Okay, so I've been using the new Echo Dot for about a month now, and I have THOUGHTS. First off - that Deep Sea Blue color? Absolutely gorgeous. It looks way more expensive than it actually is.

The sound quality legit shocked me. Like, how does something this small pump out such full sound? The bass is surprisingly decent for morning workouts, and vocals come through crystal clear when I'm listening to podcasts while cooking.

BUT (and there's always a but)... Setting up Apple Music was a NIGHTMARE. The Alexa app just would not cooperate until I found some obscure Amazon webpage to link my account. And don't even get me started on the Bluetooth situation - that first time it connected at 2AM nearly gave me a heart attack with its foghorn-level announcement volume!

Still... I'm keeping it. Alexa's jokes are terrible (in the best way), the smart home controls work flawlessly with my lights, and it's become my go-to kitchen timer. Just maybe don't try to use it with Apple products unless you're ready for some troubleshooting adventures.