In an already busy month for Amazon, the brand has just revealed five new additions to its ever-growing Echo line-ups.
Each new device is purpose-built to make Alexa more personal, proactive and helpful, and, unsurprisingly, they’re all fitted with the latest-generation of Alexa+ too.
We’ve rounded up all five of the new Echo devices, from the bedside companion to the kid-friendly iterations, below.
Once you’re finished here, make sure you check out our best Echo devices round-up, while our best smart speakers guide reveals our favourites from the past year or so.
Echo Dot
First on the list is the revamped Echo Dot which retains the familiar spherical shape of its predecessors, but introduces new smarts that can help streamline your smart home. In fact, the Echo Dot is now fitted with a built-in smart home hub that offers support for Zigbee, Matter and Thread, plus it can also connect to compatible smart home devices without requiring any complicated setup or additional hubs either.
Not only that, but the Echo Dot now benefits from a built-in eero Wi-Fi extender that adds up to 93m2 of coverage to your existing network.
Image Credit (Amazon)
Otherwise, the Echo Dot is powered by Amazon’s new AZ3 processor which promises faster and more natural conversations with Alexa+, while the speaker is also fitted with an additional microphone and a redesigned driver that delivers 50% more bass than its predecessor.
All of this comes with a quite hefty starting price of £94.99.
Echo Time
As the mornings are slowly but surely getting darker and colder, we’re all looking for ways to help ease us out of bed – and that’s where the Echo Time comes in. Designed specifically to sit on your bedside table, and free from any camera, the Echo Time is a smart alarm clock that’s fitted with Alexa’s smarts. Its circular touchscreen is customisable, so you can pick and choose what information you’d like to see, whether that’s the music or weather widgets or just when your alarm is set for.
The Echo Time also benefits from Omnisense technology that detects when you’re in a lighter sleep stage and wakes you up within 10 to 60 minutes of your set alarm. That means you’ll be woken up at a more optimal stage of sleep, and should feel more refreshed as a result, as opposed to being jolted awake.
Finally, as your alarm approaches, a sunrise-inspired display will gradually brighten to ease you awake. I think sunrise alarm clocks are a godsend during the winter months, so this is a seriously exciting addition to the Echo line-up – though it’s a hefty investment with a starting price of £184.99.
Kids Echo Dot and Kids Echo Time
Amazon is also launching child-friendly versions of both the Echo Dot and Echo Time, aptly titled as Echo Dots Kids and Kids Echo Time. Both smart speakers come with a year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+, which includes original and age-appropriate content from the likes of Marvel, Lego, Blippi’s Treehouse and more. Kids+ also has a supporting Parent Dashboard app that allows guardians to set specific age ranges, time limits and control the content kids are accessing.
Image Credit (Amazon)
Both share a bright and more playful design to their grown-up counterparts, with the Echo Dots Kids available with either an Octopus or Penguin finish. The Kids Echo Time comes in either a Galactic Grape or Cosmic Lime finish instead.
Speaking of the Kids Echo Time, it doesn’t have the same Omnisense technology. Instead, its bedtime support runs through Kids+ Sleep Studio wind-down experience, which is manageable through the Parent Dashboard.
Echo Studio with Home Camera
While the Echo Time is completely camera-free, the Echo Studio with Home Camera is fitted with a 13MP front lens that bears a few purposes. Alongside making video calls, the front camera can be used to enable Live View so you can check on the room while you’re away. You can also use the camera to show items to Alexa+ and have it give you more information or relevant advice. Amazon has provided the example that you can use the camera to show Alexa+ a board game and it will explain the rules.
Image Credit (Amazon)
It’s clear that Amazon wants to get ahead of any potential privacy concerns, as the Echo Studio is fitted with a dedicated button that disables the camera and microphones and an LED that turns on whenever the camera is streaming to the cloud. If that’s not enough, then you can opt for last year’s Echo Studio instead which will remain on sale and doesn’t have a camera.
The Echo Studio with Camera is the priciest of the new line-up, at £239.99.
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