Amazon's 2025 devices event has now drawn to a close, and we've got a clear picture of what 2026 is going to look like in terms of upcoming equipment. Most importantly, I've seen the future of Amazon's speaker line — and it's coming in the form of the Amazon Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio, Echo Show 8 and the Echo Show 11.
We're looking at smart speakers powered by Amazon's latest Alexa+ AI voice assistant, so they're going to be more responsive and helpful than ever. So what's new with Amazon's latest speakers, and are they shoe-ins for the best smart speakers?
Amazon Echo Dot Max
Let's start with the smallest speaker that Amazon announced at the launch event. It's called the Echo Dot Max, and it's a larger and improved version of the popular Echo Dot line. First on the list — bass response. Amazon says that there's now 3x the bass of the 5th-gen Echo Dot, with "room-filling sound" that's going to adapt to your space.
The Dot speakers have never been sonic heroes, so it's nice to hear that this one is putting more emphasis on sound quality. There are two speakers inside — a high excursion woofer and a tweeter. That should mean more rounded sound than before, as each is able to focus on its own part of the frequency range.
It'll support Amazon's Alexa+ (like all the other speakers here), and it's going to cost $99. That's not a bad price at all — as long as it sounds good. Otherwise, you may well be better off picking up the non-Max Echo Dot speaker.
Echo Studio
This larger speaker packs in some serious specs for audio fans, while being, apparently, 40% smaller than the outgoing studio model. I think it looks pretty smart with its spherical shell and flat controls across the front, which also hides the Alexa light ring.
Amazon says that "you can’t find any smart speaker that sounds this amazing at this size." Strong words, but the audio specs might just back it up. It's going up against the likes of the Sonos Era 100 at its price, although the Dolby Atmos inclusion does give the Sonos speaker a run for its money.
Inside you'll find a woofer and three "optimally placed" full-range drivers. That's how you're going to get that Dolby Atmos spatial audio for a more immersive listening experience.
It's not a cheap speaker, but compared to the competition, it's pretty well priced. It's $219.
Something I'm looking forward to with both speakers is that you can connect up to five Studio or Dot Max speakers to your Fire TV sticks to create a Dolby Atmos setup without the need for one of the best soundbars. Now that's very cool — and I can't wait to test it out.
Echo Show 9 and Show 11
The Amazon Echo Show speakers are slightly different again. For one, you've got those screens on the front to tell you what's going on in your world. Then, around the back, you've got some audio spheres to give you solid sound quality for listening to music.
Let's start with the audio stuff built into the speakers. They've got completely redesigned internals, including front-facing drivers and a "custom woofer." They'll also support spatial audio, which is something that I wasn't expecting, given how much space the front screen takes up. It's because Amazon has made the displays float over the speaker portion, giving more space for audio bits and bobs. I'll reserve judgment until I've tested them thoroughly.
As for the smart bits and the screens, you're looking at 8 and 11-inch HD screens for super crisp information and readouts. You'll be able to control your Alexa-powered smart home too, just like the slightly older models.
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