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Amazon has announced an Echo Studio with a built-in camera for live home monitoring and an updated Echo Dot with a smart home hub and Eero Wi-Fi extender. The Studio with camera is priced at $249.99; the new Dot costs $99.99. Some details about camera controls, privacy settings and device availability remain unspecified in the source report.
Amazon has announced an Echo Studio with a built-in camera for live home monitoring and an updated Echo Dot with a smart home hub and Eero Wi-Fi extender. The changes add camera and connectivity functions to two speakers in Amazon’s lineup, with the Studio with camera priced at $249.99 and the new Dot at $99.99, according to CNET’s report from the company’s launch event.
The new Echo Studio with Home Camera is designed to provide a live view inside the home, allowing owners to check on family members or pets. Amazon says the camera also supports what it calls visual intelligence: Alexa can identify items shown to it and respond to questions or requests. The company’s examples include showing Alexa a board game box to ask about its rules, or presenting a cereal box to get help reordering it. These are Amazon’s descriptions of intended features; the source report does not independently test them.
The camera-equipped Studio retains the speaker’s audio features, including a high-excursion woofer, three full-range drivers and Dolby Atmos. Amazon also lists Advanced Room Adaptation, which adjusts audio to a room’s acoustics, and Adaptive Volume, which changes volume based on a listener’s distance from the device. Customers who do not want a camera can still buy an Echo Studio without one, CNET reports. The camera model is listed in Graphite, and an optional stand costs $39.99.
The updated Echo Dot adds a smart home hub intended to connect compatible devices such as thermostats, lights and locks without a separate hub. It also includes an Eero Wi-Fi extender that Amazon says can extend coverage by up to 1,000 square feet on an existing Eero network. The Dot uses Amazon’s AZ3 chip for on-device processing and is designed to support faster, more natural conversations with Alexa Plus. Amazon has added a fourth speaker, according to CNET. The Dot comes in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green and Coral Pink; Kids editions in Octopus and Penguin designs start at $109.99.
More Jobs for Two Echo Speakers
The announcement makes the Echo Dot and Echo Studio do more than play audio. A Dot could also serve as a connection point for compatible smart home equipment and extend an existing Eero network, while the Studio with camera combines a speaker with a live home-monitoring function. For buyers, that could mean fewer separate devices, though the Dot’s extender works with an existing Eero network, not as a stated standalone replacement for any router.
The camera model also raises a practical choice for households weighing convenience against having another camera inside the home. Amazon presents visual recognition as a way to make Alexa more helpful, but the source report does not provide detail on how images are processed or retained. The availability of a Studio without a camera gives buyers an alternative within the same product line.
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Amazon’s Broader Echo Refresh
The speaker changes were part of a wider set of new and updated smart home devices announced by Amazon this week, according to CNET, which said it saw the speakers at the launch event. Other products in the slate included a revamped Echo Show, Amazon’s first smart photo frame and an alarm clock described as able to detect deep sleep and automatically snooze. Those products provide the announcement’s broader setting, but the main changes to the speaker lineup are the Studio camera and Dot hub and extender.
The Echo Dot has occupied the smaller, more affordable end of the Echo speaker lineup, while the Echo Studio is positioned as a premium listening speaker. The new features build on those roles rather than replacing them: the Dot gains connectivity functions, and the Studio adds a camera while keeping its audio features. CNET reports that both camera and non-camera Studio versions will be available.
“Alexa “gains visual intelligence to make everyday experiences more personal and helpful.””
— Amazon, as quoted by CNET
Privacy and Rollout Details Pending
The source report does not specify when the new speakers will ship or whether they are available for preorder. It also does not detail the camera’s privacy controls, such as how users disable it, who can access a live view, or how visual data is handled. Amazon’s claims about recognizing objects and assisting with tasks are described, but the report does not provide independent performance testing.
For the Dot’s Wi-Fi extension, Amazon’s stated range is up to 1,000 square feet on an existing Eero network. The report does not specify the conditions behind that figure or which Eero systems are compatible. It also does not list the smart home standards or device compatibility limits for the new built-in hub.
Availability and Feature Details
Amazon’s announcement establishes the models, headline features and prices, but the source report gives no specific release date. Prospective buyers will need further product information from Amazon on shipping, camera settings, data handling, supported smart home devices and Eero compatibility. Any assessment of how well the camera recognition, adaptive audio and Wi-Fi extension work in everyday use will also depend on testing after the devices become available.
Key Questions
Which new Echo speaker has a camera?
The Echo Studio with Home Camera includes a camera for live in-home monitoring. CNET reports that Amazon will continue to offer an Echo Studio without a camera.
What does the updated Echo Dot add?
The new Echo Dot includes a smart home hub for compatible devices and an Eero Wi-Fi extender that Amazon says can extend coverage by up to 1,000 square feet on an existing Eero network.
How much do the new Echo models cost?
The Echo Studio with Home Camera is listed at $249.99. The Echo Dot is $99.99, while Kids versions start at $109.99. An optional Studio stand costs $39.99, according to CNET.
When will the new Echo speakers be available?
The source report does not provide a release date or preorder information. Amazon’s announcement timing is described as this week, but the date is not specified.
Does the camera-equipped Studio replace the regular Echo Studio?
No such replacement is reported. CNET says buyers can still purchase an Echo Studio without a camera, alongside the camera-equipped model.
Source: cnet.com
