Amazon's new Echo Dot is a smart home hub, plus Echo Show 16

Amazon has refreshed most of its Alexa hardware in one go. The headline for smart home owners is the new Echo Dot: at $99.99 it is no longer just a small speaker but a smart home hub with Zigbee, Matter and Thread built in, and it doubles as an eero Wi-Fi extender. Alongside it come an Echo Studio with a camera, a bedside clock called Echo Time, an Alexa Photo Frame and a bigger, thinner Echo Show 16.

Echo Dot: speaker, hub and Wi-Fi extender

The new Dot ships today in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green and Coral Pink. Amazon says it uses its AZ3 chip with an AI Accelerator, four microphones and Voice ID, and delivers 50% more bass than before. Its Omnisense sensors detect temperature and presence, which can be used to trigger routines.

The bigger change is inside. With Zigbee, Matter and Thread radios on board, the Dot can pair and control low-power bulbs, sensors and locks directly instead of needing a separate bridge. The built-in eero extender adds coverage of up to 1,000 sq ft if you already use an eero network. If you're unsure which of those standards matter to you, our Matter vs Thread vs Zigbee comparison explains the difference, and our new guide asks whether you need a smart home hub at all.

A Kids edition (Octopus or Penguin design) costs $109.99 with a year of Amazon Kids+, and an optional stand is $39.99.

Echo Studio with Home Camera

Amazon's premium speaker gains a camera. The Echo Studio with Home Camera costs $249.99 in Graphite and ships today. It supports Live View, so you can check a room from the Alexa app, and "visual intelligence": Amazon's examples include explaining board game rules or reordering cereal it can see. It keeps Dolby Atmos and adds Advanced Room Adaptation and Adaptive Volume. A physical button turns off the mics and camera, and an LED shows when video is streaming. Fire TV video calls are coming "soon". The regular Echo Studio stays on sale at $219.99.

Echo Time and Alexa Photo Frame

Echo Time ($199.99, available today) is a bedside clock with no camera. It uses Omnisense sleep sensing to wake you up to 10–60 minutes before your alarm at a lighter stage of sleep, shows a sunrise effect on its 2.3-inch round screen and dims below 0.3 nits at night. It carries the National Sleep Foundation's SleepMark. A Kids version costs $209.99.

The Alexa Photo Frame has a 10-inch anti-glare touchscreen and pulls pictures from Amazon Photos. Engadget lists it at $199.99 in black and $229 in birch or walnut.

Echo Show 16

The Echo Show 16 is available for preorder at $499.99, or $569.99 with a Nanomatte screen that Amazon says cuts glare by over 90%, and ships by the end of the year. Amazon says it is nearly 40% thinner than the previous large Show, with 10% more viewing area and 20% more power, and it has Fire TV built in. Later this year Amazon plans a preview of Alexa Home Map, a 3D map of your home and devices.

All of the new devices run Alexa+, which is included with Prime. If you're adding one as a hub, a solid network matters; our mesh Wi-Fi buying guide covers the basics.