Amazon launches Echo Show 16 with Fire TV built in and a 16-inch display
Amazon has introduced the Echo Show 16, a redesigned smart display with a 16-inch full high-definition screen, the full Fire TV experience and the latest version of Alexa+. According to Amazon, it is the most powerful and versatile Echo Show so far, and it is available for pre-order starting at $499.99.
- Amazon's Echo Show 16 has a 16-inch full HD display, with 10% more viewing area than the Echo Show 15.
- It includes the full Fire TV experience and a remote in the box, plus the latest version of Alexa+.
- A new 13-megapixel wide-angle camera extends Visual ID range from 8 to up to 17 feet and adds night vision.
- Standard display costs $499.99 and Nanomatte costs $569.99, with $100 off for pre-orders; shipping begins later this year.
- Certain features require Alexa+, which is included with a Prime membership.
A larger screen, thinner frame and new audio
The Echo Show 16 replaces the 15-inch model's approach with a larger panel. Amazon says the 16-inch display offers 10% more viewing area than the Echo Show 15 and colors twice as vibrant. It sits in an anodized aluminum frame that the company describes as nearly 40% thinner.
The audio system is new as well. Amazon says it uses eight custom micro woofers and two tweeters, aimed at keeping video calls and TV shows clear even in a busy kitchen. Advanced Room Adaptation continuously adjusts playback to the surroundings, whether the device is mounted on a wall or placed on a counter using one of two custom stand accessories.
Buyers can choose between a standard display and a Nanomatte version. The Nanomatte option uses the anti-glare technology found in Amazon Alexa Tablet 12 Pro. According to Amazon, it etches a pixel-aligned texture into the glass, resulting in more than 90% less glare and 50% less sparkle.
The device has 20% more computing power than before, according to the company. Its Omnisense sensor fusion combines room temperature sensors and improved presence detection, so Alexa can, for example, turn up the thermostat when a room is too cold or switch on lights when someone enters.
Camera, Fire TV and customizable Screen Styles
The camera is a new wide-angle 13-megapixel unit with the widest field of view Amazon has offered on an Echo Show. Visual ID range has more than doubled, from 8 to up to 17 feet. For the first time on an Echo Show, there is night vision, which can be used to check in on the home through Live View in the Alexa app. Auto-framing keeps everyone in view during video calls as people move around.
The Echo Show 16 includes the full Fire TV experience, with a remote control in the box. Amazon lists streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, Tubi and Pluto. Users can browse subscriptions in one place or ask Alexa+ for recommendations, pull up stats from a game, add something to a watchlist, or move what is playing to a different TV.
Three new Screen Styles change what the home screen does:
- Smart Home: an always-on dashboard for connected devices, including lights, thermostats and music, plus the new Alexa Home Map.
- Family Organizer: a hub with color-coded schedules, tasks, meal plans and the Cooking Library.
- Photos: a full-screen digital photo frame, with photos chosen by the user or surfaced by Alexa.
A customizable favorites bar on the side of the home screen lets users pin the services and capabilities they use most.
The latest Alexa+ and a Card-based interface
Like every device in Amazon's new lineup, the Echo Show 16 ships with the latest version of Alexa+. Amazon says Alexa can now hold more natural conversations, reason more deeply, ask clarifying questions and coordinate across more sources to handle complex, multi-step requests.
On the display, conversations use a new design language. Instead of showing a transcript, Alexa composes interactive content in real time, with visuals, videos, calendar events and possible actions. Amazon gives the example of shopping for a rain jacket, where Alexa might produce a comparison chart, a list of considerations and links to the products.
Conversations are organized into Cards, which can be browsed in a Card Gallery by topic or pinned. Alexa can also create a Card proactively, for instance when a user is planning a day trip, keeping links, reservations and details together. Cards are also available in the Alexa app and on Alexa.com.
On privacy, Amazon says the device has a button to disable the microphones and camera and a visual indicator showing when Alexa is engaged. Interactions can be reviewed through the Alexa Privacy dashboard.
Pricing, availability and what it means
Echo Show 16 is available for pre-order starting today and will begin shipping later this year. The standard display costs $499.99 and the Nanomatte display costs $569.99. Customers who pre-order get $100 off. A compatible stand costs $69.99, and a swivel-and-tilt stand costs $124.99. Certain features require Alexa+, which Amazon says is included with a Prime membership.
Amazon says Echo Show has been its fastest-growing Echo product line, growing more than 25% year over year, and argues that the screen matters more as Alexa becomes more capable. The Echo Show 16 reflects that view: it combines a TV-style Fire TV interface, a home control panel and a family organizer in one device, with Alexa+ at the center. For buyers, the higher price compared with smaller smart displays comes with a larger screen, a remote and an optional anti-glare finish, while some of the headline AI features depend on Alexa+ access.
