Amazon Announces New Echo Plus, Echo Show And More Alexa Devices

Amazon has announced a bunch of new Echo devices and most of them will be available this year, while others will be released sometime next year. Amazon has introduced a refresh of the Echo Dot, the Echo Plus and the Echo Show, and the company also revealed its Alexa-powered microwave.

3rd-Generation Echo Dot

The new Amazon Echo Dot comes with a fresh new look while still maintaining a small design. It now comes with a fabric covering over its speakers, giving it a look that’s more fitting in homes. Amazon also upgraded its internals so that it will be 70 percent louder than the previous generation, as pointed out by Android Authority. Users can expect more bass and less distortion when playing music with high volume.

All of Alexa’s skills are still present, as well as Bluetooth connectivity for playing audio using other devices. The new Echo Dot is now available to pre-order for $49.99 and will start shipping next month.

2nd-Generation Echo Show

The new Amazon Echo Show has received a huge upgrade and a major redesign. It comes with a larger 10-inch HD display, which is up from the 7-inch screen that’s on the previous Echo Show. The new 2018 Echo Show also beefs up its audio performance by having a pair of 2-inch neodymium drivers on the side and it is capable of pumping out more bass, according to CNET. The speakers are now located at the back of the display firing audio from the sides and it features the same fabric covering that’s on the new Echo Dot.

Amazon has also refined the user experience on the 2018 Echo Show by having native support for Amazon’s Fire TV digital television platform. The device is also a smarter kitchen instructor as Alexa is able to visually teach home cooks how to prepare meals from the SideChef subscription service.

The new Echo Show comes with built-in Silk and Firefox web browsers, which will allow users to watch videos on YouTube. The device also supports Google’s other services, including Search, the Chrome browser and the Play store.

The new Amazon Echo Show is now available to pre-order for $229.99 and will start shipping on Oct. 11.

2nd-Generation Echo Plus

The new Amazon Echo Plus comes with a new look thanks to the addition of the fabric cover surrounding the speakers. Amazon focused on making the new Echo Plus a more effective smart home hub by adding local voice control. This means that users will still be able to control their connected home devices even if they don’t have an active internet connection. The built-inch Smart Hub feature also makes it easy for the device to discover the user’s smart devices. All the user has to do is say, “Alexa, discover my devices.”

The new Echo Plus also comes with a built-in temperature sensor. This will allow users to ask Alexa what the current internal temperature is. The Echo Plus is also available in three colors: gray, charcoal and sandstone.

The new Amazon Echo Plus is now available to pre-order for $149.99 and will ship on Oct. 11.

Echo Sub, Echo Link & Echo Link Amp

The Echo Sub is a 100-watt subwoofer that comes with a 6-inch downward-facing woofer. The device is able to connect to the Echo and Echo Plus and allow users to have a 2.2 or 1.1 audio setup. The Echo Sub should deliver richer bass to improve the overall audio performance of the user’s Echo speakers. The Echo Sub is available to pre-order now for $129.99 and will ship sometime in October.

The next device is the Echo Link, which is a box-shaped device that allows users to connect their home stereo system to stream high-fidelity music. It features digital and analog outputs and inputs, and it even includes an Ethernet port. The Echo Link costs $199.99 and will ship sometime later this year.

As for the Echo Link Amp, this device is an amplifier that comes with a built-inch 60-watt dual-channel amplifier. Like the Echo Link, this device features digital and analog inputs and outputs, as well as Ethernet connectivity. It costs $299.99 and it will be released in “early 2019.”

AmazonBasics Microwave & Echo Clock

Amazon’s new Microwave comes with Alexa support by having users connect their Echo speakers to it via Bluetooth. It comes with a button to call Alexa and users can give out voice commands to specify cooking times. Users can also ask Alexa to stop cooking anytime through voice commands. The AmazonBasic Microwave is available to pre-order now for $59.99 and will ship on Nov. 14.

The Echo Clock looks a lot like a regular wall clock, but it is actually able to connect to Echo speakers through Bluetooth. It can adjust automatically for DayLight Savings and it has LED lighting to indicate timers. The Echo Clock costs $29.99 and will ship sometime later this year.

Echo Auto & Echo Input

The Amazon Echo Auto allows users to put Alexa right inside any cars. It connects to the user’s smartphone through Bluetooth and connects to the car either through Bluetooth or through a 3.5mm aux cable, according to TechRadar. The Echo Auto comes with an eight-microphone array, allowing users to ask Alexa to play songs, ask for directions and more. The Echo Auto isn’t available yet but users in the U.S. can request for an invite to purchase it for just $24.99. It will be sold for $49.99 when Amazon’s invite-only release finishes.

The last device is called the Amazon Echo Input, which allows users to add Alexa to any speaker that has 3.5mm audio or Bluetooth. It comes with a four-microphone array, which should be more than enough to hear voice commands to play audio content. The Echo Input will ship in late 2018 and is available to pre-order now for $34.99.