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Amazon Rolls Out New Echo Line Built for On-Device AI

Custom AZ3 silicon with Omnisense shifts Alexa’s AI processing onto the device.

Overview

  • Amazon introduced four models—Echo Dot Max, Echo Studio (2nd gen), Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11—featuring redesigned hardware, stronger audio and displays with 13‑megapixel cameras.
  • New AZ3 and AZ3 Pro chips plus an on‑device AI accelerator enable local ML workloads; Amazon says wake‑word reliability improves by nearly 50% on Dot Max and AZ3 Pro supports modern language and vision models.
  • Omnisense fuses data from cameras, microphones, ultrasound, Wi‑Fi radar, accelerometers and network signals to enable more personalized, proactive Alexa experiences.
  • Alexa Heimkino allows up to five Echo Studio or five Echo Dot Max speakers to create a surround setup with automatic calibration, but mixing models is not yet supported and the feature requires select Fire TV sticks rather than Amazon’s TVs.
  • Preorders are open on Amazon.de at €109.99 (Dot Max), €239.99 (Studio), €199.99 (Show 8) and €239.99 (Show 11), with speakers shipping from Oct 29 and displays from Nov 12; Alexa+ is now a paid $19.99/month service in the U.S. with no launch date for Germany or Austria.