Amazon has refreshed its entire Echo lineup, and this time the changes are more substantial than usual. Four new devices arrive in Italy, each with a distinct identity: a bedside clock with sleep detection, a compact speaker that finally integrates a smart home hub, the first version designed for children, and a premium speaker with a built-in camera. All support Alexa+, the enhanced version of Amazon's voice assistant, currently in free early access in Italy and set to be included in the Prime subscription.
Echo Time: a bedside alarm that watches your sleep
The most original product is Echo Time, a smart clock with a 3.2-inch circular touchscreen designed for the nightstand. According to the product listing, its smart alarm uses ultrasound to detect lighter sleep phases and wake the user at the optimal moment, within a window of 10 to 60 minutes around the set time. Nothing needs to be worn, as the sensor works passively.
At night the display switches to a night mode that reduces brightness and blue light. In the morning the screen brightens gradually like an artificial sunrise, and the alarm volume rises progressively. At its core is Omnisense, Amazon's technology that combines temperature sensing, presence detection and ultrasound to build a profile of the sleep routine. It costs 214.99 euros and comes in graphite, ice white and coral pink.
New Echo Dot: smart home hub and stronger bass
The new Echo Dot is probably the most useful update for those who want to enter the smart home without spending much. For the first time it integrates a smart home hub with support for Zigbee, Matter and Thread, so it can connect directly to hundreds of compatible devices such as lights and thermostats, without a separate hub. It also adds an integrated eero Wi-Fi, extending home network coverage to about 93 square metres.
On audio, Amazon claims bass 50% stronger than the previous generation, thanks to a full-range driver with greater rear acoustic volume. The proprietary AZ3 chip improves conversation detection, while a fourth microphone helps Alexa hear you better when you move around the room. It costs 104.99 euros in four colours.
Amazon Kids Echo Dot: for the little ones
The Amazon Kids Echo Dot arrives in Italy for the first time, offering the same performance as the new Echo Dot in an octopus-shaped design. It includes one year of Kids+ subscription, giving access to age-appropriate Audible audiobooks, radio stations and ad-free music. Parents can set up a child profile that filters Alexa's answers by age.
Among the features for younger users is Stories with Alexa, which turns characters and plots suggested by children into stories narrated by the assistant. There is also Bedtime mode, an evening setting that automatically plays relaxing content from Calm and Moshi, with sleep schedules configurable by parents through the Parent Dashboard. It costs 114.99 euros.
Image: amazon.co.uk — https://www.amazon.co.uk/echo-dot-kids/dp/B09B97BPSW
Echo Studio with camera
The fourth novelty is a version of the premium speaker with a 13-megapixel camera on the front. According to Android Authority, which reports the US launch at 249.99 dollars, the camera lets users check on their home remotely and gives Alexa+ a view of the space; the audio specs remain those of the 2025 Echo Studio, and the model without camera stays on sale. Amazon also says the speaker will later be pairable with a Fire TV for video calls on the television. Italian availability and pricing for this version have not been confirmed by the sources consulted.
Image: amazon.it — https://www.amazon.it/F8-Ultra-Smartphone-Fotocamera-Caricatore/dp/B0FT457JPF
Context
The lineup follows a period of price increases: last August Amazon raised prices on Echo, Kindle and Fire TV by up to 60%, with the Echo Dot moving to 79.99 dollars amid the memory chip crunch. Alexa+ had also already shown an unexpected side with a bug that made it repeat "la" for minutes, a problem Amazon said it was fixing.
Echo Time in particular fits a trend of devices moving into the bedroom. It remains to be seen how readily users will accept Omnisense profiling their sleep, and whether Alexa+ will become a cost included in the Prime subscription.
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