Short answer: the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen, if you are buying new. The Google Nest Audio ranks higher than it (#9 vs #11 of 14 powered desktop speakers, 3.3/5 vs 3.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is still sold new at $79.99. The Google Nest Audio’s replacement, the Google Home Speaker, is rated 3.0/5 at $99.99.
The case for the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. The catch: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball.
What the Google Nest Audio does well: Google Assistant is built in at no extra cost, and Chromecast lets you cast from almost any music app over Wi-Fi rather than only Bluetooth. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. The tradeoff: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen new; the Google Nest Audio is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen | Google Nest Audio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 each | $99.99 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #11 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #9 of 14 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) | External AC adapter (30W, 24V, DC jack) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver | 75mm woofer, 19mm tweeter |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) | 6.9” x 4.9” x 3.1” (175 x 124 x 78 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| Amplifier Power | - | 30W (2x Class D) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 60.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 44.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between ASR’s spinorama -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 1.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.06 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Google Nest Audio compares with other leading options:
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Marshall Acton IV vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Dot Max vs Google Nest Audio
- Denon Home 150 vs Google Nest Audio
- Apple HomePod Mini vs Google Nest Audio
Prices on this page were last checked October 14, 2026 at 2:38 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: $79.99 each Amazon $79.99 eBay
Pros: What Hi-Fi rated it 5 stars for sound, calling it expansive for its size with great Alexa integration and an understated look, from a single 44mm front-firing driver. It has a room temperature sensor, works as an eero Wi-Fi extender, and includes a mic mute switch alongside dedicated volume and action buttons.
Cons: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball. Engadget’s own head-to-head against the step-up Amazon Echo Dot Max found that speaker louder and bassier, from a 2.5-inch woofer and dedicated tweeter versus this speaker’s single small full-range driver. It is mono in a single unit, has no 3.5mm output, no battery, and needs Wi-Fi and an Amazon account for its smart features.
Full Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| App | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver |
| EQ | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Home Speaker
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Denon Home 150
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Marshall Acton IV
- See all 29 comparisons
Google Nest Audio: $99.99 each Discontinued Amazon $99.99 eBay
Newer model: the Google Home Speaker, ranked lower, rated 3/5, released Jun 2026. It drops stereo pairing and AAC. See every Google Nest and Home Speakers generation.
Pros: Google Assistant is built in at no extra cost, and Chromecast lets you cast from almost any music app over Wi-Fi rather than only Bluetooth. Audio Science Review’s Klippel measurements put bass at 50Hz at -6dB and 60.4Hz at -3dB, respectable output for a single 75mm woofer at this price, and the predicted in-room response is unusually smooth for a compact single-box speaker. The Google Home app includes a two-band bass and treble EQ. Measured bass extension of 60.4Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Each unit is mono; a genuine left-right stereo pair means buying two and pairing them over Wi-Fi. On-axis measurements show more unevenness than a dedicated monitor, an average deviation of 0.569dB against roughly a tenth of that on the most neutral speakers measured this way. There is no 3.5mm or other analog input at all, no battery, and no IP rating, so it needs a stable Wi-Fi connection and a permanent outlet to work at its best. Discontinued.
Full Google Nest Audio review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2020 (6 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 30W (2x Class D) |
| App | Yes (Google Home) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44.3Hz (derived, log-interpolated between ASR’s spinorama -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review via spinorama.org) |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 4.9” x 3.1” (175 x 124 x 78 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 75mm woofer, 19mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (30W, 24V, DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.06 |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant |
| Weight | 2.6 lbs (1.2 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Google Nest Audio vs Apple HomePod Mini
- Google Nest Audio vs Google Home Speaker
- Google Nest Audio vs Denon Home 150
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Google Nest Audio vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Pop
- Google Nest Audio vs Marshall Acton IV
- Google Nest Audio vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- See all 27 comparisons