Amazon's Fall Hardware Event has come and gone, and there are a lot of new products on the way. So many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of what was announced. We attended the event and got a chance to go hands on with all of the new devices, most of which support new AI features via Alexa+.
There's a sleek new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft that makes it feel like you're writing on paper, Fire TVs that let you go straight to your favorite movie scene using just your voice and new Ring doorbells and security cameras that can help you find a lost pet. Here's the top 5 products announced at the Amazon event.
Kindle Scribe: Thinner than an iPhone Air
One of the big new announcements for fans of e-readers was the reveal of the third generation of Kindle Scribes. Amazon announced three new variations of the 11-inch devices: the base Kindle Scribe, the Kindle Scribe with Frontlight and the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. The latter device is also the first Kindle with writing capabilities that features a color screen.
What's really impressive about these new tablets is that each is only 5.4mm thick, making it thinner than the new iPhone Air. The third generation of Kindle Scribes are also 40% faster, and when writing on the Scribe, they offer reduced latency of under 12 milliseconds.
There’s also a host of new features, including Quick Notes and Kindle Workspace, which also allows users to import and export files with both OneDrive and Google Drive. On top of that, the Kindle Scribe features two new reading-based features: Story So Far and Ask This Book. The former offers a recap of the plot so far when you select a book, while the latter allows you to ask questions about characters, plot lines and story arcs without revealing any spoilers.
The Kindle Scribe with Frontlight and the Colorsoft versions will release later this year for $550 and $630. Meanwhile, the base model will be available early next year for $430.
New Amazon Fire TVs and Fire Sticks
Amazon also revealed its new series of Amazon TVs. There's the Amazon Fire TV Omni series, which starts at $480. Then there’s the Fire TV 4 Series, which starts at $330. Each TV comes in a variety of different sizes, and is stated to be 30% faster than older models, while also coming with new features like Dialogue Boost and Omnisense. The latter feature is certainly handy, as it allows the TV to turn on when you enter a room, and then turn off when you leave.
If you already have one of the best TVs and aren’t looking to change, then Amazon also revealed the new Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which will retail for $40 at launch. This new stick is the first to launch with the new Vega operating system instead of Android. Amazon claims the new stick is faster, while also supporting 4K and HDR10+.
With Alexa+ integrated into the new Fire TVs and Fire TV Stick, you can pull up your favorite scene from a movie using your voice and it will go right to it — even if you can't even remember the name of the movie. For example, you can say "Show me when Olaf sang 'In Summer'" and your Fire TV will fire up "Frozen" and play that exact scene.
New Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio (now with home theater mode)
For those looking to upgrade their smart speakers, Amazon announced several upgrades for its Echo Dot series. This includes the new Echo Dot Max, which retails for $99 and supports Alexa+. The new Echo Dot Max offers improved audio output with three times the bass compared to the previous Echo Dot. On top of that, the new speaker also features a higher quality fabric, a better microphone array and an updated design that moves the speaker controls and LED to the front of the device.
If you're looking for something with a bit more power, Amazon also announced the new $219 Echo Studio, which features the same updated design. However, the Studio is smaller than the previous model while also offering support for spatial audio and Dolby Atmos. Amazon has also confirmed that users can link up to five Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max devices alongside Amazon Fire Sticks to create surround sound thanks to the new Alexa Home Theater feature.
Echo 8 and Echo 11 get a sleeker design and Alexa+ smarts
Amazon also used the event to showcase the newest Echo Show smart displays, namely the 8-inch Echo Show 8 and the 11-inch Echo Show 11. The new models boast slimmer displays set on top of an oblong speaker that’s wrapped in a knit fabric. Both smart displays come with a 13MP front camera that features a wide-angle view that allows the display to better detect people entering the room.
The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 also feature some upgrades for the Show UI that make it easier to control multiple devices at once. You can also do a lot with Alexa+. For example, during a demo we saw how easy it is to pull up photos related to a certain theme (such as camping trips). You can also put your family to-do list in one place and Alexa+ can help with things like booking tickets, finding that handyman or making that restaurant reservation for you.
The Echo Show 11 costs $219 and features a 1080p display. Meanwhile, the smaller Echo Show 8 costs $179 and has a 720p display.
New Ring and Blink cameras offer improved home security (and peace of find for your dog)
Ring revealed a new line of 4k video devices that pair with the company's Retinal Vision technology for improved video quality. It also announced new features, including AI facial recognition capabilities, Alexa Plus-powered doorbell greetings and a Search Party feature that helps to locate lost dogs in your neighborhood. You just upload a photo of your dog and Ring takes it from there.
The new devices include the new $249 Ring Wired Doorbell Pro 4K, the $199 Outdoor Cam Pro 4K, the $249 Spotlight Cam Pro 4K and the $279 Floodlight Cam Pro 4K. For those not looking for 4K resolution, Ring also announced the $179 Ring Wired Doorbell and the $59 Indoor Cam Plus with 2K video. Just keep in mind that these are all wired devices.
Meanwhile, Blink used the event to reveal its new device: the $99 Blink Arc Camera. This new device features two cameras, with the feeds from both being stitched together to create a full 180-degree view. On top of that, Blink also showcased the new Blink Outdoor 2K Plus and the Blink Mini 2K Plus. Both of these new cameras feature 2K video resolution, upgraded audio with color night vision and a two-way talking system.
Outlook
Overall, Amazon’s event showcased a lot of new hardware coming this year, as well as some devices that are coming next year. We can’t wait to test out some of these new devices ourselves to see if they deliver on all the AI promises. Let us know what you’re most excited about in the comments.
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