Amazon has announced a swathe of new devices, including the new Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show and Fire TV Stick Lite.
While the devices carry the names of previous Amazon and Alexa device iterations, one look at the new images and it’s clear that this latest update marks a considerable change. This significant shift away from the old and established norms of Amazon can be seen in the company’s renewed dedication to sustainability, with all of the upcoming items comprising of recycled materials. You can read more about this here.
Here's a quick rundown of the new devices:
Echo Show 10
The all-new Echo Show 10 is visually and technically different from its ancestors. While the same functionality is found here – like video calls, doorbell feeds, audio and visual streaming, and Alexa Assistant – the 10.1-inch HD screen is now adaptative and motorised. This means that the screen can silently follow you around the room, keeping whatever you may have on the screen in view at all times. The camera has also been upgraded to 13MP. For video calls, in particular, both the camera and auto-movement seem like Amazon attempting to match the Facebook Portal’s ability.
The Echo Show 10 has also received a large audio upgrade in the form of upgraded, 2.1 speakers. Amazon has also confirmed that a voice-controlled Netflix app will be coming to the device.
The Echo Show 10 will retail for £239.99. There is currently no release date for this item. Click here to see the listing.
Echo
The all-new Echo is said to combine the best of the previous Echo and Echo Plus, seeming to suggest that the two older models have been discontinued through consolidation. Featuring the new spherical design, the all-new Echo is striking in its deviation from established Amazon Echo norms. This story remains true on the inside.
With three speakers in a 2.1 arrangement and the audio is processed by Dolby, the all-new Echo should have some serious volume and richness behind it. Much like the Echo Studio, this speaker will read its surroundings to maximise acoustic performance.
Further to these additions, the all-new Echo will also feature Zigbee, the software required to allow the Echo to act as a hub for a smart home setup, and BLE, a low-energy Bluetooth connection that should allow smartphones and tablets to sync.
The all-new Echo will retail for £89.99 and will be released on October 22. Click here to see the listing.
Echo Dot and Echo Dot with Clock
The all-new Echo Dot follows the aesthetics of the larger Echo. The hub also includes a new 1.6-inch tweeter for improved audio clarity, which should help boost the comprehension of Alexa’s voice. The Echo Dot with Clock is the same base unit, only with a digital clock display.
The all-new Echo Dot will retail for £49.99 and will be released on October 22. Click here to see the listing.
The Echo Dot with Clock will retail for £59.99 and will be released on November 5. Click here to see the listing.
Fire TV Stick Lite
The Fire TV Stick Lite looks just like the previously available models, but with one important difference. Here, to reduce the unit cost, there’s no volume or power buttons. On other models, these buttons directly control the features on the TV set. The Fire TV Stick Lite also forgoes Dolby Atmos audio.
Other than that, the basic functionality is the same – streaming, live TV and Alexa voice controls are all as standard.
The Fire TV Stick Lite will retail at £29.99 and will be released on September 30. Click here to see the listing.
Blink Outdoor
Amazon has also announced the Blink Outdoor wireless security camera with motion detection. This device will work with Alexa devices and will be of particular interest to anyone purchasing the Echo Show 10.
The Blink Outdoor will be arriving on October 22, with single-unit kits starting at £99.99. Click here to see the listing.