TL;DR
Get business pricing on your home office setup
- Business-only prices and quantity discounts
- Tax-exempt purchasing
- Multiple users, one account, clear invoices
Amazon announced six Echo and smart-home updates on Wednesday, with several devices available to order now and others scheduled for later release. The lineup adds a built-in smart-home hub to Echo Dot, a camera to Echo Studio, and a preview of an interactive home map; prices start at $99.99.
Amazon announced six Echo and smart-home updates on Wednesday, including a redesigned Echo Show 16, an Echo Dot with a built-in smart-home hub and an Echo Studio with a camera. Several products are available now or for preorder, while the company says its interactive Alexa Home Map feature will begin rolling out in preview later this year.
The Echo Show 16 has a 16-inch display in an anodized aluminum frame that Amazon says is nearly 40 percent thinner than its predecessor. A new Nanomatte display option is designed to reduce glare. The device also has revised speakers, a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera and 20 percent more computing power, according to Amazon. It is available for preorder at $499.99, or $569.99 with the Nanomatte display.
Amazon’s new Alexa Photo Frame is a 10-inch touchscreen that syncs with Amazon Photos. The company says Alexa Plus can select images based on who appears in them, when they were taken and their sentiment; users can also pick people or request specific pictures. Prices are $199.99 for a black frame and $229 for birch or walnut finishes.
The updated Echo Dot adds a smart-home hub, Omnisense sensing technology, an AZ3 chip, four microphones and an Eero Wi-Fi extender. Amazon says its new full-range driver produces 50 percent more bass than the prior generation. It is available in four colors for $99.99. The Echo Studio with Home Camera, priced at $249.99, can stream a view of a room and let users ask Alexa about objects in front of the camera. Amazon says it will soon support video calls on compatible Fire TVs; an optional stand costs $39.99.
The Echo Time alarm clock has a 3.2-inch circular touchscreen and an optional smart alarm that can wake users 10 to 60 minutes before their set time, when Amazon’s technology detects a lighter sleep period. It costs $199.99; the Kids Echo Time starts at $209.99, and an adjustable stand is $39.99. The sixth update, Alexa Home Map, is an interactive 3D map of a home and its connected devices, planned for preview later this year.
Echo Devices Take On More Home Tasks
The announcements broaden Echo’s role beyond voice-controlled speakers. The new Dot combines hub and Wi-Fi functions, while Echo Studio adds a camera for remote viewing and questions about objects. The Echo Show 16 and Photo Frame also put Amazon’s photo and assistant services on larger or dedicated displays.
For customers, the changes may mean fewer separate devices for some smart-home setups, but the benefits depend on compatibility and how well the features work in practice. The Home Map could make connected devices easier to locate and control, while also raising practical questions about scanning and representing private spaces. Amazon’s announcement describes the planned feature, but does not establish how it will perform once widely available.
Products Worth Considering
Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance A19 Smart Bulb Starter Kit, 2-Pack
Levoit Core 400S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms (Up to 1,718 sq ft)
Philips Hue Festavia 130-Foot Indoor/Outdoor Smart String Lights, 500 Color-Changing LEDs
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Six Updates, Different Release Timelines
The products were presented as part of a string of fall hardware announcements, with the Wednesday news centered on Echo devices and a smaller set of smart-home features. The updates span different uses: a large screen for household information, a photo display, an alarm clock, and speakers with additional sensing or camera capabilities.
Availability is not uniform. Amazon lists the Echo Dot and Echo Time as available now and the Echo Show 16 as available for preorder. The Home Map, by contrast, is planned for a later preview. The company says it can be created by entering a home address, scanning rooms with a compatible iPhone and placing connected devices on the map.
““widest field of view” on an Echo Show device so far”
— Amazon, describing the Echo Show 16 camera
Feature Rollout And Compatibility Details
Amazon has not provided a full release date for Alexa Home Map, beyond saying a preview will begin later this year. Its initial rollout is planned for iOS in the Alexa Home Map, Alexa and Ring apps, as well as larger Echo Show devices, the Ember Artline Fire TV and new Alexa Tablets. The announcement does not specify which regions will receive the preview first or when general availability might follow.
Some claimed benefits also need real-world testing. Amazon has not detailed how consistently the Echo Time will identify lighter sleep, or how the Echo Studio camera’s object-based questions and remote viewing will work across different conditions. Compatibility requirements for the smart-home hub and Home Map, including the range of supported third-party devices, are not fully specified in the supplied announcement.
Orders And Preview Rollout Ahead
Customers can order the Echo Dot and Echo Time at the listed prices, while the Echo Show 16 is open for preorder. Amazon has not supplied shipping dates for every product in the announcement. The company says Alexa Home Map will enter preview later this year; its planned app and device availability will be the next milestone to watch.
Further details about supported devices, regional access and the rollout schedule remain pending. Amazon’s statements describe its product claims and plans; independent testing and customer experience will show how the new sensing, camera and photo-selection features perform after release.
Key Questions
What are the six biggest updates in Amazon’s new Echo lineup?
The announcements cover the Echo Show 16, Alexa Photo Frame, upgraded Echo Dot, Echo Studio with Home Camera, Echo Time smart alarm clock and Alexa Home Map.
Which new Echo products are available now?
Amazon lists the Echo Dot at $99.99 and Echo Time at $199.99 as available now. The Echo Show 16 is available for preorder at $499.99, with its Nanomatte option priced at $569.99.
What does Alexa Home Map do?
Amazon says it creates an interactive 3D map of a home and its connected devices, which users can control through the map. The feature is planned to begin a preview later this year.
How much does the Echo Studio with Home Camera cost?
The Echo Studio with Home Camera costs $249.99 in black. Its optional stand costs $39.99. Amazon says Fire TV video-call support is coming soon, but did not give a specific date.
Source: theverge.com
