For most consumer tech brands, the party is over after the closure of IFA. But that’s not the case with Amazon. The global technology company hosts an annual devices bonanza each fall, where it unveils a bevy of new hardware and software products. Last night was no different as Amazon announced new Kindle e-readers, Fire TV sets, Echo speakers, Ring and Blink cameras, and enhanced Alexa and AI features. The most notable of these devices was Amazon’s Echo Dot Max, a successor to Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), which hasn’t seen an upgrade since 2022.
Powered by Alexa+ (AI-powered smart assistant), the Echo Dot Max is a $100 smart speaker, which costs the same as Apple’s HomePod Mini. It boasts two drivers and a woofer, delivering what Amazon claims is three times the bass of its predecessor. Design-wise, it features three front buttons for microphone muting and volume control, with an LED ring for visual feedback when Alexa is active. Amazon justifies in its press release that the price hike is due to superior sound quality and significantly enhanced bass that the speaker offers. In addition to premium audio, the new smart speaker also features a “3D knit fabric” on the outside. “The fabric has been knit in 3D to maintain the ultimate acoustic transparency,” the company explains.
TechRadar’s hands-on review praises the Echo Dot Max for delivering “far more bass than a speaker of its size should” with “sharp, clear highs.” Gizmodo notes a “big difference” from the 5th-gen Echo Dot, highlighting increased bass and volume. Engadget concurs, stating the Max offers “more bass thump and clearer separation” than the standard Dot, but isn’t impressed with the sound, calling it “less closed-off.”
In other news, Amazon has also launched the $220 Echo Studio, a larger speaker that packs in some serious specs for audio fans, while being apparently 40 percent smaller than the outgoing Studio model. From a design standpoint, this resembles the Echo Dot Max and features a spherical shape, unlike its previous cylindrical design.
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The speaker includes a high-excursion woofer and three full-range drivers, and support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Wired notes that two Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max units can pair with a Fire TV for a surround sound home theater setup via Alexa Home Theater. Both the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio are available for pre-order, with early Alexa+ access included. Shipping is expected to commence on October 29.
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