Summary
- Four new Echo devices include AZ3 and AZ3 Pro chips for on-device AI and better wake-word/mic performance.
- Omnisense fuses camera, audio, radar, ultrasound and sensors for context-aware, proactive Alexa+ actions.
- New audio and displays: Echo Dot Max (bass), compact Echo Studio (Dolby Atmos), Show 8/11 with HD camera and UI updates.
Amazon’s lineup of Alexa-powered smart speakers is probably among the most popular, if not the most popular, among households. And now, with the age of Alexa+ getting closer every time, we have new smart speakers ready for Alexa+.
Amazon has introduced four new models belonging to the Echo range—the Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11. At the heart of the new lineup are two new custom chips, the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro, which feature a dedicated AI accelerator. The Echo Dot Max incorporates the AZ3 chip to power a more sophisticated microphone array, which the company claims improves wake-word detection by over 50% and enhances the device’s ability to filter out background noise for more natural interactions. The higher-end Echo Studio, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11 feature the more powerful AZ3 Pro chip, designed to handle on-device processing for advanced language models and computer vision tasks.
This new hardware features what Amazon calls “Omnisense,” Amazon’s new sensor fusion platform. Omnisense integrates data from a range of sensors—including the 13-megapixel camera on the new Echo Show devices, audio inputs, ultrasound, Wi-Fi radar, and an accelerometer—to better understand the context of a user’s environment. This allows Alexa+ to perform more proactive actions, such as delivering a reminder when a specific person enters a room or alerting a user if the garage door is left open late at night.
The new audio-only devices include the first-ever Echo Dot Max, which features a two-way speaker system with a dedicated woofer and tweeter, delivering nearly three times the bass of the previous Echo Dot. The redesigned Echo Studio, now 40% smaller, sports a new spherical design and supports spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Users can also create a surround sound system by connecting up to five of the new Echo devices with a compatible Fire TV stick through the Alexa Home Theater feature.
The smart display lineup has also been overhauled with the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11. Both feature redesigned high-definition displays that reduce lamination layers for improved viewing angles and clarity. The devices use their 13-megapixel cameras and Omnisense platform to recognize when a user approaches, displaying relevant information accordingly. The user interface has also been updated with new dedicated centers for media control, smart home management (with built-in Zigbee, Matter, and Thread support), and home organization tools like color-coded family calendars. New software widgets also provide integrated shopping lists and delivery tracking.
Amazon also announced new health and wellness integrations, starting with a partnership with Oura to provide personalized suggestions based on user health data. To centralize the expanding ecosystem, the company will launch an “Alexa+ Store” for discovering and managing compatible services from partners like Uber, GrubHub, and Fandango.
The Echo Dot Max is the entry-level option at $99.99. If you need better audio, the redesigned and more compact Echo Studio is also available for $219.99. Finally, the new Echo Show 8 is priced at $179.99, while the larger Echo Show 11 will cost $219.99, matching the price of the Echo Studio. All four of the new Echo devices are currently available for pre-order on Amazon’s website, so get yours now if you want one.
Source: Amazon