Amazon Echo Dot Adds a Smart Home Hub for $99.99

Echo Dot adds device control alongside music

Amazon’s new Echo Dot goes on sale today for $99.99, combining a speaker with its first integrated smart home hub supporting Zigbee, Matter and Thread (opens in a new tab). For music playback, Amazon claims its full-range driver produces 50% more bass than the previous generation.

Works with

Compatible Zigbee, Matter and Thread devices

Wireless

Built-in eero extender for an existing eero network

Price

Echo Dot $99.99; Echo Studio with Home Camera $249.99

Available

Echo Dot today in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green and Coral Pink

The hub lets Echo Dot connect to compatible home devices without a separate hub, while its integrated eero extender can expand an existing eero network’s coverage by up to 1,000 square feet. Echo Dot comes in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green and Coral Pink.

Amazon’s AZ3 chip brings on-device processing that the company says makes Alexa+ conversations faster and more natural. A fourth microphone is intended to improve voice pickup around the room, and Voice ID can identify the speaker for personalized responses, including playlist selection. Certain features need Alexa+, which comes with a Prime membership.

Echo Studio adds a camera and adjusts playback

Echo Studio with Home Camera costs $249.99 and comes in Graphite, with a high-excursion woofer, three full-range drivers and Dolby Atmos support. Amazon says Advanced Room Adaptation continually adjusts playback for room acoustics, while Adaptive Volume responds to your location to maintain music or audiobook volume as you move.

The camera supports remote room checks through Live View in the Alexa app, and Alexa can recognize objects presented to it. Amazon says pairing with a compatible Fire TV device for television video calls is coming soon.

A dedicated button disables the microphones and camera, and an LED indicates when images or video are being streamed to the cloud. The camera-free Echo Studio remains available at $219.99, and a separately sold stand for Echo Studio with Home Camera costs $39.99.