This just-reviewed Amazon smart speaker is already discounted – but we'd urge you to pick a cheaper, better alternative

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Be smart: pick the five-star Echo Dot (5th Gen) this Black Friday

Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Echo Dot Max on table
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

If you've read our guide on how to avoid bad hi-fi and home cinema deals this Black Friday, you'll have discovered that just because a product is on a tasty discount right now, it doesn't mean it's actually worth your time.

It always pays to shop around for a better product, and to do your research from our reviews and buying guides, even when the price drops are so large and tempting.

A deal to avoid

Amazon Echo Dot Max
Two stars
Save £10
Amazon Echo Dot Max : was £100 now £90 at Amazon

A £10 discount isn't nearly enough for us to recommend the Echo Dot Max. It's clever and handsomely built, but the sound is of such a poor quality that we'd urge you to seek out the Echo Dot (5th Gen) instead if you're after an Amazon-branded smart speaker. It's cheaper, it sounds better, and it's a far smarter buy overall.

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The cheaper, better-sounding alternative

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Five stars
Save £25
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen): was £55 now £30 at Amazon

This is the Dot we'd go for. The Echo Dot (5th Gen) is a great value smart speaker when it's £55, but now that it's down just £30, it's practically unbeatable. It's nicely made, has well-integrated Alexa smarts, plus it sounds far better than you'd imagine for the budget price. It's a lot more sonically rewarding than the Max, that's for sure.

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Surely, the brand-new Echo Dot Max is a better buy than the Echo Dot (5th Gen)? It launched about a month ago, set its price higher, plus it's bigger, houses an extra drive unit, and offers the latest iteration of Alexa in the shape of Alexa+.

Sadly, the Max is a sonic misfire. In our recent testing, we found that is sounds bland and muddled, struggling to nail even the most basic requirements – detail, dynamics and cohesion – of what we look for in a budget Bluetooth speaker. It's clever and nicely made, but sonically, it's a huge let-down, and a noticeable step back on the marker laid down by the Echo Dot (5th Gen).

Our strong advice, if you're seeking an Amazon smart speaker, would be to nab the fifth-gen Echo Dot instead. It won't go as loud and doesn't feature a few of the latest Amazon features, but for playing music, it's far superior.

Plus, it will still do most of the things you'd want from an Amazon device, such as playing ball with other smart devices in the same ecosystem, solid streaming support for the likes of Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music, and, of course, Alexa-guided Skyrim.

The fifth-gen Dot remains a five-star buy. As we said in our review: "Considering the Echo’s diminutive stature and wide-ranging functionality, great sound was no guarantee, but the sonic experience is somewhat remarkable when you also consider the Dot’s remarkably slim price tag and unobtrusive design".

For £60 cheaper than the Max, the Echo Dot (5th Gen) is the one we'd go for every day of the week. Grab one for the ridiculously low price of £30 over at Amazon , Currys, Argos or John Lewis.

MORE:

How to avoid bad hi-fi and home cinema deals this Black Friday – top tips and tricks from our review team

Black Friday home cinema deals live: our experts’ picks of the best savings on TVs, Dolby Atmos soundbar, projectors and more

Black Friday 2025 hi-fi deals live: our audio experts picks of the top savings on speakers, headphones, vinyl and more

Harry McKerrell
Harry McKerrell
Senior staff writer

Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands, and major industry events including IFA, High End Munich and, of course, the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs.

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