4K video FINALLY comes to home security cameras… Alexa gets an AI upgrade and comes to ALL Amazon and sister-brand devices, plus new Echo speakers that look… familiar?
I was in New York City for Amazon’s 2025 hardware announcement. So what’s new? Let’s dive in starting with the new Echo device lineup.
Shop the new Amazon devices here
Watch the full video of Everything Amazon announced in New York
New Amazon Echo, Echo Show speakers
Amazon announced new Echo speakers;
There’s an all new look… but maybe not that new – the new compact Echo Dot Max and the larger Echo Studio look a lot like Apple HomePod Minis if you ask me… do you agree? let me know in the comments.
So What’s new on the inside?…
Molly Wade, Product Manager, for Alexa & Echo elaborated: “We’ve fully redesigned our echo dot max… most popular; now two drivers and stunning sound and three times the bass. Echo Studio is 40% SMALLER THAN PREVIOUS GEN but packs in even more sound.”
Echo Studio is actually a major re-versioning of the old, bucket-sized Echo Studio which first launched back in 2019. This new version look s like Amazon has combined the older Echo, with the old studio to make a smaller but possibly better sounding hybrid child.
There’s also two new Echo Show smart speakers with screen; Show 8 and 2025 Show 10. While these smart displays don’t swivel like the original Show 10, they do keep that floating screen, rounded design, but the screen is even thinner than before.
4K Ring cameras announced in New York
Over to Ring where there’s been a huge leap in technology and resolution… something I’ve been asking for for YEARS.
Ring announced 4K cameras are now here. With Ultra High definition resolution, these cameras are going to provide much better video quality… I’ll verify that once I get hands on at home.
Ring also made some improvements to the video quality in its cameras, adding the ability to zoom in up to 10 times. And it also introduced what it calls Retinal video which improves overall video quality.
Amy Wiedemann, Ring, Head of Marketing at Ring said, “When you have that retinal vision and you add in the resolution 2k or 4K you get the sharpest most vibrant colours and the best video. It’s really impressive.”
New Ring cameras
There’s also a new look to Ring devices; softer and more rounded, they look a little sleeker and more organic now. (#7109 )And the navy blue doorbell colour is going to be a must have for my home.
Speaking of cameras, Blink announced several new cameras including (#7071) a two-way, V-shaped camera with two lenses that can see 180-degrees, for better security from just one device.
I’ve had my share of dislikes from previous Blink cameras, so I’ll be interested to see how these new cameras are better.
Fire TV’s announced
Moving on to Fire TV, and Amazon annoucned new 2 series, 4 series, and OMNI Fire TVs. Plus a new 4K Fire Stick if you’d like a faster, smarter experience without getting rid of your old set.
With *Alexa home Theatre, this also means you can use any of the new Echo devices to create a smart home surround sound set up, and Amazon promises getting it set up is easier than ever. I’ll be looking forward to trying this out in an upcoming review… if you want to see that, let me know…
Amazon Alexa + is everywhere
The TVs use the upgraded Alexa + system which Ring has integrated into many new devices… from using Alexa+ to provide smart greetings at your door, to being able to recognize familiar faces and let you know if a family member has come in the door, or someone it doesn’t recognize. Alexa+ was a major thread in todays’ announcement. Smarter, faster and its supposed to be better at all things in your smart home.
Kindle Scribe in Color
Not to be left out, Amazon Kindle has a new device; the Kindle Scribe ColorSoft – this combines the digital notebook concept which we saw in the Original Scribe where you can write in your own handwriting and convert to digital text… but this time it uses colour so your notes can be more distinctive and vibrant.
The search function in Scribe Colorsoft is also improved, meaning you should be able to better find anything you’ve ever written down on Scribe. New Scribe uses a More precise pen and Textured glass -that feels more like paper. And at just 5.4mm thin it’s made to really feel almost as thin as paper. Amazon says it’s also 40% faster, with a 12ms response time.
In all there are more than a dozen new devices from Ring, Echo, Blink and Fire TV. I’m hoping to get hands on with all the new and updated devices so stay tuned to the channel for full reviews.
Meantime all the new devices are already available for pre-order here.
2 Comments
I’ve been a user of Amazon — especially Echo — devices since their inception. It’s amazing to see how far they’ve gone (my latest OS for Echo is some great AI with Alexa+)!
It’ll be fun to play with Alexa+ but I hope my existing equipment won’t be too slow on it