- Amazon has four new Echo speakers for your consideration
- They are the Echo Studio, the Echo Dot Max, and two Echo Shows
- All of these speakers come with Alexa+ out of the box
Having announced the upgraded Alexa+ AI assistant earlier this year, Amazon has now revealed four shiny new Echo speakers to take advantage of it: the Echo Dot Max, the Echo Show (in 8-inch and 11-inch sizes), and the Echo Studio.
All four of these models are upgrades on existing speakers, with faster processors, more memory, and advanced sensing capabilities intended to deliver "ambient AI experiences that fade into the background of daily life" – think reminders that you hear when you walk into a room, for example.
First up, the Echo Dot Max, a new take on the 5th-gen Echo Dot that brings with it a new design, 3x the bass power, two internal speakers, plus all the internal upgrades. It's yours for $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$199.
Then we have the new $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429 Echo Studio, replacing the old Echo Studio. It's 40% smaller, looks a lot like the Echo Dot Max, and includes a high-excursion woofer and three full-range drivers. Spatial audio and Dolby Atmos are supported, and like its predecessor, it's one for the audiophiles out there.
As an added bonus, Amazon says you can easily set up a maximum of five Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max devices as a surround sound system for your Fire TV. This was possible with the existing hardware, but the limit was a 2.1 channel system. Preorders are open now, with availability on October 29.
Show me the speakers
Next there are the two new Echo Show models, with 8-inch and 11-inch screens. The design has been revamped from the older versions, and they now have a more modern look and improved touchscreens.
There's a 13-megapixel camera that can recognize you, and personalize the information (like calendar schedules) shown on screen. With two front-facing speakers and a custom woofer, Amazon promises superior sound from these units as well.
The on-board software has been reconfigured too, to surface more information and information that's more relevant – across entertainment, shopping, and the smart home. You can also now connect your Oura account to get health and wellness data up on your Echo Show screen, with more partners to come.
These two speakers are available from November 12, though you can preorder them now. The 8-inch model costs $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$349, while the 11-inch model – actually a new screen size for the series – is $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$429.
All of these new products come with Alexa+ out of the box, Amazon says, which means you get the smarter, more conversational, more natural AI assistant at your disposal – something more like Google Gemini rather than Google Assistant.
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