If you’re seeking an Alexa smart speaker, the Echo Dot (Rs. 4,499) or the Echo Plus might come to mind. Yet, on Amazon, you’ll find the Eufy Genie (Rs. 2,199) – another Alexa smart speaker, priced lower and nearly identical in size. Tempting, right? However, investing in a smart speaker is like any other investment; frequent changes don’t make sense. To aid your decision in selecting the best budget small-form-factor Alexa smart speaker, here’s a detailed comparison of the Eufy Genie and Echo Dot.
Build and Design
Regarding build and design, both the Echo Dot and the Eufy Genie are intended as small speakers for inconspicuous placement in any room. However, their design approaches differ significantly.
The Echo Dot resembles a slice of the larger Echo Plus, while the Eufy Genie features a sleeker, curvier design.
The Genie features buttons similar to the Echo Dot but with a smaller light ring. Additionally, the Eufy Genie’s logo on top lights up. Whether this is preferable is subjective, but I favor the Eufy Genie’s light ring. Regarding buttons, the Eufy Genie’s are more tactile than the Echo Dot’s. While this may not be crucial for a voice-controlled smart speaker, pressing them on the Eufy Genie feels superior.
Both the Echo Dot and the Eufy Genie have identical ports on the back— a microUSB port for power and an AUX port for speaker connection. The Eufy Genie comes with an AUX cable, unlike the Echo Dot.
Voice Recognition
For voice recognition, the Echo Dot uses a seven-microphone array whereas the Eufy Genie simply has two far field microphones. This difference affects usage. I found that speaking louder for the Eufy Genie to recognize the wake word was necessary compared to the Echo Dot. The seven-microphone array on the Echo Dot helps when speaking from a distance, allowing normal speech for recognition. With the Eufy Genie, you’ll need to raise your voice significantly to trigger recognition.
Both the Echo Dot and the Eufy Genie use Alexa, so their speech detection accuracy is essentially identical. However, in my experience, the Eufy Genie consistently took slightly longer than the Echo to process my spoken requests, for reasons unknown.
Sound Quality
Regarding sound quality, the Eufy Genie surpasses the Echo Dot by a significant margin. Despite their similar form factors, the Genie excels in audio performance. Music played on the Eufy Genie is not only louder than that on the Echo Dot, but also boasts deeper bass and clearer mids and treble.
Personally, I’ve grown fond of the Eufy Genie’s audio quality. It’s impressive, especially given its price and size.
Connectivity
Regarding wired connectivity, both the Echo Dot and the Eufy Genie have two ports on the rear: a microUSB port for power and an AUX port for external speakers.
The Echo Dot leads in wireless connectivity. While both the Eufy Genie and Echo Dot support Bluetooth, the Echo Dot supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks, whereas the Eufy Genie only supports 2.4GHz. While not crucial for most, it may be of interest to some why the Genie lacks 5GHz network support.
Smart Capabilities
In terms of smarts, there’s no difference between the Echo Dot and the Eufy Genie. Both use Alexa as their brain, granting access to the same Skills and data for every query.
Alexa is a capable smart assistant, benefiting from its longevity and Amazon’s extensive library of Skills.
Both speakers answer basic weather and random questions. They offer games and entertainment. Alexa supports various smart home products, ensuring compatibility.
Pricing and Availability
Regarding pricing, the Eufy Genie is significantly cheaper than the Echo Dot, currently priced at just Rs. 2,199, compared to the Echo Dot’s Rs. 4,499.
Both speakers are sold on Amazon.
Eufy Genie vs Echo Dot: Which is Better?
Now, the crucial question: which one to buy? Frankly, the Eufy Genie is the clear choice. It boasts superior aesthetics, sound quality, and functionality, matching everything the Echo Dot offers at a fraction of the price.
Buy the Eufy Genie on Amazon (Rs. 2,199)
Buy the Echo Dot on Amazon (Rs. 4,499)
Pritam Chopra is a seasoned IT professional and a passionate blogger hailing from the dynamic realm of technology. With an insatiable curiosity for all things tech-related, Pritam has dedicated himself to exploring and unraveling the intricacies of the digital world.
