Amazon’s new Echo devices go all-in on AI, demanding an upgrade for Alexa+

Amazon today unveiled a major refresh to its Echo lineup, and it’s all about showing off Alexa+, the company’s new AI-powered assistant. The fresh hardware was unveiled at Amazon’s Devices and Services event, and each device has been redesigned to fully tap into Alexa’s generative AI features, which let you speak naturally, skip the wake word at times, and get context-aware suggestions.

Alexa+ is rolling out first in the US as an early access program, free for Prime members during testing and later priced at $20 per month. Notably, it only runs on newer Echo and Fire TV hardware, leaving early-generation devices behind.

All-new displays and a smarter sensor suite

The star attractions are the redesigned smart displays: the Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11. Both feature slimmer bezels, upgraded displays with in-cell touch tech, and much-improved audio with stereo speakers plus a custom woofer. They also pack Amazon’s new AZ3 Pro chip and an Omnisense sensor suite, which blends inputs from cameras, microphones, Wi-Fi radar, and motion sensors to better understand the environment. That means Alexa can adjust more dynamically, whether it’s fine-tuning sound for your living room or anticipating smart home needs. The Show 8 is priced at $180, while the larger Show 11 lands at $220, with shipping starting November 12. Both support Matter, Thread, and Zigbee, so they’re future-ready for smart home setups.

For those who prefer smaller speakers, Amazon introduced the Echo Dot Max. Unlike the classic Dot, this one comes with both a woofer and a tweeter, delivering nearly three times the bass of its predecessor. It’s powered by the AZ3 chip and designed to handle Alexa+’s AI tasks without breaking a sweat. Preorders are live now, with full availability beginning October 29.

Amazon also gave the Echo Studio a sleek update. It’s now 40% more compact, wrapped in 3D-knit fabric for better acoustics while still supporting Dolby Atmos and spatial audio. The Studio, along with the Dot Max, ties into Amazon’s new Alexa Home Theater feature, which lets you pair up to five speakers into a surround system for Fire TV. The setup automatically calibrates using the Omnisense sensors for room-specific tuning.

All these changes point to a bigger goal: Amazon wants Alexa to feel more like a conversational partner that fits naturally into your daily life. However, there are some trade-offs. Some older Alexa privacy settings, such as blocking voice recordings from being stored, are being phased out to support the new AI features. Legacy Echo devices will still work with the traditional Alexa, but if you want the smarter, more intuitive version, you’ll need to upgrade to the latest models.