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Amazon has added new smart home functions to two Echo speakers: the Echo Studio is available in a version with a camera, and the Echo Dot now includes a smart home hub and an Eero Wi-Fi extender. CNET reports that the Studio with Home Camera costs $249.99 and the updated Dot costs $99.99; details such as availability dates and camera privacy controls were not provided in the source report.
Amazon has introduced new versions of two Echo speakers with added smart home features: the Echo Studio with Home Camera can provide a live view inside the home, while the updated Echo Dot includes a smart home hub and Eero Wi-Fi extender. The changes add monitoring, device control and network coverage functions to speakers that previously focused mainly on audio and Alexa.
The Echo Studio with Home Camera is priced at $249.99 and comes in Graphite, CNET reported after seeing the devices at Amazon’s launch event. Amazon is also continuing to sell an Echo Studio without a camera, according to the report. An optional stand costs $39.99. The camera’s live view is intended for monitoring people, pets or activity at home, and Amazon says Alexa can use what the camera sees to respond to some requests.
Amazon describes that capability as “visual intelligence”. Its examples include identifying a board game box and explaining its rules, or recognizing a cereal box to help a user reorder it. These are company-described uses; the source report does not independently test the feature or specify how recognition works in every setting.
The updated Echo Dot costs $99.99 and is offered in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green and Coral Pink. It can connect and control compatible smart home devices, such as thermostats, lights and locks, without a separate hub. Its built-in Eero extender is designed to add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an existing Eero network. Amazon says the Dot also uses its AZ3 processor for on-device processing and more natural Alexa Plus conversations. An Amazon Kids version, in Octopus and Penguin designs, starts at $109.99.
More Home Functions in Each Speaker
The additions could reduce the number of separate devices households need to buy and set up. A Dot that also acts as a smart home hub and Wi-Fi extender brings several functions into a compact speaker, though the stated coverage extension applies to an existing Eero network and does not establish that it will work with other router systems.
The camera-equipped Studio also places indoor monitoring and voice assistance in the same device as a premium speaker. That may appeal to people weighing a dedicated pet or home camera against another smart speaker. It also makes camera placement, access and privacy settings relevant considerations for buyers, especially in shared living spaces.
Amazon’s claims about Alexa interpreting camera views and adapting sound add to the company’s effort to make its devices respond to a home’s occupants and surroundings. The report describes the intended functions but does not provide independent performance tests or evidence about how reliably they work across different homes.
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Two Different Echo Upgrades
The changes are part of a broader set of Amazon smart home announcements this week. CNET reported that the company also introduced a revamped Echo Show, its first smart photo frame and an alarm clock with a sleep-related snooze feature. The speaker upgrades therefore sit within a wider expansion of Amazon’s home-device lineup, rather than being a single product refresh.
The two Echo models serve different roles. The Echo Dot is the smaller speaker, now positioned as a controller and network extension point for compatible smart home equipment. The Echo Studio remains Amazon’s premium listening speaker, with a high-excursion woofer, three full-range drivers and Dolby Atmos support, according to CNET. The camera-equipped model adds monitoring while a camera-free Studio remains an option.
CNET also reports new audio features for the Studio: Advanced Room Adaptation is designed to adjust sound to a room’s acoustics, and Adaptive Volume changes playback volume based on a listener’s distance from the speaker. Amazon’s launch announcements describe the functions, but the source material does not give independent measurements of their effect.
“Alexa “gains visual intelligence to make everyday experiences more personal and helpful.””
— Amazon, as quoted by CNET
Camera Controls and Compatibility
The source report does not specify when the products will ship, which countries will receive them first, or whether the announced prices apply outside the market covered by CNET. It also does not detail the camera’s privacy controls, such as how users disable it, who can access live view, or whether video is stored.
Other practical details remain open. Amazon’s stated Wi-Fi extension of up to 1,000 square feet is for an existing Eero network, but the report does not explain how performance varies by home layout or network conditions. It also does not list all compatible smart home devices or independently test camera recognition, room adaptation, adaptive volume or Alexa Plus processing.
Availability and Product Testing
Amazon’s next step is to make the new models available for purchase; the source report gives prices and finishes but no specific release date. Buyers will need product listings or further company announcements for confirmed shipping dates, regional availability and full technical specifications.
Independent testing could clarify how useful the camera’s recognition and live view are in everyday conditions, how the Echo Dot performs as an Eero extender, and which smart home devices it can control directly. Until those details are available, the confirmed development is the addition of these functions and Amazon’s announced pricing, not a verified assessment of their performance.
Key Questions
What is new about the Echo Studio?
Amazon introduced a version called Echo Studio with Home Camera, which includes a camera for live in-home monitoring. A camera-free Echo Studio remains available, according to CNET.
What does the updated Echo Dot include?
The updated Echo Dot has a smart home hub for controlling compatible devices and a built-in Eero Wi-Fi extender. Amazon says the extender can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to an existing Eero network.
How much do the new Echo speakers cost?
CNET reports a price of $249.99 for the Echo Studio with Home Camera and $99.99 for the updated Echo Dot. The Amazon Kids Echo Dot starts at $109.99; an optional Studio stand costs $39.99.
When will the new Echo devices be available?
The source report does not provide a specific release or shipping date. Availability timing and regional sales details remain unconfirmed in the material provided.
Does the Echo Studio camera store video?
The source report describes a live-view camera but does not say whether video is stored or provide details about privacy controls and access. Those points require confirmation from Amazon’s product specifications.
Source: cnet.com
