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Amazon unveiled a sixth-generation Echo Dot that integrates a smart home hub and a built-in eero Wi-Fi extender claimed to add 1,000 square feet of coverage. The speaker runs on Amazon's AZ3 chip, adds a combined temperature/presence sensor, a fourth microphone, and 50% more bass than the prior model. It starts shipping today priced at $99.99.
Amazon introduced its next-generation Echo Dot, which now includes a built-in Eero Wi-Fi extender capable of adding up to 1,000 square feet of network coverage, alongside new Echo Show, Echo Time, and Alexa Photo Frame devices. The updated Dot also functions as a smart home hub, using Amazon's new AZ3 chip and AI accelerator for faster on-device processing, improved microphones, Voice ID recognition, and 50% more bass than the previous model. It is available for purchase now at $100.
Amazon introduced five new Alexa-powered devices, headlined by two new product categories: the Alexa Photo Frame, a 10-inch digital picture display, and the Echo Time, a smart alarm clock. The Photo Frame starts at $199.99 and uses Alexa+ to automatically select and display photos based on factors like mood, lighting and season, while syncing with unlimited Amazon Photos storage for Prime members.
Amazon has cut the price of Garmin's Instinct 2X Solar Tactical smartwatch to $319.99, down $180 from its $499.99 list price, a 36% discount. The rugged 50mm watch includes 10 ATM water resistance, multi-band GNSS, a built-in flashlight, and tactical features like night-vision compatibility and a kill switch. Garmin says solar charging under ideal sunlight can give the device effectively unlimited battery life in smartwatch mode.
The FCC has cleared Amazon Leo to acquire mobile-satellite operator Globalstar in an $11.5 billion deal. The regulator said combining the companies' assets should boost Leo's entry into direct-to-device satellite service and expand coverage for residential, business and government customers. Globalstar currently powers Apple's emergency satellite connectivity on compatible iPhones and Watches, and Leo will take over that role under the deal.
Amazon's new Kindle Paperwhite and Colorsoft are now available, each offered as a base plastic model with 16GB storage or an aluminum-backed Signature Edition with 32GB and exclusive colors. A new $80 Page Turn Cover adding physical page-turn buttons works only with the Signature Editions. Pricing matches the 2024 lineup, though Amazon raised 2024 model prices back in August.
Engadget's review finds the 2026 Kindle Colorsoft largely unchanged from its predecessor, with the same 300ppi black-and-white and 150ppi color E Ink display and no improvements to color saturation modes. The base model now starts at $290, rising to $320 for the Signature Edition with an aluminum case, pogo pins, double storage and color choices, up from $280 at the original 2024 launch. The review also notes the yellow-banding display defect some 2024 units suffered appears resolved.
Amazon introduced five new Alexa hardware products, including a next-generation Echo Dot with a built-in smart home hub and Wi-Fi extender, and an Echo Studio with Home Camera that adds room-mapping audio tuning and visual intelligence features via an onboard camera. The company also announced a larger Echo Show with a 16-inch display and a new nanomatte finish option. The Echo Dot starts at $99.99, with a Kids edition at $109.99 including a year of Amazon Kids+.
Amazon introduced the Echo Show 16, a 16-inch smart display integrating Alexa Plus, Fire TV and a customizable home dashboard, priced from $500 with a $570 anti-glare version. The device is available for preorder with a $100 early-bird discount and is expected to ship later this year, though Amazon has not given an exact date. It features a thinner aluminum frame, a 10-speaker audio system, a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera with extended Visual ID range, and night vision capability.
Amazon has updated its Echo smart speaker lineup, giving the Echo Dot a built-in smart home hub and Wi-Fi extender, and introducing a $250 Echo Studio with Home Camera that adds live video monitoring. A camera-free Echo Studio remains available, and the camera version lets Alexa use visual recognition to identify objects like board games or cereal boxes to assist users.
Amazon unveiled refreshed Echo Dot and Echo Studio smart speakers alongside new devices including a smart photo frame and a sleep-tracking alarm clock. The Echo Dot now functions as a smart home hub and Wi-Fi extender, while the $250 Echo Studio gains an optional camera that enables live video monitoring, with a camera-free version still available for $220.
Amazon announced new Echo devices on Wednesday: a redesigned Echo Dot ($100), Echo Studio With Home Camera ($250), Echo Show 16 ($500), a bedside Echo Time clock ($200), and its first Alexa Photo Frame ($200). Devices and Alexa SVP Panos Panay said the launch supports Alexa+, which he claims now has a couple hundred million users who interact with it far more than the old Alexa.