME and took HER time to call ME) for all your help. It's because of you, Tami, and your professionalism towards the Amazon Item & Issue(s) -AND- your kindness, acceptance and non-judgmental positive and uplifting attitude towards my very unique physical and mental status that allows ME to make the time to redo a Review like this one and praise the people who SHOULD be praised! I hope Tami stays with Amazon a long time and hopefully, seeks more responsibility and they move Tami up in the business. Amazon needs strong women like her in higher positions of power to do right by Amazon's customers. I'm 99% more loyal today to Amazon as a business, as a whole, than I was this very morning, TBH! Also, thanks directly to Amazon as well for "making it right" with the problem with my Amazon Original Product! TY ALL AGAIN!!! :D Look forward to more business together!!! I just bought a CyberPowerPC Gaming Desktop PC and an Asurion 3 year warranty today or late last night or so and now I'm just waiting on that to get delivered and for payment to go thru! ;-) I LOVE AMAZON AND THEIR PRIME DEALS!!! TY!
It works great, as advertised
By Woggerdoo - Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2019
Verified Amazon Purchase
So, there are not any instructions probably because all the new devices are coming up with their own apps and it would be impossible to keep up with them all and give explanations on how they should connect with the Alexa app. I have a new Samsung 42" smart tv. It's smart app is called Smart Things. You are to connect it to their app then have Alexa connect to their app. It doesn't always work. She often looses the connection. I had AT&T and several plugs and some light bulbs couldn't find the internet. My signal is too weak in my house. They said I get a 6ghz signal I could max out my signal at 10 but it wouldn't produce a significant difference. So, I have switched to cable for the internet. Now, the signal can be found kind of. The changing of the network with Alexa is lacking in simplicity. It searches for ever even after I have found the name. It gives the device it's own network name that "isn't connected to the internet", and no explanation as to why that happens and what it's purpose is, so you can't help it along. I got it connected with shear luck. But, this morning I heard my husband tell Alexa to turn on the TV and she did nothing, but responded with OK. This is a learning process. I hope I become an expert soon. I have several other things I would like to make smart. We are starting off small. The plug that works practically seamlessly is Amazon Smart Plug. That review would say, it is too wide!! It takes up 3 plugs on a strip. I tried a set of Teckin Smart Plugs. They couldn't find the internet, I sent them back. I tried Wyze Bulbs, CNET recommended them. They couldn't connect to the internet either. I sent them back. Alexa couldn't find their apps to enable the connection. Whether it was because I couldn't get them connected to the internet, perhaps that was all the trouble. None of this stuff comes with any documentation for troubleshooting. Very frustrating. I am very patient. I can't imaging how I would tolerate any of this if I wasn't willing to play around with stuff for hours. Good Luck, I hope this helps.
Even if you don't need Alexa, still and amazing alarm clock!!!
By Nicholas Cultrara - Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2020
Verified Amazon Purchase
I was thinking about getting an alarm clock that worked with Atomic Time, but being on the East Coast, I was kind of worried it would not catch the signal nightly and might leave me in a bind during daylight savings if it did not switch during the night. Then I thought to myself this neat little device is connected to the internet so the time should be 100 percent accurate all the time. I went ahead and bought one. Much to my surprise as soon as I plugged it in, it showed me the correct time, (I did not set up the device in the app or my computer at this point). Wondering how that works? Pretty amazing. I must say I am a person who cannot sleep with lights on in the room, but this nice white display does not bother me at all. It seems to emit just enough light to display itself but does not really light up the room at the right brightness. I know some people want different colors for this device so did I, but I think I understand now that any color than white would obscure the display. I think an option for displaying am/pm would have been nice. Some days are so exhausting one can pass out and not realize with 12 hour segment of the day they are waking up in LOL!!! I have an echo for podcasts and music in the room and a echo studio I use as a sound bar for my tv. So this is primarily an alarm clock that can display the temperature upon request. I am very happy with the device. It does beg the question why can't the time be added to every echo device when you have the option to turn off the time completely if you want to, by voice request. Curios to see what the display looks like with the fabric off but I will wait for the device to get older or the fabric to become a complete mess before attempting that, basically when the device is put into retirement and needs to be replaced.
Great For Use As Alarm Clock, Reminder, and Virtual Assistant. Good for some cleaning
By Cody - Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2020
Verified Amazon Purchase
I bought this as a replacement for my old iHome alarm clock/speaker with iPhone dock and USB port. I was looking at typical higher end alarm clocks when I saw this echo dot had the display so I went for it. It was a streamlined setup process just because I have Amazon it used all of my account info for registration and details it needed. I was able to link it etc before I had even received it as well as set a few preferences from the Alexa app. Needs more “Skills” It has only a 3.5mm jack and the port for the power cable only. A USB port seems like it would be a no brainer on a device for its intended use. My ihome clock was my charging device as it had a USB port for my iPhone charge cable and simplified my nightstand setup. So now it’s back to extension cords. It has a loud speaker with pretty clear audio and decent sound quality to be small. However, when you get to any kind of bass it crackles/distorts. Not talking about hip hop or club rave music either most mainstream pop will crackle this little thing. It has sound settings for bass, mid-range, and treble which is nice but I have to leave bass set to 0 or -1. I’m a bit of an audiophile but it’s not a dealbreaker as it still has the ability to play clear quality music but not much hit. Voice recognition I would rate an 8 out of 10. On occasion it won’t get the word you said right. Like when I told it “remind me tomorrow at 10am to call the vet” and the next day right on schedule it reminds me to “call the fat.” Wyze cameras are wasted on the echo Dot. You can integrate them but you can’t view them unless you leave the Alexa app and go to the wyze one. It won’t turn them on/off or show any alerts like motion detected. So if you have that planned as part of your smart home design then skip this Echo Dot completely. I’d like to see them make a way to adjust the light ring but there’s absolutely zero options for it. No color changing or brightness etc. More alarm/alert sounds would be great as well or being able to simply download more would be. You can get more from skills but you can’t use your app to do it it’s by voice only and listing all the choices for them being spoken is too tedious. The display could also be used a little more and I’m sure it’s capable of doing so but the feature just isn’t there. Instead of showing only the time/date/temp if it could display words as well.
Sounds good and the clock is a plus.
By JM Bunkin - Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
Verified Amazon Purchase
I have many Dots in my home but only one has the clock and I really like that feature.
Show more reviews