Amazon is unveiling a redesigned Echo Show 16 and new Alexa-powered home devices

Free daily briefing on global business news.

Global business news for a smarter world

The Echo Show 16 is available for preorder from $499.99, alongside a new Echo Dot, Echo Studio, Echo Time and Alexa Photo Frame

Getty Images / Picture Alliance

Amazon $AMZN announced a redesigned Echo Show 16 smart display and four other Alexa devices on Wednesday: a new Echo Dot, an Echo Studio with Home Camera, an Echo Time smart clock and an Alexa Photo Frame.

The Echo Show 16 has a 16-inch full HD screen, Fire TV built in and a camera with night vision, a first for an Echo Show, the company said. It is available for preorder starting at $499.99, or $569.99 with a Nanomatte anti-glare screen, and preorders get $100 off. The display ships in December, according to Bloomberg.

Users can switch among Screen Styles, including a family organizer, a digital photo frame and a smart home dashboard that uses the new Alexa Home Map. Amazon plans to roll out Alexa Home Map in preview this year, the company said.

The new Echo Dot is the first in the line with a built-in smart home hub and an eero Wi-Fi extender, Amazon said. It ships for $99.99, and a kids version with a year of Amazon Kids+ costs $109.99. The standard Dot was priced at $80 before, according to Bloomberg.

The Echo Studio with Home Camera ships for $249.99. The camera lets Alexa respond to what is in the room, such as explaining the rules on a board game box held up to it, Amazon said. Owners will be able to connect it to compatible Fire TVs to make video calls. The Echo Studio without a camera remains available for $219.99.

Echo Time costs $199.99, and the Amazon Kids version starts at $209.99. The device has no camera and uses sleep sensing to wake users within 10 to 60 minutes of a scheduled alarm, Amazon said. Sleep sensing stays off unless users choose to turn it on, according to Bloomberg.

Panos Panay, Amazon's devices chief, said people tend to guard their privacy more closely when it comes to the bedroom, according to Bloomberg.

The Alexa Photo Frame has a 10-inch anti-glare touchscreen and syncs with Amazon Photos, the company said. The black-frame model costs $200, according to Bloomberg.

All of the devices run the latest version of Alexa, and certain features require Alexa+, which is included with a Prime membership, Amazon said.

Apple $AAPL's $299 HomeView is due to launch on Nov. 13, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg said Amazon is contending with fresh pressure from Apple while it tries to make Alexa a fixture throughout the household.

The announcement follows Amazon's introduction of a line of Alexa-branded Android tablets earlier this month to replace its Fire tablets. The 12-inch Alexa Tablet 12 Pro offers the same Nanomatte display option as the Echo Show 16.

Join 500,000+ readers who start their day with Quartz.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.