Echo dot. What’s the point?

[Howmanysleepstilchristmas]

Is this something a young teenager would use? No shopping lists, no need to control heating etc... what else do they do that a smartphone doesn’t? Am I missing something?
I’m struggling to buy for ds, and keep seeing people say they’re getting these for their dc. Is this something ds13 would like? I’m a dinosaur when it comes to tech, but he loves it. Could someone explain in words of one syllable for me please and help make my decision?

My 22 year old has one. He uses it to play music, turn his bedroom lights on and off with his voice (you need a smart light bulb to do this) and as an alarm.

22 year old should be 12 year old.

He asks her for tomorrow's weather.

It's a speaker. They can listen to music via a streaming service like Spotify or Amazon music, radio or their own collection on a phone via a Bluetooth connection. Audio books too. They can ask Alexa stuff in the same way you might Google.

My dd (12) got one for her birthday. Mostly it is used as a speaker (it's quite a good one) but she also plays some of the games etc. I think I'll put a light bulb on the Xmas list.

Have you got any other Alexa devices? I think half the fun is the intercom function between devices. He could also chat to friends who have Dots etc though.

I think, music wise, they’re fine for kids rooms. They have a decent enough sound quality for a small room, but when played too loud the sound quality deteriorates (which is rather handy as a parent, that music can’t be played too loudly!)

Do you have Amazon Prime (so access to thousands and thousands of free tunes)?

We have some plugs and lightbulbs she can operate and I can speak to dp upstairs without yelling but primarily I use it as a radio as our dab doesn’t pick up the stations I like. The kids like shouting at it too.

I have got amazon prime. Is there music on there, then? How do you access it? It won’t show him my Amazon purchases will it? (Can’t buy dh any presents from there as he shares the account and sees the receipts!)

You'll need an additional music subscription on top of prime

Is that expensive? And how easy to set up?
Would Spotify work (easily!)?

Thousands of free tunes, but also thousands of free films etc if you download the free Amazon Video app (if you didn’t already know).

I don’t think you can access order history etc via the Dot or Echo. You can set up ordering via the Dot, (so, for example, you could say ‘Alexa, order AA batteries’, but you have to specifically allow that function as far as I can remember (we deliberately didn’t enable it, because we didn’t want to risk the kids ordering stuff!)

You get amazon music with a prime subscription but the unlimited music thing (more choice) costs extra. I just use the normal free amazon music and there’s loads on it. You also get amazon tv show/films if you have prime, just in case you didn’t realise.

Currently seems to be our main way of communicating with one of our teens. "Alexa, drop in on absent teen"... saves us constantly running upstairs to hunt them down.

We have Google Home. I use mine mainly to listen to the radio and to tell DS2, who has a google home mini, that is is dinner time/time to get up/whatever. I might get DD one this year.

You don’t need anything in addition to prime to be able to listen to music (but you can upgrade to Unlimited if you’d rather have millions of free songs rather than thousands)

Yes Spotify works on an echo too. I love ours - we have a Dot in my seven year old’s room for audiobooks and music. He has always had real trouble falling asleep and ‘Alexa, play some gentle classical music’ has really helped him at bedtime.

If you get the latest Dot (£24.99) you can currently also buy a smart plug for £10 (better than half price) and that way your teen could operate the bedside lamp (or whatever you plug it in to) so it’s voice controlled :)

Dot is on Black Friday offer for 19.99 atm. I've just ordered one for my 6 yo so she can listen to music and audiobooks and control her WiFi bedroom light without getting in and out of bed.

That’s the older Dot, which is still absolutely fine, but I’d get the latest one for £24.99 as it apparently has better sound (all important to a teenager)

15 year old uses his as an alarm clock, turns his light off without him moving and gets it to help with homework.

I use an echo for the radio and a spot in the bedroom as a clock and radio.

DH uses it to talk to. Constantly. Saves him talking to us constantly.

Possibly stupid question but if I said “Alexa, play Pray by Take That” would it just play or would I have to have that song on a playlist on Amazon music/Spotify/whatever?

Google would find it on Spotify regardless of it being in a playlist. I assume those things all work the same.

If you've got Prime, you can just ask it anything. I think that there are a few things Amazon doesn't have access to.

Quick Google - Prime has 2 million songs. Prime unlimited has 40 million.

Hmm ok thanks.

My ds(13) loves his - uses for music mainly but also for setting timers for eg homework, checking weather, asking Alexa jokes, all kinds of random stuff really!