Amazon has announced the Echo Show 16, its most ambitious smart display to date, priced at $499.99 with a wall mount included. The device is available for preorder now and will ship later this year. A version with a Nanomatte display option is available for $569.99. Amazon is offering a $100 preorder discount for early buyers.
The Echo Show 16 represents a significant shift in Amazon’s smart display strategy. After years of voice-first devices where the screen provided only secondary context, this new model is designed as a central household hub. It features a full HD screen, slim bezels, and a hardware design that Amazon executives compare to a small home computer or a large tablet.
Customizable Homescreens and Hardware
The standout feature of the Echo Show 16 is its new Screen Styles interface. Users can choose from a family organizer, a smart home dashboard, an Alexa widgets screen, or a digital photo frame. Unlike previous models, these homescreens can remain visible at all times or appear only when a user approaches the device.
Amazon confirmed that the hardware shares significant engineering with the recently announced Alexa Tablet Pro 12. The device uses a MediaTek processor rather than Amazon’s proprietary AZ3 chip found in other Echo products. It also features a slim speaker box running the length of the screen, containing eight custom woofers and two tweeters. The audio output is described as clear and loud, though reviewers noted it lacks some depth compared to larger standalone speakers.
The display quality is rated as bright and clear with deep blacks. Amazon offers an optional Nanomatte anti-glare screen for an additional cost. The device is thinner than the Echo Show 15 and the 21-inch Echo Show 21, which also retails for $499. It comes with a newly redesigned Alexa remote that feels more substantial in the hand.
Alexa Plus and Smart Home Integration
The software experience is built around the Alexa Plus subscription service. Daniel Rausch, the current VP of Alexa and Echo, stated that the latest version of Alexa Plus offers deeper research capabilities and improved reasoning. The assistant can now handle more complex and vague tasks, with a new “next best actions” feature that proactively suggests items based on ongoing conversations.
For example, if a user discusses building a chicken coop, Alexa might suggest where to buy hardware cloth. If planning a trip, it may recommend hiking trails or videos. These interactions are stored in “Cards,” which act as a memory for the assistant. Cards appear in the new Alexa app, on Alexa.com, and can be pinned to the Show’s widget face.
Smart home control has also been overhauled with a new 3D map view. This interface allows users to see a bird’s-eye view of their home and neighborhood. Users can zoom in to control lights, locks, and cameras in situ. The map updates in real time, so toggling a light on the interface lights up the corresponding room on the map. It also integrates with Ring cameras, showing a figure on the map when someone approaches the house, with a tap to view the live camera feed.
A new favorites bar provides quick access to third-party skills and integrations from most screens. Ambient screensavers, including photo frames and Alexa Recommendations, appear when the device is idle. Amazon confirmed that display ads will appear on the Alexa Recommendations screen, but users can turn this feature off entirely.
Pricing and Availability
The Echo Show 16 starts at $499.99. This price point is double that of the Echo Show 11, which costs $250, and $200 more than Apple’s new HomeView smart display. The high cost has raised questions about whether the device is priced too aggressively for the average consumer.
While the customizable homescreens are included for free on the Echo Show 16, they will require a subscription on older Echo Show devices. Aidan Marcuss, the incoming VP of Alexa and Echo, confirmed this distinction but did not disclose the exact subscription price for legacy devices. The new UI features will eventually roll out to all current Show devices, though Amazon has not provided a timeline for this update.
Preorders for the Echo Show 16 are open now. The device will be available for purchase later this year at the standard $499.99 price or $569.99 for the Nanomatte version.
Source: The Verge
