Amazon is selling the $80 Echo Spot for only $45 right now

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Why we love this deal

Most people don't exactly look forward to the alarm clock going off in the morning. No matter how well rested you may be, there's something about a blaring alarm disrupting a restful eight hours that somehow leaves you feeling like you didn't sleep at all. And while there isn't much that can be done about having to get up early every morning to tend to your responsibilities each day, at least during the work week, evolving technology means that the alarm clock that does end up waking you each day doesn't have to be as harsh or unrelenting as it's been in the past. In fact, with the Amazon Echo Spot, you might actually look forward to rising and shining each day. And actually on sale right now — and selling out fast.

The Amazon Echo Spot is now 44% off from its original price of $80. That means instead of paying full price, you can get one of your own for just $45. 

Amazon Echo Spot, $45 (was $80) at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

As a smart alarm clock, the Echo Spot combines the traditional alarm clock design with voice control technology. You can, without moving a muscle or pressing a button, set alarms, timers, and reminders simply by asking. While a regular alarm clock just tells time and allows you to set alarms, the Echo Spot can answer questions, play a designated morning playlist when you wake up, give weather updates, stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks, and control other smart home devices. If you use smart lights or a smart thermostat, you can simply tell the Echo to adjust lighting, set room temperature, control locks, fans, and other smart plugs simply by saying, "Alexa," and then a voice command.

What's most interesting is that with this technology, you can create a personalized wake-up and wind-down routine. You can pre-set things like lighting, room temperature, a sleep timer,  sounds, and even a custom good morning or good night message to automatically adjust with a simple voice command. So if you're getting ready for bed, you can set up the Echo Spot to dim lights gradually over a period of time, lower the thermostat for your ideal sleeping temperature, and play calming white noise or bedtime stories, automatically set your alarm for the following morning, and even show tomorrow's weather on the digital display, all without actually leaving your bed. The Echo Spot can even use motion detection technology to notice when you enter your bedroom, and automatically start adjusting for bed without you even having to say a word. 

As for the digital display, it's a 2.83-inch touch screen that displays time, date, and weather and serves as your "information hub". It has customizable clock faces, so you can choose your preferred styles and colors that fit with your bedroom decor, and it will automatically adjust brightness based on the lighting in the room. It shows reminders, timer countdowns, and calendar events. When playing music, you can see song titles and album art on the display, with touch controls available to pause, skip, or adjust. Stream music through your own phone or tablet thanks to the Bluetooth technology or through Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora. 

Related: Amazon is selling a $70 pair of smart glasses with Bluetooth speakers for just $30

You can pretty much do all the things you're able to do with voice control technology by hand through the display if you so desire. 

Details to know

• Dimensions: The Echo Spot measures 4.5 inches wide, 4.1 inches deep, and 4.4 inches high. It weighs 14.3 ounces. 
• Colors: Black, Glacier White, and Ocean Blue.
• Features: The Echo Spot can set alarms, timers, and reminders with voice control technology. It can also answer questions, play music, audiobooks, and podcasts, and control other smart devices in your home.
• Personalize: You can personalize the touchscreen display with your favorite clock face and fun colors.  

Shoppers find that the Echo Spot often works better than similar, more expensive options available on the market. "It's become one of my favorite gadgets in the house," one shopper said. The voice control makes it super easy to dictate exactly what you want it to do, and shoppers don't find that there are issues or weird buffering when using voice technology to ask the Echo Spot to do something. Sound quality is superb, the screen is bright, clear, and easy to read, and the compact size makes it perfect for the nightstand, desks, and even kitchen counters. "It really does help me wake up without having a heart attack in the process," another shopper said.  

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An alarm clock definitely doesn't seem like the most exciting item to score on sale, but if the reviews are any indication, the Amazon Echo Spot seems to make waking up something to actually look forward to! Get one for yourself, and another as a gift for the eager sleeper in your life who could benefit from the smart technology.