You Should Buy the 4th-Gen Echo Dot This Prime Day, Not the New One. Here’s Why

I’ll admit, shiny new toys are nice. But paying full retail price for one may not always be worth the premium price when you can get a slightly older, nearly as capable model for half the cost. At least, that’s basically what we said when the smart, spherical Amazon Echo Dot fourth-gen arrived to replace the puck-shaped third-generation model: “Wait for a sale.”

Now the same could be said regarding the new Amazon Echo Dot fifth-gen devices versus the previous collection. If the fifth-gen is a must-have, wait for a sale, because paying full price may not be the best deal when you can get the slightly older model for half off right now.

Select Echo Dot fourth-gen devices — which largely sport a design and functionality similar to that of the newer, full-priced models — are now on sale for $25 to $40 off during the Amazon Prime Early Access events. Standard models are available for half off, or $25, while the Echo Dot Kids Panda design, normally $60, is also just $25 for a limited time. The related Amazon Echo Dot With Clock is also on sale for $35 (normally $60), as is the sleek Glacier White model, currently available for $60 compared to the regular price of $100.

Even better: Fourth-gen Echo Dots can be Eero mesh Wi-Fi extenders

One of the more impressive features of the next-gen Echo Dot devices is that they can serve dual duty as Aeromesh Wi-Fi extenders. According to Amazon, “Eero will automatically detect compatible Echo devices on your network and use them to extend your Wi-Fi.” That’s pretty nifty, but it’s not exclusive to the shiny new Echo Dots.

The feature comes standard on fifth-gen Echo Dots, but the previous (and currently on sale) generation of Echo Dots will also support built-in Eero functionality via an over-the-air update in coming months. So if you’re eyeing the new, full-price Echo Dot or Echo Dot With Clock for the Eero Wi-Fi compatibility, save yourself some money and go with the similarly designed, somewhat equally as capable fourth-gen devices.