Amazon revealed its newest generation of Echo smart speakers today at an event in New York City, and Mashable was able to briefly demo them. The new Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max were purpose-built for Alexa+, the company’s AI-assisted version of Alexa, and both speakers are now available for pre-order before their official release on Oct. 29.
The larger Echo Studio is priced at $219.99, while the more compact Echo Dot Max is $99.99.
That’s not a moon…
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable
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Meet the Echo Studio and Echo Dot Max: What’s new?
The speakers are heavier than I expected, hopefully because of improved drivers and woofers inside the circular design.
Both speakers feature a redesigned mesh covering, a 3D-printed fabric that Amazon says won’t cause any acoustic interference. Amazon also claims the speakers feature bigger, richer sound and improved processing thanks to new custom chips, the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro. Another new feature, Omnisense, will allow the speakers to adjust their sound based on the environment and sync up for a surround sound effect.
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The smaller Echo Dot Max.
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth
The larger Echo Studio has a steep price tag of $229.99.
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth
Amazon says the larger Echo Studio is powerful enough to give your TV a boost. The speaker contains three full range drivers, a custom woofer to maximize bass, and offers both spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Meanwhile, the compact Echo Dot Max has three times the bass performance compared to Amazon’s existing Dot speakers, the company said.
While that certainly sounds impressive, until I get the chance to test the speakers in my own home, I can’t say how good they actually sound — or how well Alexa+ fits into the home. I can say this, however: I’m digging the Death Star-like design.
The Death Star was the immediate visual connection I made with these new speakers, especially in the silvery Glacier White color. They really do look like space warships designed by Amazon, in a good way (and in a way that won’t get Amazon sued by Disney). Amazon is known for offering Star Wars-themed Echo display stands, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the company eventually leans into this aesthetic with future accessories.
The speakers also have LED lights, though you can’t see them in my pictures from the event. Head to Amazon to pre-order the new speakers, which may even go on sale during the upcoming Prime Big Deal Days. I also expect them to appear in many Christmas Gift Guides in 2025, especially as the Echo Dot and Echo Studio lines haven’t been refreshed properly in years.
