{"id":667823,"date":"2026-10-28T13:24:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T13:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/667823\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T13:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T13:24:13","slug":"amazons-new-echo-lineup-goes-in-the-opposite-direction-of-apple-homeview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/667823\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon\u2019s New Echo Lineup Goes in the Opposite Direction of Apple HomeView"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple made a big splash early this October<\/a> with its massive smart home announcement, including new Siri AI<\/a> features, the company\u2019s first smart display called HomeView<\/a> and the long-awaited smart speaker<\/a>, the HomePod Mini 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now Amazon\u2019s here with its new Echo lineup, and we\u2019re all comparing these smart speakers and smart displays<\/a> with what Apple is offering. What\u2019s interesting is that Amazon is taking a completely different path with its new home devices \u2014 especially the latest Echo Show, which is currently available for preorder<\/a>. Here\u2019s what that means and why it matters for potential buyers this holiday season.<\/p>\n

Amazon\u2019s Echo Show 16 is everything the HomeView is not<\/p>\n

\"AmazonThe Echo Show 16 is different from the HomeView in nearly every way. Amazon<\/p>\n

Apple\u2019s first smart display relies heavily on Siri AI and audio features as a selling point, with a design a bit like the Echo Show 11<\/a>. During Apple\u2019s announcement, I noted this created dissonance since the 7-inch screen is too small to easily watch the latest Apple TV shows, or much else, even if the audio is excellent. That\u2019s one reason companies like Amazon have been making Echo Show devices bigger and bigger.<\/p>\n

Read more: How Does Apple\u2019s HomeView Smart Display Look Against the Competition?<\/a><\/p>\n

Now with the Echo Show 16, Amazon is embracing the idea of a second TV device for the kitchen or hallway more fully than ever. This new Show ditches the big speaker for a series of small woofers and tweeters (and a stand design perhaps pointedly reminiscent of Mac computers).<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll have to listen to the result in person, but it looks like Amazon is backing away from the 360-degree, room-filling sound for something that acts more like a traditional TV, while still including the touchscreen, camera and mic of past smart displays. It supports wall mounting if you\u2019d rather not use a stand.<\/p>\n

The Echo Show 16 backs up its new size and design with a built-in Fire TV platform, something previously limited to only larger, wall-mount-only Echo Shows. Fire TV not only makes it easier to access Amazon Prime content, but also handles third-party apps and more complex controls better.<\/p>\n

\"EchoYou can spring for an upgraded display on the Echo Show 16, but it will cost even more.Amazon<\/p>\n

Those deeply invested in catching up on shows or sports can upgrade to an enhanced Nanomatte display designed to cut glare and improve color accuracy. While Apple is a bit coy about which third-party apps will be supported alongside Apple TV, Amazon says the Echo Show will support Netflix, Disney Plus, YouTube, HBO Max\/Peacock, Tubi and Pluto, which should reassure streaming fans.<\/p>\n

The drawback to all this new tech is the price, something Apple HomeView fans will know well. While the small-screened HomeView starts at $299, Amazon\u2019s Echo Show 16 starts at $499.99, and the Nanomatte display bumps the price up to $569.99. Plus, you\u2019ll want a compatible stand, which starts at $69.99 but can go up to $150, so you can see how prices quickly rise.<\/p>\n

That high price is a tough sell for anyone who already has a smart display or is leaning toward the HomeView, but people looking for a second Fire TV screen may find it more palatable. I want to test them both out before I make an ultimate recommendation.<\/p>\n

Amazon adds an Echo camera to compete with the HomePod Mini 2<\/p>\n

\"AmazonAmazon\u2019s added a camera to its studio speaker, although I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s a good idea.Amazon<\/p>\n

The Echo Show 16 wasn\u2019t the only Amazon device aimed at Apple\u2019s latest releases. The company also announced a new Echo Studio model, starting at $249.99<\/a> and comparable to Apple\u2019s HomePod Mini 2 \u2014 with one big difference. This latest Studio comes with a built-in, nearly invisible home camera.<\/p>\n

Amazon says the camera is meant to gather visual intelligence for Alexa, which rings privacy warning bells to me, but the camera could let the voice assistant answer questions about what\u2019s happening in the room when users are away or offer live views, sort of like a mini security camera<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not convinced this camera add-on is worth it, but it does help Amazon differentiate the Studio from the $149 HomePod Mini 2, which might otherwise seem similar to the casual buyer.<\/p>\n

Amazon also announced a noncamera Echo Dot, more affordable at $99.99, upgraded with an AZ3 custom-designed silicon chip for faster Alexa responses, and a kid\u2019s version of the same model.<\/p>\n

And while Apple may have showed how the iPhone Duo<\/a> could be used as an impromptu alarm clock, Amazon showed up with its own dedicated smart clock, the aptly named Echo Time, a round, dial-like smart display meant to serve as a nightstand clock with the addition of Alexa Plus. It includes unique smart alarm features to help manage waking up in a slower fashion. But again, Amazon is setting prices very high at $199.99 for the clock<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Alexa Plus is ready to duel with Siri AI<\/p>\n

\"EchoAlexa Plus has new tricks to go along with the new display.Amazon<\/p>\n

I\u2019d be remiss not to talk about Alexa Plus and how the AI voice assistant is now going head-to-head with Apple\u2019s Siri AI. Both add new capabilities to the new smart displays. Siri AI gets home control functions and an easier way to display information pulled from emails, text messages and other iPhone sources.<\/p>\n

Alexa Plus, meanwhile<\/a>, will have a new interface on the Echo Show 16, which ditches the old transcription visual (which I kind of liked) and replaces it with an interactive display that can pull up visuals, videos, events and more as you talk with Alexa. Each conversation gets its own Card icon, so you can revisit and pick up past conversations as needed. Alexa also has a new Home Map mode which acts like a living layout of all your smart devices, letting you control what\u2018\u2019\u2019s on or off, room by room.<\/p>\n

I already like Alexa Plus a bit more than Siri AI, even if the voice assistant gets a little too talkative, and now I\u2019ll have new experiences to test out. Of course, cost is yet again a factor here: Apple notes that more advanced Siri AI features do require iCloud Plus subscriptions, although it\u2019s still light on details. Alexa Plus, meanwhile, is free with an Amazon Prime subscription, but otherwise, it costs a steep $20 per month for most features.<\/p>\n

Final thoughts<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Apple is treading carefully with its first-ever smart display, but that tiny screen is a tough sell for me. Amazon, meanwhile, is betting big that people want a second TV experience in their display and are willing to pay for it. Both AI voice assistants are showing up with new tricks I can\u2019t wait to try.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Amazon is trying out new avenues in the smart home, like giving its flagship smart speaker a built-in camera \u2014 which I\u2019m dubious about \u2014 and releasing targeted screens for alarms, picture frames and more. It\u2019s all very expensive, which gives Apple a surprise advantage for the holidays, but Amazon\u2019s vision is strikingly different, so I\u2019m not sure they\u2019re after the same audience.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Tyler\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTyler Lacoma\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSenior Editor \/ Home Security and Smart Home\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks and top recommendations.
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\nWith degrees in business management, literature and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation.
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\nLiving in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading or gaming with good friends.
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSee full bio\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Apple made a big splash early this October with its massive smart home announcement, including new Siri AI…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":667824,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[61,60,80],"class_list":["post-667823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667823","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=667823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/667824"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=667823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=667823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=667823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}