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Amazon introduced the Echo Pop to its Alexa smart speaker lineup back 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 kid’s bedroom.
It’s the most affordable Echo device at a starting price of just $49.99, but is the Echo Pop actually worth buying? We compared the audio quality of the Amazon Echo Dot and 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 children. Amazon recommends using it for playing age-appropriate audiobooks, creating bedtime sleep routines, and building creative learning exercises.
Any music requested via the Echo Pop Kids device will automatically be filtered for explicit lyrics, and content provided from certain child-friendly and family-focused services is available ad-free. It can be a safe way for a growing child to feel more independent, with a smart speaker that lets them build new routines and responsibilities without direct or constant parental supervision. And considering how long Amazon Alexa devices tend to last, there’s a good chance you won’t need to replace your child’s Echo Pop until they’ve outgrown the kid-gloves treatment.
Which other child-safe speakers are worth buying?
Among alternatives to the Amazon Echo Dot Kids, the slightly more premium Echo Dot also comes in a child-safe model. At a price of $89.99, it may be worth buying if you want to treat your kids to something with better sound and a few more features. The Echo Dot has a temperature sensor, motion detection, and tap controls that can be convenient for parents and fun for kids. This kids-specific model also comes with the same kind of content filters as the Echo Pop Kids that will keep out inappropriate music and mature audiobooks.
If you feel like your child isn’t quite ready to handle all of the clever ways a smart speaker can be used, you might consider the Yoto Player instead. Rather than operating on voice commands, your child can choose which music or audiobooks to play by inserting official or custom-made Yoto Cards. It also functions as a Bluetooth speaker that can play audio via a connection with your smartphone or other devices. The Yoto Player was chosen as the best overall speaker for kids by Wired, but it is a bit pricey at $109.99, plus the cost of any additional Yoto Cards you wish to buy.
