I love the Echo Dot Max. It’s an excellent speaker, a good listener, and comes in purple – which is just fun. It’s got new, easier-to-use controls and more smart home sensors and radios than earlier models. It’s also one of the first devices designed for Alexa Plus. And while the AI-powered assistant isn’t mandatory (and is only available in the US), its presence is something of a letdown for an otherwise superior speaker.
Despite the name, the Dot Max isn’t a replacement for the Echo Dot, which is sticking around; it’s a successor to the fourth-gen Echo, released in 2020. At $99, it’s the same price as that melon-shaped Echo, which has be …