{"id":8887,"date":"2020-11-30T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-30T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/24-7-home-security.com\/?p=8887"},"modified":"2020-11-28T01:49:09","modified_gmt":"2020-11-28T06:49:09","slug":"amazon-tap-vs-echo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/24-7-home-security.com\/amazon-tap-vs-echo\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon Tap vs Echo – Which Smart Speaker Is the Better Deal? [Our DETAILED Review]"},"content":{"rendered":"

Smart home devices have drastically changed how we manage our daily lives at home - from regular routines to household chores! One of the many must-have devices at home is the smart speaker. First, it started as a novelty in providing good music wirelessly, then the voice commands to automate our tasks (makes everything look cool and fancy). But as smart speakers become more intelligent with advanced features that make our lives more convenient and better managed, they have become an essential device at home!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Amazon is no doubt one of the leading brands when it comes to smart speakers. It has continued to expand its range of speakers so much that it has become a competitor of its own products. Their flagship speaker, the Amazon Echo, is a popular choice for hands-free voice command in home automation systems. It has a variety of WiFi options plus 360 degree sound for a better music listening experience. However, Echo remains limited for household use - it needs to be plugged in. So what about those who prefer on-the-go options but still want the same benefit as Echo? So here\u2019s the answer - the Amazon Tap speaker!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Now for the next question - is it worth your money? While people on the go might prefer Amazon Tap for portability, some homebodies might still appreciate the premium features of the Echo. You might even want both! So before you hit the add-to-cart button, we made some research for you. Below, we have summarized the Amazon Tap vs Amazon Echo features to see how these two smart speakers stack up!<\/span><\/p><\/div>

Amazon Tap vs Echo - Common Features<\/span><\/h2>
The Amazon Tap is designed as the portable and cheaper version of the Echo. But before we highlight what makes the two different, let\u2019s take a glance at the common features between these two Amazon smart speakers.<\/span><\/div>

Alexa-Enabled<\/span><\/h3>\"Alexa\"
The brain of both the Amazon Tap and Echo is Amazon\u2019s very own voice-enabled assistant Alexa. With spoken cues, Alexa can perform specific tasks like playing your music, responding to questions, carrying out simple tasks like turning your devices on and off, getting weather updates, and more. Moreover, Alexa is constantly improving to make your home routines easier to manage. You can expect both of these smart speakers to be powered with the advanced features of Alexa and do more than just playing tunes.<\/span><\/div>

Smartphone App<\/span><\/h3>
Smart devices are often accompanied with smartphone apps for remote access, control, and monitoring. Both the Amazon Tap and Echo have such features so you can easily manage tasks or routines right at your smartphone, such as connecting with your other smart home devices, access music services, and many others. The app is also compatible with devices powered by iOS and Android.<\/span><\/div>

WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity<\/span><\/h3>\"WiFi\"
Both the Tap and Echo can be connected via tWi-Fi or Bluetooth, allowing you to have flexible options to connect your devices. Wi-Fi is often the most common way to enable control of your smart home devices and make voice commands with Alexa. But when you\u2019re out of Wi-Fi range, you can still connect your smartphone to other devices using Bluetooth.<\/span><\/div>

Amazon Tap vs Echo - Differences<\/span><\/h2>
Here we\u2019re going to detail what makes the Amazon Tap different from Echo, and which one is the better deal.<\/span><\/div>

Controls<\/span><\/h3>
Unlike the Amazon Echo, the Amazon Tap is designed with extra buttons and ports so you can have more control even without the internet. This is because Tap is designed for outdoor use. Along with its compact design, you can also use the microphone button, playback and volume control buttons to enjoy your favorite tunes wherever you are. It also has a power button as well as auxiliary and micro USB ports located at the back for more functionality. On the other hand, the Amazon Echo has fewer buttons because it is mainly designed for voice control at home.<\/span><\/div>

Power Source<\/span><\/h3>
Unlike the Echo which needs to be plugged in all the time, the Amazon Tap is equipped with a battery that lasts for up to 9 hours. It is perfect for people who are on the go because you don\u2019t need to plug it in to function. The Tap also comes with a charging cradle where you can easily place the device when the battery goes low (you can even continue playing your tunes even while it\u2019s charging). Since the Echo is not designed to be portable, then you\u2019re better off with Amazon Tap if you want your smart speaker fit for outdoor activities.<\/span><\/div>

Aesthetic Design<\/span><\/h3>
While both the Amazon Tap and Echo may look a little similar (a cylindrical shape with blue illuminating lights), the Tap is actually slimmer and smaller compared to the Echo. The Tap measures 6.3\u2033 x 2.6\u2033 x 2.6\u2033 while the Echo has a 9.3\u2033 x 3.3\u2033 x 3.3\u2033 dimension. Moreover, Tap only weighs 470 grams while the Echo weighs about 1064 grams, making the Tap lighter and more compact to be easily carried around.<\/span><\/div>

Activating Alexa<\/span><\/h3>
As mentioned previously, both the Amazon Tap and Echo are powered with Alexa. But activating Alexa is different for the two smart speakers. The Echo has an always-on feature and you can simply say \u201cAlexa\u201d whenever you need a task to be done. For the Tap, this always-on feature is discarded - you need to tap the device\u2019s microphone button first before you can enable Alexa. But if you want a completely hands-free command, you can go to the settings menu of the app to switch to the hands-free mode.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>

Audio Quality<\/span><\/h3>
When it comes to sound quality, the Tap is overall considered superior to the Amazon Echo. Both the Tap and Echo are designed with 360 omni-directional audio for a better sound response, but only the Tap has two dual stereo speakers. Although the Echo can have louder sound, the Tap provides a cleaner and better audio quality.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>

Ease of Use and Portability\n<\/span><\/h3>
As mentioned, the Echo is designed mostly for indoor use. If you prefer a device that can easily be activated with voice command, then the Echo is the better deal. If you want to take Alexa outside (and you don\u2019t mind tapping it to activate the device), then you\u2019re better off with Tap.<\/span><\/div>

Cost<\/span><\/h3>

The price difference between the Tap and Echo is $50. When you shop online, you will see that the Tap is priced at $130 while the Amazon Echo has a price tag of $180.<\/span><\/p>\n

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You can even add a Tap sling cover to protect your Tap smart speaker when taking it outside - you only need to add $20. This cover is made of silicone with a clip loop and available in colors green, black, tangerine, blue, magenta, and white.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

Amazon Tap vs Echo - the Pros and Cons<\/span><\/h2>
Here is a quick summary of\u00a0 the pros and cons of the Amazon Tap vs the Echo to give you a quick glance between the two devices.<\/span><\/div>

Amazon Tap<\/span><\/h3>
\"Tap\"
Source: https:\/\/www.tomsguide.com\/us\/amazon-tap,review-3608.html<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n\n