Amazon hardware chief Dave Limp stands next to a photo of new hardware products the company unveiled in an event in Seattle on Sept. 25, 2019.
CNBC | Todd Haselton
Amazonkicked off its annual hardware event on Wednesday where it unveiled several new Echo devices and Alexa capabilities.
The company revealed its competitor toApple‘s AirPods, called the Echo Buds. The $ 129 earbuds have Alexa built into them and feature five hours of battery life, as well as noise cancellation technology from Bose. The headphones are available for pre-order starting today.
Amazon announces new wireless earbuds, Echo Buds, at an event in Seattle on Sept. 25, 2019.
CNBC | Todd Haselton
It also unveiled the $ 199 Echo Studio, which is bigger than previous models and features high- quality speakers that enable 3D sound, with help from Dolby Atmos. Amazon also rolled out a revamped $ 99 Echo that comes with updated speakers and in a range of new colors. Both devices are available for pre-order starting today.
Amazon showed off a new Echo device, called the Echo Glow. The $ 30 device, which is available for pre-order now, is targeted for kids and lets them tap the top of the device, causing it to cycle through a range of bright colors.
The Amazon Echo Glow, a bedside companion device that starts at $ 29. 99
CNBC | Todd Haselton
Amazon debuted a new Echo Show , which the company said is its “fastest-growing” Echo product. The all-new Echo Show 8 starts at $ 129 and includes a larger 8-inch display, as well as improved speakers. It’s available for pre-order starting today.
The company also launched a new Echo Dot, which starts at $ 59 and includes an LED display with a clock underneath the device’s fabric casing. It’s available for pre-order today, while the existing Echo Dot will continue to be available for purchase.
Following in the footsteps of last year event, Amazon launched another Alexa-equipped smart device for the kitchen. The company is launching a $ 249 smart oven that’s equipped with convention cooking and an air fryer. Users can also scan an item from the Alexa app, which will trigger the oven to start cooking.
Amazon said users receive a free Echo Dot with every purchase of a smart oven.
Also new to Amazon’s hardware range is a device called the Echo Flex. The $ 25 device is essentially a tiny speaker that plugs into a wall and easily brings Alexa into any room. It’s equipped with a USB port for phone charging, a switch to mute Alexa and motion sensors, as well as a night light.
The Amazon Echo Flex, plugs into any outlet, allowing Echo functionality almost anywhere.
CNBC | Todd Haselton
Amazon’s Eero home routers also got a refresh. The new device is designed for easier setup than before and is updated to include dual-band radio and TrueMesh technology so that users have “whole-home WiFi coverage.” It starts at $ 99 for a single device, or $ 249. 99 for a 3-pack, both of which are available for pre-order today.
The company took the wraps off of two new “Day1” products, which are items that are still under development at Amazon.
Amazon revealed the all-new Echo Frames, which are prescription glasses that feature two built-in microphones for Alexa commands, as well as the Echo Loop, a titanium ring with two microphones and a haptic engine, that’s meant to provide “snackable” notifications. The devices start at $ 199 and $ 129, respectively, and are available in limited quantities for now.
The Amazon Echo Loop is an experimental product that will let you talk to Alexa from a ring on your finger. Amazon unveiled it at an event in Seattle on Sept. 25, 2019.
CNBC | Todd Haselton
In addition to new hardware, Amazon also revealed new Alexa features, including “doorbell concierge,” which adds the voice assistant to Ring smart doorbells. The update makes Alexa more conversational when interacting with people at a user’s front door, including asking if it can “take a message” or telling a deliveryman where to leave a package.
Another new Alexa feature uses AI to mimic celebrity voices. For 99 cents, users can select a celebrity voice like actor Samuel L. Jackson to tell them the weather, set alarms and play music. The feature is set to roll out later this year.
The company typically uses the event to refresh its Echo family, as well as reveal new devices that integrate its Alexa voice assistant . During last year event, Amazonannounced15 Alexa-enabled products, including a microwave, a wall clock, an amplifier and a receiver,
It comes as Amazon is working to increase user engagement with Alexa, as part of a broader effort to fend off competitors like Apple andGoogle. Amazon continues to have a foothold in the smart speaker space, controlling 70% of the market, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. However, rivals like Google are catching up.
– CNBC’sEugene Kimcontributed to this report.
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