Amazon’s new Echo Dot is on sale, while Echo Show 16 awaits December launch
The Echo Dot adds smart home hub and eero extender functions. The larger Echo Show 16 can be preordered, with The Verge reporting a December 16 launch.
Amazon’s new Echo Dot went on sale on October 28 as part of a wider Echo refresh, while the redesigned Echo Show 16 opened for preorder ahead of a December 16 launch reported by The Verge. The split matters to buyers comparing devices they can get now with a larger smart display that is still weeks away.
The Verge reported that the other products in the latest round — including the Echo Studio with Home Camera, Echo Time and Alexa Photo Frame — were available to buy on October 28. The Echo Show 16 was the exception. Engadget also reported that the Show 16 was available for preorder, though it described shipping more broadly as expected later in 2026.
What changed in the new Echo Dot
The $100 Echo Dot now works as a smart home hub supporting Zigbee, Matter and Thread, giving it a way to control thousands of compatible devices, according to Amazon. It can also extend an existing eero Wi-Fi network. Engadget said Amazon’s wording suggested that an eero router may be required, but the compatibility of other routers was not established.
Amazon put its custom AZ3 chip in an Echo Dot for the first time. The company says on-device voice processing should make Alexa+ conversations more natural because commands need not make a round trip to a data center. A fourth microphone is intended to help the speaker hear users around a room and help Voice ID distinguish who is speaking, Engadget reported.
The Dot also has a full-range audio driver. Amazon claims it produces 50 percent more bass than the previous generation. The speaker comes in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green and Coral Pink. A Kids version, offered in Penguin and Octopus designs with a year of Kids+, starts at $110.
Echo Show 16 display and preorder
The Echo Show 16 has a 16-inch full-HD screen, offered with either a standard finish or a glare-reducing nanomatte finish. Engadget reported prices of $500 and $570 respectively, with a $100 preorder discount. The Verge reported a December 16 launch and a $100 reduction from the listed $500 price for buyers using a code.
Compared with the Echo Show 15, the new display has 10 percent more viewing area and a thinner body, Engadget reported. Amazon redesigned its audio system with eight micro woofers and two tweeters, and says the device has 20 percent more computing power than its predecessor. Those performance figures are Amazon’s claims.
A 13-megapixel wide-angle camera supports video calls and Visual ID, which Amazon says can recognize a user from up to 17 feet away. The display can also show Alexa Home Map for smart home controls and a Family Organizer view for schedules, tasks and meal plans.
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Sources and context
- Almost all of Amazon’s new Echo gear is available nowThe Verge (original reporting; Cameron Faulkner)
- Amazon adds a glare-reducing nanomatte display to its new Echo Show 16Engadget (original reporting; Mariella Moon)
- Amazon's new Echo Dot now works as an eero Wi-Fi extender and smart home hubEngadget (original reporting; Steve Dent)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.