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Amazon Pivots Hardware to Alexa+ With New Echo Lineup, AZ3 Chips and Omnisense

The company pivots its devices toward on-device AI to make Alexa+ more proactive.

Overview

  • Amazon introduced four Echo models built for Alexa+ — Echo Dot Max ($99.99), Echo Studio ($219.99), Echo Show 8 ($179.99) and Echo Show 11 ($219.99) — with U.S. preorders live, Dot/Studio shipping Oct 29 and Show 8/11 on Nov 12, and new-device buyers receiving Alexa+ Early Access.
  • New AZ3 and AZ3 Pro chips add an AI accelerator for on-device models, while the Omnisense sensor-fusion platform (camera, audio, ultrasound, Wi‑Fi radar, accelerometer, Wi‑Fi CSI) enables context-aware actions like person-specific reminders and late-night open‑garage alerts.
  • Fire TV was refreshed with new 2‑ and 4‑Series and Omni QLED sets plus a Fire TV Stick 4K Select that runs the Vega OS, with Alexa+ handling features such as scene search and sports info, and Amazon previewing an Alexa+ Store for third‑party services.
  • Kindle Scribe gained lighter, faster models and AI features for notes, including a new color option called Kindle Scribe Colorsoft starting at $629.99 alongside updated entry and mid‑tier Scribes.
  • Ring and Blink cameras were upgraded with first‑ever 4K Ring models, an AI facial‑recognition feature called Familiar Faces, the Search Party tool for lost pets beginning in November, and Blink’s new Arc dual‑camera with a 180‑degree view.