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Amazon introduced the Echo Pop to its Alexa smart speaker lineup in 2023 as a more budget-friendly option than the Echo Dot. The Pop has undergone a rebranding with its latest model, the Amazon Echo Pop Kids. The Pop is now marketed as a child-safe smart speaker with a fun aesthetic that feels right at home in a child’s bedroom.
It’s the most affordable Echo device, with a starting price of just $49.99, but is the Echo Pop really worth buying? We compared the audio quality of the Amazon Echo Dot and the Echo Pop and found that the Pop is a surprisingly competent device for casual listening. The Amazon Echo Pop Kids is worth buying if you want a fun and practical gift for your kids. Amazon recommends using it to play age-appropriate audiobooks, create bedtime sleep routines, and create creative learning exercises.
Any music requested through the Echo Pop Kids device will be automatically filtered for explicit lyrics, and content provided by some child-friendly and family-oriented services is available ad-free. This can be a safe way for a growing child to feel more independent, with a smart speaker that allows them to establish new routines and responsibilities without direct or constant parental supervision. And given how long Amazon Alexa devices last, chances are you won’t need to replace your child’s Echo Pop until they’ve outgrown the kid-glove treatment.
What other child-safe speakers are worth buying?
Among alternatives to the Amazon Echo Dot Kids, the slightly more premium Echo Dot is also available in a child-safe model. Priced at $89.99, it might be worth buying if you want to give your kids something with better sound and a few extra features. The Echo Dot has a temperature sensor, motion detection, and touch controls that can be convenient for parents and fun for kids. This kid-specific model also comes with the same type of content filters as the Echo Pop Kids, which will prevent inappropriate music and adult audiobooks from entering.
If you feel like your child isn’t quite ready to handle all the clever ways to use a smart speaker, you might want to consider the Yoto Player instead. Rather than using voice commands, your child can choose what music or audiobooks to play by inserting official or personalized Yoto cards. It also works as a Bluetooth speaker that can play audio via connection with your smartphone or other devices. The Yoto Player was chosen as the best overall speaker for kids by Wired, but it’s a bit pricey at $109.99, plus the cost of any additional Yoto cards you might want to purchase.
