4 smart clocks compared, which one gets a place next to your bed?
Smart clocks are a new product category, although they are often small smart displays. Devices that bring the Google Assistant to your bed and then wake you up with your morning routine. We compared four smart clocks.
Contents
4 smart clocks
Smart Clocks are clocks that want to add value, especially in the bedroom on your bedside table. They offer you support thanks to a smart assistant, and in most cases it is a small smart display that you operate with touch.
Smart clocks can also play music, but the sound quality is usually of minor importance. More interesting is the design of the device, and in the case of a smart display you can set the interface of your clock yourself. We compared four of the latest smart clocks.
We compared these smart clocks
Lenovo Smart Clock 2
- for sale from August 2 – 89 euros
Google Nest Hub 2
Amazon Echo Dot 4
Xiaomi Mi Smart Clock
Smart clock comparison
| Lenovo Smart Clock 2 | Google Nest Hub 2 | Amazon Echo Dot 4 | Xiaomi Mi Smart Clock | |
| Dimensions: | 113.48 x 71.33 x 93.30mm | 177.4 x 69.5 x 1 20mm | 100 x 89 x 100mm | 113 x 68 x 81.5mm |
| Screen: | 4 inch LCD | 7 inch LCD | No, digital clock via LEDs | 4 inch LCD |
| Smart Assistant and Language: | Google Assistant, Dutch | Google Assistant, Dutch | Amazon Alexa, English | Google Assistant, Dutch |
| Sound | 1.5 inch speaker | 1.7 inch speaker | 1.6 inch speaker, 3.5mm audio output | 1.5 inch speaker |
| Play music with: | Chromecast, Spotify Connect | Chromecast, Spotify Connect | Spotify Connect | Chromecast, Spotify Connect |
| Bluetooth support: | Yes, bluetooth 4.2 | Yes, bluetooth 5.0 | Yes, bluetooth 5.0 | Yes, bluetooth 5.0 |
| Smart home platform: | Google Assistant | Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings Homey, IFTTT | Amazon Alexa, Smartthings, Homey, IFTTT | Google Assistant, Xiaomi Mi Home |
| Additional: | Can charge wirelessly, night light, USB port, microphone button | Sleep analysis, works with video doorbells, microphone button | microphone button | Works with Xiaomi security cameras, microphone button |
| Price: | 89 euros | approx. 86.45 euros | 59.99 euros | 49.99 euros |
Similarities
All these smart clocks work like a speaker, and they come with one or more microphones. So you can interact with the speaker thanks to a smart assistant. That is the Google Assistant in the case of the Lenovo Smart Clock, the Google Nest Hub 2 and the Xiaomi Mi Smart Clock. The Amazon Echo Spot 4 works with Alexa again, and that assistant still does not speak Dutch. It is recommended to use English UK language with the device. The smart clocks also come with a switch with which you switch off the microphone electronically. This is how the smart assistant stops listening.
Smart Clocks can play music or control the smart home devices you have at home. Music playback works via Google Cast or Spotify Connect, or in the case of the Amazon Echo Spot 4: only via supported music services. Although there are quite a few.
Each of these devices also supports multi-room audio, meaning they can play music or media together with other connected speakers. In the case of the Amazon Echo Spot 4, that works via Alexa, and the other devices work with the speaker groups in the Google Home app.
As far as the quality of the speakers is concerned, we also mainly see similarities. The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 and the Mi Smart Clock each have 1.5-inch drivers. That’s comparable to the other two clocks: 1.7 inches for the Nest Hub 2 and 1.6 inches for the Echo Spot 4 from Amazon. The speakers are therefore about as powerful, although the Nest Hub in particular will stand out slightly above the rest.
These devices are all connected to an app from which you adjust settings. This can be your own application or one from a supported smart home platform. You can connect to the devices via WiFi or Bluetooth. Only the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 still uses the older Bluetooth 4.2 standard, so you have to stay closer to the smart clock with your phone.
