Amazon is launching the Echo Show 21, a new wall-mountable ambient smart home panel that is nearly double the size of the Echo Show 15, the latter of which is also being upgraded with more advanced features.
According to Amazon, the new devices have better audio quality with more immersive sound, louder bass, and room adaption technology. Cameras have also been upgraded for better auto-framing features, a larger field of view, and 65% more zoom. Noise reduction technologies have also been added to eliminate background noise during video calls.
The Echo Show’s bread and butter is still Alexa-enabled smart home control, with a new integrated smart home hub in the updated $299.99 Echo Show 15 and new $399.99 Echo Show 21 supposedly making it easier to set up and control devices with voice or a few taps.
Users can choose from widgets that display the most important information on the home screen, such as calendars, scores, news headlines and more.
Both devices feature a built-in smart home hub and are compatible with Matter as controllers, and can connect with Wi-Fi, Thread and Zigbee devices. The Echo displays can also control many devices locally, including lights, switches and plugs. Amazon says the panels are the first Echo devices with Wi-Fi 6E.
Lightapalooza took place in late February, and the growth of the event has mirrored the rapid ascension lighting fixtures and controls.
The devices can also be used to stream content from popular streaming apps, and Echo Show 21’s large screen is designed to make that experience even better, the company says. The deice features video recommendations and quick access to favorite streaming apps, AI-enhanced search, and the ability to start watching Prime Video on the device then move it to a Fire TV.
The Echo Show 21’s large screen is designed to enhance the device’s photo capabilities, essentially made to look like a picture frame mounted on a wall in a similar aesthetic to displays like The Frame from Samsung.
A new audio hub can also display a user’s favorite music, podcast and radio content from providers all in the same place, and users can tap to group and play audio across Echo speakers.
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