Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio and Echo Show presented

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Amazon has presented the new generation of its Echo device series: the Echo Dot Max, a new Echo Studio, the Echo Show 8 (3rd generation) and the Echo Show 11. At the presentation, Amazon's responsible Vice President Daniel Rausch emphasised that all of these models meet the technical requirements for its new Alexa+ voice assistant.

Amazon officially launched Alexa+ in the USA at the end of February, after the company had already presented the revised digital assistance system for the first time at the end of 2023. It is based on a language model for generative artificial intelligence (AI) and is therefore designed to understand human speech like the well-known AI chatbots ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Perplexity. After the event in February, Alexa+ was only launched in the USA and only as part of a beta test. This beta test has now been completed, making Alexa available to the public – but so far, only in the US home market. Germany and Austria are to follow at some point, but there is no date for this yet. The only thing that is certain is that there will be a beta phase here first.

Alexa+ echoes with special hardware

Back in February, Panos Panay, Senior Vice President for Amazon Devices and Services, said that Alexa+ will be compatible with "almost all" Echo devices that Amazon has released to date. However, according to Amazon, the models now presented are powered by two specially developed chips – AZ3 and AZ3 Pro – and should also have a new AI accelerator that will allow AI models to run directly on the devices in future. In this context, Amazon also talks about "smoother interactions" that would not be possible with older Echos. For example, the AZ3 used in the Echo Dot Max is said to filter out background noise better and increase the reliability with which Alexa recognizes the activation word by almost 50 percent.

Omnisense is also being introduced with the new devices. According to Amazon, this is a technology that brings together various sensor data and other information – including the camera images of the new Echo Show devices, audio, ultrasound, Wi-Fi radar, the accelerometer and Wi-Fi channel status information. The aim is to enable "personalised, proactive and useful Alexa experiences".

During the presentation, Omnisense was used in one example to instruct Alexa+ to identify a specific person via a ring camera when they enter the kitchen. In this case, she receives a message telling her not to forget to feed the dog.

Alexa home cinema

The Echo Dot Max, at a list price of 110 Euro, is said to deliver a powerful sound that automatically adapts to the room, as well as "almost three times as much bass as Echo Dot (5th generation)". Unlike previous Echo Dot devices, the Echo Dot Max uses a two-way speaker system. The new Echo Studio for 240 Euro is 40 per cent smaller than its predecessor and combines a woofer with three full-range drivers.

Amazon already advertised 3D sound including Dolby Atmos on the previous Echo Studio, which also allowed two models to be operated in tandem for better surround sound. Now, up to five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices can be combined with compatible Fire TV devices to create an immersive surround sound experience. According to the developers, Alexa will automatically take care of the setup and then adapt the sound to the room. Alexa emphasises that systems like these usually cost thousands of Euros and require time and expertise to set up. However, with five Echo Studios, the Alexa home cinema system would already cost around 1,200 euros – Whether it meets the requirements for this price will have to be proven in the test.

New smart displays

According to Amazon, the new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 smart displays combine various technologies (including a negative liquid crystal design with molecules aligned perpendicular to the optical axis) to reduce lamination layers and maximise viewing angles. Content should therefore be as easy to read in both bright and dimly lit rooms. In addition, the visible screen area has also been increased. The resolution of the integrated video camera is still 13 megapixels, as with the Echo Show 8 (2nd generation) and the Echo Show 10.

According to Amazon, the sound quality has been optimised with the help of an entirely new audio architecture. The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 have front-facing stereo speakers located under the displays and a "special woofer for room-filling 3D audio". To match the design and colour, an optional stand with 40° tilt and 360° swivel function is available for the models.

The new Echo Show 8 will cost 200 Euro, the Echo Show 11 240 Euro. The stand is available for 40 euros. Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio will be available from 29 October, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 from 12 November.

The author was invited to the event in New York by Amazon. Amazon covered the travel expenses. (nij)