Differences
Smart clocks are still a relatively new product category and therefore manufacturers are still looking for strong functions, but also for designs for the smart clocks. We see similarities in design between the Smart Clock 2 from Lenovo and the Xiaomi Mi Smart Clock. With the difference that the Lenovo clock comes with a fabric housing instead of the plastic one of the Xiaomi clock.
This fabric design is also reflected in the base of the Nest Hub 2 and in the round shape of the Echo Dot 4. The Amazon clock is the only one that has a completely round shape, and it also comes without a touchscreen. The clock is only displayed on the basis of LEDs behind the housing, and all settings are done in the Alexa app. The Lenovo Smart Clock 2 and the Mi Smart Clock, on the other hand, each come with a 4-inch screen.
Google opts for a larger 7-inch panel, and that also means that the Nest Hub 2 gives you access to most functions. You can control your smart lamps, thermostat and other connected devices from the interface. In addition, you can view images of the video doorbell when the doorbell rings.
Xiaomi wants to follow Google somewhat, and therefore the Mi Smart Clock can show images taken with Xiaomi’s security cameras. Although that is the only smart integration that works from the screen of this smart clock. Furthermore, just like with the Lenovo Smart Clock 2, you can only set the alarm clock and change the display of the clock by choosing from different designs.
There are also the extras, and for that we are the first to look in the direction of the Lenovo Smart Clock 2, because the biggest improvements compared to the first generation are in the new docking station. That is an optional accessory that you place under the Smart Clock 2. The docking station gives you access to a number of additional functions. Most importantly, a wireless qi charger for your smartphone and wearables. Of course, this is only useful if your phone supports such a charger. In addition, the accessory doubles as a night light and it also gives you a USB port with which you can charge your phone. It is not yet known how much money you have to pay for this accessory.
A function that Google is unpacking with is the sleep analysis of the Nest Hub 2, because that is the main difference for this device with the previous generations. The device uses its soli motion detection sensor to analyze your sleeping behavior and then describe it in extensive reports. You can read in detail how that works in our review of the Google Nest Hub 2.
Finally, one of the assets that the Echo Dot offers is the 3.5 mm audio jack. You can use this to connect your small clock to a large speaker, and the music that you then let Alexa play is then reverberated through stronger speakers.
Conclusion
Smart clocks are still the new kid on the block when it comes to smarthomes, we see that more and more companies want to bet quickly on this new product category. It is also very handy to be woken up by a clock that immediately tells you about the route to work, your agenda and the news of the day. You can do that with a “Good morning” routine, and it’s an important reason why people want a smart screen next to their bed. You can read everything about Assistant routines in this article.
Google’s Nest Hub is without a doubt the most complete device for next to your bed. It can do everything the other smart displays can, but it comes with a bigger screen, better sound and more options in the interface. The sleep analysis function makes it ideal for a place next to your bed. Also not unimportant: you also pay quite a lot of money for the Nest Hub. Almost 87 euros makes it an expensive clock.
Furthermore, Lenovo is mainly looking for added value for its smart clock on the basis of its new accessory. That extra USB port, the night light and the USB port make it very handy on the bedside table. Although it remains to be seen before the price of the accessory is known. If your phone cannot charge wirelessly, an important functionality will already be lost. The Smart Clock 2 also costs 89 euros on its own, while the older generation costs only a third of that price if you can get a good offer. While it lasts of course.
With its Mi Smart Clock, Xiaomi seems to be mainly looking at what Lenovo has done, because the two devices show many similarities. Xiaomi has only chosen to push the price on its device, but that is also felt with the cheaper finish. However, if you have security cameras from Xiaomi at home, then this device seems a logical choice.
If you’re already involved in the Alexa ecosystem, you should definitely take a look at the Echo Spot 4. The device doesn’t have a touchscreen like the others in this comparison, but it remains a compact device with a functional clock. It is also useful that you can connect other speakers to the Echo Dot 4. It is a disadvantage that Alexa does not speak Dutch.
Do you already have a smart clock on your bedside table, if so which one? Are you still considering buying one, and which device do you prefer? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this article.
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