

Previous iterations of the Echo Dot with Clock could show you the time, timers, and temperature. Now that it's made out of a grid of LED dots, the Echo Dot can scroll text horizontally across its front, which looks much better than the less-dynamic, fourth-generation Dot. The biggest change in this version of the Echo Dot is an improved LED display integrated directly into the sphere's front. Like the tap-sensing functionality, though, I wish it could do more (or be programmable). You can also hit it to end calls and drop-ins, which is a reasonable mix of actions, but I still wish you could customize the tap gesture to do more within the companion Alexa app for iOS or Android.

New to the fifth-generation Dot is a tap sensor, for lack of a better way to phrase it, that lets you perform tasks like snoozing your alarm, dismissing timers, or pausing your music by gently whacking the top of the sphere.
