Amazon has released a number of new Echo speakers, with unusual spherical designs that set them apart from most smart speakers you can buy in 2020. New smart speakers include the new Echo, the new Echo Dot, the new Echo Dot with clock and the new Echo Dot Kids Edition, all of which look more like mini basketballs than tops. - Alexa speakers. The new Echo is wrapped in a fabric grill like its predecessors and has an Alexa ring light around its base. According to Amazon, it can automatically adapt to the acoustics of your room and features an Echo Studio-inspired soundstage. At €99.99, it's the same price as the previous Echo when it launched in 2019; if it's the same for other territories, you can expect the new Echo to cost $89.99 / AU$149. Amazon's Echo speakers come with the brand's built-in Alexa voice assistant, and the new Echo should better serve your queries thanks to an AZ1 Neural Edge processor that Amazon claims provides "voice processing." 2 times faster.” The new speaker will also work with Zigbee-enabled smart home devices and is compatible with Amazon Sidewalk Bridge technology.
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(Image credit: Amazon)
Echo speakers for everyone
Amazon also announced two new versions of the Echo Dot, its desktop smart speaker: the new Echo Dot and the new Echo Dot with clock. The standard echo dot will set you back €49,99, while the clocked dot costs €59,99. Again, these are the same prices we saw for the previous generation of these smart mini speakers, so you'd expect those costs to translate to £49.99 / AU$79 and AU$59.99 respectively. € / AU € 99 (although this has not yet been confirmed by Amazon). These smaller speakers share the spherical design of the new Echo, while the Echo Dot with Clock features a clock, which can be flown to repeat. Finally, we have the new Echo Dot Kids Edition. Retailing for £59.99 (and probably £59.99 / AU$99 in the UK and Australia), this super cute smart speaker continues the ball-shaped design, but makes it kid-friendly with panda and tiger-style grilles.
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(Image credit: Amazon) The new Echo Dot Kids Edition has been announced with a new Alexa feature designed to help with learning at home: Reading Sidekick, helps your children read and encourages them when they struggle. Amazon also announced the launch of Alexa Voice Profiles for Kids, which allows Alexa to automatically change her responses to be kid-friendly when she recognizes a child's voice speaking to her. The launch of these new Echo speakers comes a few weeks before Amazon Prime Day 2020, at least, when we expect it to land in mid-October, as Amazon has yet to confirm the date. This means that the old Echo speakers could get deep discounts during the sales event, and the new Echo speakers could get small price cuts as well. This is a developing story, check back regularly as we update this story with new details.