The Echo Dot gets an adorable facelift in this kids’ version of the device. You can choose from cute and colorful designs — like an owl or dragon — for the outside, but the inside is exactly the same as the latest-model Echo Dot, minus the LED clock display. The Echo Dot Kids is not just a pretty paint job, though; it also comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+, a digital subscription designed for kids aged 3-12 to access kid-friendly audiobooks, educational Alexa skills, interactive games, homework help, bedtime stories, and more — all without ads. (Though to be fair, you could always subscribe to Amazon Kids+ separately and use it via any other Echo device too.)
In addition to a built-in mic off button for privacy, the Echo Dot Kids is also packed with parental controls: Like only giving kid-friendly responses to any questions asked, filtering out explicit songs when playing music, and only allowing calls to parent-approved contacts. It also allows Alexa’s voice to be changed to that of an owl- or dragon-inspired character, making the whole experience more fun for little ones. And, it comes with a 2-year worry-free guarantee that allows for replacement if it breaks (which is a huge step up from the Echo Dot’s 90-day limited warranty).
If you, however, want to treat the kiddos to the latest-and-greatest in the world of Amazon tech, your best bet would be the Amazon Echo Pop Kids (released on Oct. 25). The Pop Kids costs $49.99, has all the same parental controls features we mentioned above, and grants you six free months of Amazon Kids+. Its Avengers or Disney Princess design options are giving #genderstereotypes, but they’re still a great way to add some brightness to your kid’s room and life.
Now, to answer the age-old question of whether or not the Echo Dot Kids will be on sale this Black Friday: Perhaps. It looks like the kid-friendly smart speaker reached its all-time low price ($27.99) during the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale this October, but, last November, it didn’t quite get to this number. Maybe Amazon is planning to pleasantly surprise us this time around?