Amazon unveils Echo Show 16 with Fire TV and night-vision camera

Amazon introduced a redesigned Echo Show 16 on October 28, putting a larger screen, built-in Fire TV and a night-vision camera at the centre of a five-device Alexa launch. Reuters reported that the smart display is available for preorder starting at $499.99.

The launch extends Amazon’s push to make Alexa useful beyond voice commands, with a display that can handle entertainment, household schedules and connected-home controls. The other devices announced alongside it are a new Echo Studio, Echo Dot, Echo Time bedside clock and Alexa Photo Frame.

A redesigned screen for the connected home

According to Amazon’s product announcement, Echo Show 16 has a 16-inch full-HD display and an anodized-aluminium frame. Buyers can choose between a standard display and a Nanomatte version designed to reduce glare. Amazon’s claims about improved colours and glare reduction are company-reported specifications, not results of an independent review.

Fire TV is built in, and Amazon says a remote control is included. The interface also offers three Screen Styles: a smart-home dashboard, a family organiser and a digital photo frame. A favourites bar lets users pin frequently used services and controls.

Night vision joins the Echo Show camera

The device has a wide-angle 13-megapixel camera. Amazon says Visual ID can recognise users from up to 17 feet away, while night vision enables Live View checks through the Alexa app in dark rooms. The company also describes automatic framing for video calls.

Amazon says the device includes a button to disable the microphones and camera, together with a visual indicator when Alexa is engaged. Customers can review and manage their interactions through the Alexa Privacy dashboard.

Prices, preorder offer and shipping

Amazon lists the standard Echo Show 16 at $499.99 and the Nanomatte model at $569.99. Its announcement also advertises $100 off for customers who preorder. Shipping is scheduled to begin later this year; the announcement does not give a specific delivery date.

Stand accessories are listed separately, starting at $69.99. Certain features require Alexa+, which Amazon says is included with a Prime membership. Buyers should distinguish the device’s hardware price from the access requirements for individual software features.

Reuters places the launch in a more competitive home-AI market, following Apple’s introduction of HomeView and HomePod mini 2 earlier this month. For Amazon, the Echo Show 16 is the most visible part of a broader attempt to put its latest Alexa experience into more rooms and more types of devices.

Sources

• Reuters — Amazon unveils new lineup of Alexa devices including redesigned Echo Show
• Amazon — Echo Show 16 product announcement