Do we really need a Smart Alarm Clock? After all, our phones do the job just fine—setting alarms, showing the time, and even playing music. However, research suggests that using a phone right before sleeping and checking it first thing in the morning isn’t the healthiest habit. A smart alarm clock like Amazon’s Echo Spot Smart Clock can offer a way to keep your phone out of the bedroom while still providing essential features—setting alarms, checking the weather, and controlling smart home devices—without the distractions of emails, social media, or web browsing.

The all-new Echo Spot Smart Clock recently launched in India. It is a compact smart display that’s designed to sit on your bedside table. Unlike other Echo devices, this one focuses on being an Alarm Clock first, with a 2.83-inch screen that shows customisable clock faces, new alarm sounds, and a built-in speaker for music, podcasts, and Alexa responses.

Currently available at Rs 8,449 on Amazon India website, is it worth adding to your nightstand? Let’s find out.

Display and build

Amazon Echo Spot Smart Clock distinguishes itself within the Echo lineup through its unique design and build. Shaped like a softball with a sloped front, it features a bright and crisp touchscreen, surrounded by a prominent black bezel. Now the screen is not fully round nor is it actually a semi-circle as it seems. Instead, it's a rectangular display cleverly masked by the bezel to create a semi-circle effect.

Nevertheless, the design is aesthetically pleasing and fits right onto your bedside table. The Spot's compact form factor is both thoughtful and approachable, making it an ideal addition to various spaces in your home, particularly the bedroom. Its size and shape allow it to blend seamlessly into different environments without drawing unnecessary attention.

The Amazon Echo Spot Smart Clock features a 2.83-inch display. The screen itself is bright and clear, making it easy to read the time, weather, or notifications even from a distance. It supports customizable clock faces, allowing us to personalise its look, and also displays Alexa responses, song details, and other visual elements.

There are six clock faces with six different colour themes. For a bedside clock, the display does its job well—providing just enough information without being overwhelming.

In terms of build quality, the Echo Spot Smart Clock feels solid and well-constructed, reflecting Amazon's attention to detail in its hardware design. The device is equipped with physical buttons on the top, including volume controls and a microphone mute button, providing easy access to essential functions. This thoughtful button placement ensures that users can quickly adjust settings without navigating through on-screen menus.

Performance and functionality

At its core, Amazon Echo Spot Smart Clock offers everything you’d expect from an alarm clock but with a smart twist. You can set alarms using voice commands, customize alarm tones, and even wake up to your favourite music or news briefing. The ability to snooze or stop alarms with a simple voice command makes mornings a little easier. Plus, the always-on display ensures that the time is always visible at a glance, without needing to tap the screen.

Alexa integration takes the functionality to a next step, allowing users to check the weather, get news updates, or even control smart home devices—all without touching a button. The screen enhances this experience by displaying relevant information, whether it’s the temperature for the day, calendar reminders, or music details when a song is playing.

The Echo Spot Smart Clock also doubles as a smart home control hub, letting users adjust lights, thermostats, or other compatible devices. When you ask Alexa to control a specific room or device, like "turn on my kitchen light," a power button appears on the screen that you can tap to turn things on or off. However, you can’t access devices or rooms without first using your voice.

Now, Amazon is calling it a smart clock and not a smart speaker, so our expectations on the audio front were not very high. Echo Spot Smart Clock does a decent job for its size. The sound is clear, making it suitable for casual listening, whether you're enjoying music, podcasts, or even using Alexa for voice responses. While it doesn’t pack the punch of larger Echo devices, it gets the job done for a bedside gadget.

The audio is loud enough for a small room. If you’re planning to use it in a large area, the sound might feel a bit underwhelming. It’s perfectly fine for personal use at your bedside or desk, but if you're looking to fill a larger room with sound, you may want to consider adding an external speaker.

Since people might keep the Echo Spot Smart Clock in their bedrooms, privacy is a concern. But don’t worry—Amazon has wisely left out the camera, and there’s also a microphone button on top, allowing you to easily turn off the mic whenever you want.