Should I buy an Echo Pop or a cheap Bluetooth speaker?

Price guide:

• Echo Pop: about $20–$35 new; a good deal is $20–$25, and I’d walk away above $40 unless it’s bundled with another device or comes with a warranty/return perks.
• Cheap Bluetooth speaker: about $15–$40 new for a basic model; a good deal is $15–$25, and I’d walk away above $45 for a no-name speaker unless it has noticeably better battery life, water resistance, or sound.

Which should you buy?

• Buy the Echo Pop if you want a small, plug-in Alexa speaker for a bedroom, kitchen, or desk and you’ll use voice control, timers, weather, or smart-home commands.
• Buy a cheap Bluetooth speaker if your main goal is portable music from your phone, especially outdoors, in travel situations, or anywhere without Wi‑Fi.

Practical rule: if you want a room speaker with smart features, get the Echo Pop; if you want portability and simplicity, get the Bluetooth speaker.

Prices change often, so check sold/completed listings or current retail listings before buying.