Amazon confirms biggest ever upgrade to the Echo, just don’t look at the price
Amazon makes a huge range of smart devices for the home, from its popular Echo speakers with Alexa voice assistant to its affordable Fire TV Sticks for streaming shows and films to any TV. If you’ve ever wanted one of its Echo Show smart screens but thought the displays were a little poky, then you’re in luck.
The tech giant has just announced two new Echo Show smart displays including its largest one ever. The Echo Show 21 is, you guessed it, a 21-inch HD screen that, unlike most similar products, is so big it can be mounted on a wall.
The Echo Show 21, which can also sit on a stand like a computer monitor, offers the full Alexa smart home experience you get with other Echo Shows. That means streaming all your favourite content from Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube and other apps, doing web searches with your voice, checking the weather and dinner recipes, or even having video calls thanks to the built-in camera.
Amazon says the Echo Show 21 and Echo Show 15, a smaller-but-still-large 15-inch version are designed to go in the kitchen.
“These new devices have better audio quality than the original Echo Show 15, delivering vibrant sound, double the bass, and room adaption technology,” Amazon said in a blog post.
“We also upgraded the auto-framing camera for improved video calls. It has more than double the field of view and 65% more zoom than the first-generation Echo Show 15, so you’re always in frame during video calls even while moving around your kitchen. Plus, we’ve added noise reduction technology, so calls with loved ones are even clearer, no matter what’s happening in the background.”
The Echo Shows are compatible with the Matter smart home standard so you can control smart lights, blinds, thermostats, TVs and other clever gadgets if you link them all up. You’ll be able to watch TV or morning news bulletins on demand from the BBC, ITV or Channel 4.
You can also set the screens to show photos or artworks when not in use, and if you’re signed up to Amazon Prime you’ll get unlimited full-res photo storage via the Amazon Photos app. Plus with the integrated camera you can use the Echo Shows to check on your home security and pets using your smartphone when you’re out and about.
Now for the kicker. The enormous Echo Show 21 has a price tag to match, costing £399.99, while the Echo Show 15 will set you back £299.99. Given you could pick up a decent 4K TV for this, you’ll have to really want a smart screen in your life to take the plunge – but it could be what your kitchen is crying out for.
It’s also worth noting the devices ship with an Alexa Voice Remote and wall mounting kit, but you’ll have to pay extra for a brown or white frame to make the screen look more like a picture frame – £41.99 for the Echo Show 21 or £37.99 for the Echo Show 15. The stand accessory is also £99.99.
