Amazon announces new Echo smart tech products

Step aside AirPods… Echo Buds are the new flex

Apple’s wireless earphones have become the subject of various niche memes in the last few years, coming to symbolise the ultimate ‘flex’ of tech enthusiasts the world over. Whether it’s down to the absurdly expensive entry price or that they just look so damn odd, AirPods provide plenty of meme-potential that never gets overlooked.

Amazon’s now trying its hand at the wireless earphone market with ‘Echo Buds’, a direct competitor to Apple’s clowned-on alternative. They cost only $130 at launch and are set to release at the end of October. I for one am glad these look less strange than Apple’s, and they’ll have Alexa support straight out of the box.

Echo Frames give you access to Alexa anywhere

Smart eyewear hasn’t had the best rep over the last few years thanks to those dodgy looking specs from Google that went…well, nowhere. Amazon’s bringing the concept back from the grave, however, with ‘Echo Frames’. These are noticeably more normal-looking than the dystopian, creepy Google Glass range, and don’t include a camera or display.

What they can do is tap into Alexa at any time, in case you need to promptly add an event to your calendar or call a friend. They also emit sound to your ears discreetly and can be turned off or on at any time. Starting at $179.99 and costing $249.99 after the introductory period these certainly aren’t cheap – but something tells me they’ll be popular.

While talking to your glasses will probably look a bit odd to strangers, Echo Frames seem to be a significantly more practical and fully realised product than Google’s cluttered offering from 2015. You won’t look like a rejected third member of Daft Punk which is a nice touch (below you’ll find Prince Charles sporting Google Glass to demonstrate my point).

The next Echo Dot includes an LED display

Amazon’s smart speakers have proven insanely popular in recent years, beating out the competition by a significant landslide. The next iteration of the Echo Dot is finally here to add to the success, and includes an LED display that will tell you the time, temperature, and allow you to set alarms. There’s a light sensor inside, voice controls for music playback, and Alexa integration.

Not bad for a product that looks slightly like a thicker-than-usual burger patty.

This one starts at $59.99, making it an affordable option for consumers who are yet to jump on the smart speaker hype. You can pick from four colours which include sandstone, charcoal, heather grey, and plum – basically different shades of grey and purple.

This one’s the most obvious and expected product from the hardware event, and it’ll likely be the biggest success sales wise. If wearing Alexa on your face or finger doesn’t appeal then this may be more up your street.