But, there is a difference and, as far as I’m concerned, the lack of a ‘with clock’ option is a missed opportunity. The reason for this will be obvious to anyone who’s used an Echo Dot with clock. That model costs only $10/£10 more than its non-clock sibling, but makes for a substantial upgrade. Not only can it replace a physical clock, the LED display can also display a timer, show the temperature (both outside and in the room, thanks to the Echo Dot 5’s built-in temperature sensor) and even indicate which song is currently playing. It’s way faster to glance at a clock to see what time it is than asking Alexa, and if you use your Echo as a bedroom radio / alarm clock, you’re far more likely to prefer the Echo Dot with clock than without. Admittedly, I – like millions of other owners – don’t use Echo devices to their full potential. I use Alexa to check the weather and set timers, but mainly to play music and listen to the radio or podcasts, plus the occasional meditation session or short workout. I don’t use Alexa to control my smart home, but even if I did, a screen isn’t necessary for that.  The Echo Dot with clock is my current go-to, but its speaker isn’t good enough to deliver room-filling audio in my open-plan kitchen/living room – even if you’ve got two set up as a stereo pair. The Echo Studio might seem like the best solution, but that doesn’t have a clock display either, and costs close to $200/£200.

As the resident expert on Windows, Senior Staff Writer Anyron’s main focus is PCs and laptops. Much of the rest of his time is split between smartphones, tablets and audio, with a particular focus on Android devices.