In our tests, the newer Dot does respond quicker. Inside is a new chip, which promises to make Alexa’s response times up to twice as fast. The same four-mic array for voice pick-up is also here. However, the all-new Echo Dot includes a solo 4cm driver – just as the third-gen Dot did, albeit it's now front-firing. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the extra height afforded by a spherical design must mean an extra driver under the hood. As we said in our review of the larger Echo (4th Gen), which sports this same design element, it’s a minor issue since the device needs to be plugged in and, consequently, will usually sit close to a wall anyway. One notable thing about the new design is the elliptical band of plastic that rises to its highest around the power port at the back of the unit it means you shouldn’t expect the same omnidirectional sound presentation as in the previous iteration. The four physical buttons for mic on/off, action and volume are still present, offset from the apex of the Dot, and there’s also a 'tap to snooze' feature, which is helpful if you use your Dot for alarms and reminders. The third- and fourth-gen Dots boast the same circumference at their widest, but the newer variant is almost twice as tall and more imposing than its predecessor – think grapefruit rather than stack of coffee coasters.
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