Amazon prices 16-inch Echo Show at $499

Amazon priced its largest new smart display at $499.99 on Wednesday, setting the stage for a major hardware refresh that targets both audio quality and room awareness. The company unveiled six new products, with the Echo Show 16 serving as the centerpiece of the announcement.

The Echo Show 16 features a 16-inch screen housed in an anodized aluminum frame that Amazon says is nearly 40 percent thinner than the previous model. A new Nanomatte display option costs $569.99 and aims to reduce glare. The device includes micro woofers and two tweeters for improved audio performance. It also has a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera that Amazon describes as having the widest field of view in the Echo Show line.

The display runs on an upgraded Omnisense fusion platform with 20 percent more computing power. This system allows the device to detect room temperature and presence, triggering actions like adjusting the heat or turning on lights. The Echo Show 16 is available for preorder today.

The refresh extends to a new Alexa Photo Frame with a 10-inch semi-matte touchscreen. The device syncs with Amazon Photos and uses the Alexa Plus service to automatically select images based on people, dates, and sentiment. The black frame costs $199.99, while birch and walnut versions cost $229.99.

Amazon also updated the Echo Dot to include a built-in smart home hub. This removes the need for a separate hub to control devices. The speaker uses the AZ3 chip and features four microphones. It includes a full-range driver that Amazon claims produces 50 percent more bass than the last generation. A built-in Eero Wi-Fi extender is also included. The device is available in black, white, green, and pink for $99.99.

The Echo Studio now includes a camera, allowing users to livestream a room while away or ask Alexa to identify objects in front of the lens. Amazon cited holding up a board game to learn rules or showing a cereal box to order a different flavor as use cases. The Echo Studio with Home Camera costs $249.99 in black, with an optional stand for $39.99. It will soon connect with compatible Fire TVs for video calls.

The Echo Time is a smart alarm clock with a 3.2-inch circular touchscreen. It uses Omnisense technology to wake users during lighter sleep stages, 10 to 60 minutes before the set alarm time. The display brightens in the morning and dims at night. The standard model is $199.99, and the Kids Echo Time starts at $209.99.

A new Alexa Home Map feature will create an interactive 3D map of a home’s interior and exterior. Users build the map by entering an address and scanning rooms with a compatible iPhone. The map displays Echo devices, Ring and Blink cameras, Fire TVs, lights, locks, and thermostats. Amazon plans to roll out the preview on iOS later this year. It will also appear on larger Echo Show devices, the Ember Artline Fire TV, and new Alexa Tablets.