TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Amazon has updated two Echo speakers with added smart-home functions: the $249.99 Echo Studio with Home Camera offers live in-home viewing, and the $99.99 Echo Dot adds a smart home hub and an Eero Wi-Fi extender. The extender works with an existing Eero network, and Amazon has not provided all details about camera privacy controls or device compatibility in the supplied report.
Amazon has added new smart-home capabilities to two Echo speakers: the $249.99 Echo Studio with Home Camera can provide a live view inside the home, while the $99.99 Echo Dot includes a smart home hub and an Eero Wi-Fi extender. The changes expand what the speakers can do beyond audio and voice commands, with the Dot’s network extension requiring an existing Eero network.
The new Studio configuration adds a camera for live in-home monitoring, which CNET describes as suitable for checking on family members or pets. Amazon is also marketing the camera as a way to give Alexa visual capabilities. The company says Alexa can identify objects shown to the camera and respond to questions—for example, explaining the rules of a board game or recognizing a cereal box to help reorder it. Those functions are Amazon’s stated capabilities; the report does not detail how each will work in practice.
The camera-equipped speaker retains the Studio’s audio features, including a high-excursion woofer, three full-range drivers and Dolby Atmos. Amazon also lists Advanced Room Adaptation, which adjusts sound for a room’s acoustics, and Adaptive Volume, which changes playback volume based on the listener’s distance from the speaker. Buyers can still purchase an Echo Studio without a camera, according to CNET. The version with Home Camera is listed in Graphite; an optional stand costs $39.99.
The updated Echo Dot adds a built-in smart home hub to connect and control compatible devices such as thermostats, lights and locks, without a separate hub. It also contains an Eero Wi-Fi extender that Amazon says can add coverage of up to 1,000 square feet to an existing Eero network. The Dot runs on Amazon’s AZ3 silicon, which the company says supports faster, more natural Alexa Plus conversations through on-device processing. The report lists the Dot in four colors, with an Amazon Kids version in Octopus and Penguin designs starting at $109.99.
More Home Functions in Each Speaker
The upgrades put monitoring, connectivity and device control into products many households already use for music and voice assistance. For buyers, that could mean fewer separate devices: the Dot may serve as a basic hub and extend an eligible home network, while the Studio can combine listening with camera-based monitoring. The benefits depend on a household’s existing equipment, compatible smart-home devices and willingness to place a camera in a shared living space.
The additions also bring practical trade-offs. A camera-equipped speaker raises questions about privacy, access and recording controls, while the Dot’s extender is limited to an existing Eero network rather than being a standalone Wi-Fi solution. Amazon’s announcement, as summarized by CNET, presents the products’ functions and prices but does not establish how well they will perform in different homes or whether every advertised Alexa feature will be available immediately.
Products Worth Considering
Ring Alarm 8-Piece Kit (2nd Gen) Home Security System
Samsung 85-Inch QN70H Neo QLED 4K Smart TV (2026)
TCL T7 Series 85-Inch 4K 144Hz QLED Smart Google TV
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Amazon’s Expanded Echo Lineup
The two speaker updates were part of a broader set of Amazon smart-home announcements this week, according to CNET’s coverage of the company’s launch event. The slate also included a revamped Echo Show, Amazon’s first smart photo frame and an alarm clock that the report says can detect deep sleep and automatically snooze. The supplied material does not give further specifications or availability details for those products.
The Echo Dot and Echo Studio occupy different positions in Amazon’s speaker range: the Dot is the smaller, lower-priced device, while the Studio is positioned as a premium speaker with richer sound. The new features extend those roles rather than replacing them. Amazon will continue selling a Studio without a camera, and the Dot’s Wi-Fi extension is described as working with an existing Eero network.
“Alexa “gains visual intelligence to make everyday experiences more personal and helpful.””
— Amazon, as quoted in CNET’s report
Privacy and Compatibility Details
The supplied report does not specify the Echo Studio camera’s privacy controls, recording options, storage practices or whether footage is saved by default. It also does not clarify which users can access a live view, how the camera is disabled, or whether visual Alexa functions require particular settings or subscriptions.
For the Dot, Amazon’s stated coverage figure of up to 1,000 square feet is tied to an existing Eero network, but the report does not explain how actual range varies by home layout, network configuration or Eero equipment. It also does not list the full set of compatible smart-home devices or provide product availability dates. These details remain unconfirmed in the material provided.
Availability and Product Details
Amazon has announced prices and selected configurations, but the supplied CNET report does not state when the new speakers will ship or become available to order. Buyers will need further product information from Amazon to confirm release timing, camera settings and device compatibility before making a purchase. The camera-free Echo Studio remains an option, while the Echo Dot’s advertised extender is aimed at homes already using Eero.
As the products reach customers, the practical questions will be whether the camera’s visual features work as described, how easily users can control access to live video, and how much coverage the Dot adds in real homes. The report does not provide independent testing results for those features.
Key Questions
Which new Echo speaker has a camera?
The Echo Studio with Home Camera includes a camera for live in-home monitoring. CNET reports that Amazon will also continue to sell an Echo Studio without a camera.
Does the new Echo Dot extend any Wi-Fi network?
The Dot’s built-in Eero Wi-Fi extender is described as extending an existing Eero network, with coverage of up to 1,000 square feet. The supplied report does not say it works as an extender for other router systems.
How much do the updated speakers cost?
The Echo Studio with Home Camera is listed at $249.99. The Echo Dot is listed at $99.99, and Amazon Kids Echo Dot versions start at $109.99. An optional Studio stand costs $39.99.
What smart-home devices can the Echo Dot hub control?
Amazon says the hub can connect and control compatible devices including thermostats, lights and locks. The supplied report does not provide a complete compatibility list.
When will the new Echo speakers be available?
The supplied report gives prices and colors but does not state a shipping or on-sale date. Availability timing remains unclear from the information provided.
Source: cnet.com
