There wasn't a new Amazon Echo smart speaker on display at the online megaretailer's yearly hardware and services event this Wednesday, but Amazon did reveal a brand new lineup of smaller-sized Echo Dot speakers, as well as a new Echo Dot with Clock and new Echo Dot Kids speakers, too.
"This is our most powerful lineup yet," explained Nedim Fresko, Amazon's VP of Alexa Devices and Developer Technologies. "We've redesigned the audio architecture with a full range driver and the highest excursion speaker of any Echo Dot."
According to Fresko, that high-excursion design means that the new Echo Dot speakers put out up to twice as much bass as previous generations, all from within the same, spherical form factor and a familiar choice of colors (charcoal, glacier white, or deep sea blue). Available for pre-order starting today and expected to ship out in October, the prices are the same, too -- $50 for the new, 5th-gen Echo Dot, or $60 for the new Echo Dot with Clock or the new Echo Dot Kids.
Along with the better sound quality, the new Echo Dot devices include new sensors that enable tap gestures for the top of the device, which might make for a quicker means of shutting off that morning alarm or cooking timer. The new Echo Dot with Clock, available in cloud blue or glacier white, comes with some slight refinements to the clock readout, too -- namely, the ability to display upcoming calendar events, artists and song titles during music playback or weather info with icons whenever you ask Alexa for the day's forecast.
Meanwhile, the Echo Dot Kids got a makeover, with new purple dragon and turquoise owl-themed designs. Each device also comes with a custom dragon or owl-themed Alexa voice to match, as well as parental controls in the Alexa app, a 2-year warranty and a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids Plus for kid-friendly content options.
"Ambient intelligence has been our North Star since the early days of Echo and Alexa, and a true ambient experience is personalized, proactive and intuitive enough to adapt to you and your environment," Fresko told CNET. "All of our Echo devices and services are designed to drive this idea forward for our customers whether they are at home or on the go."
All three of the new Echo Dot speakers are available for pre-order starting today, and expected to ship out in October.