Amazon has just released its latest and greatest Echo Show, and it packs a lot of features into a compact package: a smart home hub, Fire TV, the Alexa+ AI chatbot, and a high-resolution screen with an optional anti-glare coating that is a nano-texture surface.
Amazon is introducing a higher-end version, the Echo Show 16, which features a 10 percent larger display with a 1080p resolution, plus an optional nano-texture coating, to a casing that is 40 percent slimmer than the Echo Show 15. It can be installed on a wall or on a separate (sold on its own) stand.
The Echo Show 16 boasts a new sound system with at least eight woofers and two tweeters, especially useful for video chats and as a Fire TV. The sound is automatically adjusted to the room. The 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera is not only for video calls, but can also identify people up to 17 feet away with the help of Alexa+. A night vision mode should also make it suitable for use as a security camera.
Amazon is integrating a room temperature sensor and a processor that’s 20 percent more powerful than the one found in the Echo Show 15. The Echo Show 16 will not only serve as a compact smart TV and for video calls, but it is also designed to be a convenient Amazon Echo Spot device for controlling smart home devices, doing voice instructions to Alexa+ AI chatbot, and viewing small apps like a calendar or a photo gallery. There is a dedicated button which disables all of the cameras and microphones to ensure privacy.
Pricing and availability
Amazon Echo Show 16 is expected to ship before the end of the year and will be offered with either a glossy display for $499.99 or a matte display for $569.99. The cost of the stand with tilt is an extra $124.99. Those who pre-order the Echo Show 16 will receive a $100 discount.
