I consider myself an early adopter of plenty of technology. Day one releases often have me drooling. I’ve waiting in line overnight for a product in subzero temperatures. I decided to wait in line for a Nintendo 3DS simply because I saw a line. Sad, I know. Thankfully, those waits don’t have to happen anymore. Amazon changes the game with so many products. However, Amazon puts out some insane products themselves, and I’m always excited to see new iterations of their own products. The latest Echo Spot (move over dot) and New Amazon Kindle (2024) may seem like the “same old, same old” but I can assure you they are not.
Echo Spot
I had the first Echo. I was blown away. Now, I own roughly 6 variations of the Echo and have given many away over time. They are easily one of the greatest innovations of the decade. For those that may not know, this isn’t the first iteration of this Echo. Amazon released a Spot about seven years ago, but it was discontinued. So why is it making a return? This one is better and certainly more cost effective.
It features a rectangular display measuring in at 2.83 inches. One of the first thing I notice is the simplicity in design. The device does not feature a camera, and you won’t hear any complaining from me. I always felt the camera felt intrusive in my home – particularly when it’s in my bedroom. Oh, and I won’t be watching any movies on it either. I guess I can save that for my Echo Show which again I mostly use for music and occasional trivia.
All in all, the Echo Spot is a bit of a glorified alarm clock. One key noticeable difference is in its performance. It sits right at the edge of my wifi range. The echo it replaced on my nightstand struggled mightily to keep a signal. The Echo Spot does not. The Spot responds seconds faster than the older model, and it comes in super handy when my wife leaves the TV, and I wake up to it screaming at me in the middle of the night. “Alexa, turn off the Roku” and in one second flat the TV goes off.
Audio quality is a bit what I expect from a small Echo. Sure, it’s better than a smart phone speaker, but it still isn’t amazing. It certainly isn’t the Echo to purchase if you are looking for Hi-fi sound. There are three buttons to help control the Spot. Two of these are simply volume buttons, and the third button mutes the mic. I like the overall design of the Echo Spot, however I’m still not sure how I feel about the half sphere screen. I feel like a full screen would be “nice to have”, but at the same time – why? Again, this isn’t a device I plan to watch movies from, and it still displays the basics of what I need – weather and the time. It also shows artists and songs from the music app of your choice.
The screen is also a touchscreen. I can easily change the way the clock face with six different options. Using the app, I can also change the alarm sounds just in case I don’t like the original Echo alarm. This helps differentiate where an alarm is coming from if multiple devices adorn your home.
Echo Spot Summary
There’s a lot to love here. There are also some missing features you may not love. I personally am very happy with this iteration as my nightstand needs are fully met here without feeling like my privacy is being invaded. Clock – check, weather – check, customization – check, great voice response-check. The Spot is a minimalist’s perfect match. It does everything it needs to without breaking the bank. I can’t help but recommend this little device.
Amazon Kindle (2024)
Watch closely my friends, you are about to witness a magic shrinking act. The new Amazon Kindle is small. It’s noticeably smaller than any Kindle device I’ve used. My all-time favorite Kindle still remains to be the Kindle Oasis with the beveled edge as it is soooo much more comfortable to hold than any other. When I first open the newest Kindle, I wonder, “is this thing too small?” It’s honestly not that much bigger than my Samsung Galaxy Ultra. It only takes a few uses however for me to decide – yup I like it.
The 2024 Amazon Kindle is available in two different colors. Of course, black is the standard Kindle color, but they offer it in Matcha (light green) as well. I test the Matcha color, and I like how it stands out. Prior Kindles with a gray or black color are often easy to overlook if left in certain areas, but this Kindle really pops.
The Kindle measures in at 6.2″ x “4.3” x “.32”. The 6″ display is a full inch smaller that the Kindle Paperwhite. This isn’t a bad thing. However, prior Kindles did feel a bit comfier in two-hands where this one feels too small for two hands but too big for one hand. This only really bothers me on occasion while I’m lying on my side reading. I miss having the option of a button to turn the page forward for one-handed reading. Nonetheless, I can still press the edge of the screen to turn pages forward or backward. Page turning is lightning fast. It’s equally as bright as a Paperwhite which is perfect. My understanding is that it is lit differently, but I cannot tell a difference in the least.
It just feels like a smaller paperwhite. Same resolution (300 ppi), same storage (16GB), same audible Bluetooth option, same brightness max (94 nits). The only thing that is noticeably missing is the ability to give a “warm” light – which essentially just “yellows” a page if you are into that. The battery life claims up to 6 weeks. My experience came closer to 8 weeks, though I did not use it every day. It charges incredibly quick, so for me, battery life is really never an issue.
One additional important difference. The Kindle 2024 is not rated for any type of water. Whereas I felt comfortable taking a Kindle Paperwhite into a tub, I’m not going to risk the same with this Kindle. For a $50 discount, this one is far worth it – as long as I keep it dry.
If you still find yourself on the fence about a Kindle – get it. I’ve purchased several over the years, and I’ve never looked back. Every single person in my family has one. There are five of us. The only naysayer is my wife who likes to live in the stone age of books. Someday, I’ll bring her to the dark side.
Summing it up
The 2024 Amazon Kindle is a game-changer in compact e-readers, offering a smaller, sleeker design at just 6.2″ x 4.3″ x 0.32″. Available in classic black or eye-catching Matcha, this Kindle stands out from the crowd. While it’s slightly smaller than the Kindle Paperwhite with a 6″ display, it delivers the same 300 ppi resolution, 16GB storage, lightning-fast page turns, and for me, up to 8 weeks of battery life (though not used daily). However, it lacks warm light settings and isn’t water-resistant, making it a better fit for dry environments. Perfectly bright and easy to hold, it’s a more affordable choice for Kindle enthusiasts, though one-handed reading could benefit from physical page-turn buttons. Despite its smaller size, the 2024 Kindle offers unbeatable value at a $50 discount—just keep it dry!
