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Amazon has added a built-in smart home hub to its Echo Dot and a camera to a new Echo Studio model. The devices are available now for $99.99 and $249.99, respectively; Amazon says some features require Alexa+.
Amazon has released two updated Echo speakers: an Echo Dot with a built-in smart home hub and an Echo Studio with a camera intended to let Alexa+ respond to objects in view. The new Dot costs $99.99 and the camera-equipped Studio costs $249.99, giving buyers new ways to connect smart-home devices or use visual features with Alexa.
The updated Echo Dot supports Zigbee, Matter and Thread, protocols used by compatible smart lights, locks and thermostats. Amazon says the hub lets users connect supported devices without purchasing a separate hub. The familiar fabric-covered spherical design remains, while Amazon also says the new model has an AZ3 chip for Alexa+, a fourth microphone and Omnisense technology that can detect room temperature and presence.
Amazon says those sensors could support routines such as turning on lights when someone enters a room or adjusting a thermostat when the room gets cold, similar to the smart-home devices used in everyday home routines. The company also claims the Dot delivers 50% more bass than its predecessor. It includes an eero Wi-Fi extender that Amazon says can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage, but that function requires an existing eero network. A Kids edition starts at $109.99.
The new Echo Studio includes a camera so Alexa+ can use visual input. Amazon describes uses such as showing the device a board-game box to ask about its rules or a cereal box to help reorder it. The camera also supports Live View in the Alexa app. Video calls through compatible Fire TV devices are planned for later, according to the report. The Studio retains its high-excursion woofer, three full-range drivers, Dolby Atmos support and automatic room tuning.
Two Speakers, Broader Smart-Home Roles
The changes give Amazon’s speakers functions beyond playing audio, while addressing two different parts of a connected home. The Echo Dot can serve as a device hub, potentially reducing the need for a dedicated bridge for compatible products. The Echo Studio’s camera adds a visual input for Alexa+, shifting the speaker toward interactions that depend on seeing an object as well as hearing a request.
That broader role may matter to customers choosing how to control connected devices and how much access they want to grant an assistant. The Dot’s protocol support is relevant to households with compatible equipment, though it does not establish that every Zigbee-, Matter- or Thread-enabled product will work identically. The Studio’s camera may enable new requests, but it also makes privacy controls a direct part of the product decision.
Amazon’s positioning also links the hardware to Alexa+. The report says some features require the service, which is included with Prime. Buyers will need to check which functions work with their account and existing devices rather than assuming every advertised capability is available on its own.
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How the New Echo Models Differ
The announcement is part of a broader new Alexa lineup that also includes the Echo Show 16, Echo Time smart clock and Alexa Photo Frame, according to Digital Trends. The report identifies the Dot and Studio as the two speaker additions and gives their current prices and feature sets.
The new Dot is an updated version of an established compact speaker, keeping its familiar shape while adding connectivity and sensing features. The camera-bearing Studio is a separate option rather than a replacement for every Echo Studio: a camera-free Echo Studio remains available for $219.99. The $30 price difference between the reported Studio models gives shoppers a choice between the camera feature and the camera-free version.
The report places the launch amid competition over smart-home control, referencing Apple’s recently announced HomePod mini 2 and HomeView. That comparison is industry context, not evidence that the products have identical features or that Amazon’s launch will change market share.
“The Echo Dot offers 50% more bass than before.”
— Amazon, as reported by Digital Trends
Feature Access and Camera Controls
The announcement details do not specify which Echo Dot and Studio features require Alexa+, beyond saying some features do. The report says Alexa+ is included with Prime but does not explain whether all visual functions, sensing-based routines or other capabilities are available to every Prime member, in every region or without additional setup.
Amazon’s camera safeguards include a button to disable the camera and microphones and an LED that lights when images or video are streamed to the cloud, according to the report. The available information does not spell out image-retention periods, how visual data is processed in each feature, or whether all camera functions work when cloud streaming is disabled. Those details could affect how users choose to place or use the Studio.
Compatibility and performance limits also remain unclear. The source does not provide a complete list of supported smart-home products, explain how the claimed bass improvement was measured, or detail what conditions are needed to reach the eero extender’s stated coverage. The promised Fire TV video-call function is described as coming later, with no release date given.
Later Fire TV Calling Support
The two speakers are available now at the reported prices: $99.99 for the updated Echo Dot and $249.99 for the camera-equipped Echo Studio. The camera-free Studio remains on sale for $219.99, and the Kids edition of the Dot starts at $109.99.
The next stated addition is video calling through compatible Fire TV devices, which Amazon plans to bring to the camera-equipped Studio later. No timing was provided in the source. Prospective buyers can compare the models’ prices, check Alexa+ requirements and confirm compatibility with their smart-home devices and eero setup before purchasing.
Key Questions
What is new in the Echo Dot?
The new $99.99 Echo Dot has a built-in hub supporting Zigbee, Matter and Thread. Amazon also lists an AZ3 chip for Alexa+, a fourth microphone, Omnisense temperature and presence detection, and an eero extender that requires an existing eero network.
What can the Echo Studio camera do?
Amazon says Alexa+ can use the camera to recognize objects shown to the speaker, such as a game box or cereal package. The camera also supports Live View through the Alexa app; video calls through compatible Fire TV devices are planned for later.
How much do the new Echo speakers cost?
The updated Echo Dot costs $99.99, while the camera-equipped Echo Studio costs $249.99. A camera-free Echo Studio remains available for $219.99, and the Echo Dot Kids edition starts at $109.99.
Can the Echo Studio camera be turned off?
According to Digital Trends, the camera-equipped model has a button to disable the camera and microphones. An LED lights when images or video are streamed to the cloud. The report does not provide further details about data retention or cloud processing.
Do the new features require Alexa+?
The source says some features require Alexa+, which it reports is included with Prime. It does not identify every feature that depends on Alexa+, so buyers should check the requirements for specific functions before purchasing.
Source: digitaltrends.com
