New Echo with Alexa+: guide to Amazon smart devices from $99

Following the launch of Alexa+ —the conversational version of Alexa based on generative AI—, Amazon has completely renewed its Echo catalog: speakers, kitchen screens and wall monitors with its own chips, environmental sensors and access to Alexa+ from the first power on. If you are looking for a compact speaker, a home cinema with Dolby Atmos or a 21″ panel for the kitchen, this is the guide with prices in dollars and direct links to each model.

What is Alexa+ and how does it work on Echoes?

Alexa+ is not a voice patch: it is the next-generation assistant that Amazon introduced in 2025 to compete with LLM-based conversational assistants. According to About Amazon, users with early access talk to Alexa more than twice as much and entrust it with more complex tasks: reservations, family calendar, shopping, Ring camera summaries or home control with natural phrases, without memorizing rigid commands.

• Fluid conversation — you change the topic without restarting the session; On screens you see the transcription and visual responses.
• Personalization — recipes, lists, entertainment and reminders tailored to each member of the household (with Visual ID in Show).
• Real actions — order food, reserve a table, reorder on Amazon/Whole Foods, manage Matter/Zigbee/Thread devices.
• Proactivity — with Omnisense, Alexa can greet you when you approach, notify you if the garage is left open at night, or suggest routines based on presence and temperature.

Alexa+ Price: Full access free with Prime membership on compatible devices, on Alexa.com and in the Alexa app. Without Prime, the Alexa+ Standard plan costs $19.99 per month. Requires Amazon account inUS. USAand devices in American English; It is not available on business accounts. Every new Echo includes early access to Alexa+ when you set it up.

Silicon and sensors: why these Echos matter

The 2025 models have two chips designed by Amazon:

• AZ3 (Echo Dot Max) — improves conversation detection, filters out background noise, and increases wake word reliability by over 50%.
• AZ3 Pro (Studio, Show 8, Show 11, Show 15, Show 21) — adds support for language models and vision transformers to the device.

Above is Omnisense: fusion of 13 MP camera, audio, ultrasound, Wi-Fi radar, accelerometer and Wi-Fi CSI signals. In speakers like Dot Max and Studio there is also a temperature, light and presence detection sensor to activate routines without saying "Alexa". Shows recognize who is approaching and adapt widgets, brightness and greetings.

Speakers: Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio

Echo Dot Max — $99.99

The first Dot «Max» is the speaker that Amazon positions as an entry to Alexa+ with serious sound: two-way system (2.5″ woofer + 0.8″ tweeter), almost triple the bass than the Echo Dot (5th gen.) and automatic acoustic adaptation. Includes Zigbee + Matter + Thread hub, eero Built-in (up to 1,000 ft² of extra coverage with compatible eero router) and up to five units pairable with Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV Cube for home theater. See on Amazon.

Echo Studio — $219.99

The Renewed Studio is 40% smaller than the 2019 original but maintains power: 3.75″ woofer, three full-range drivers, Amazon spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, room adaptation and ring light with visual model. Same Omnisense sensors, smart hub and eero Built-in as the Dot Max. Ideal for rooms where sound matters as much as voice. See on Amazon.

Table screens: Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11

They are Amazon's main bet to live Alexa+ with a screen: thinner design, base with 3D fabric and screens with in-cell technology and negative liquid crystal for a better viewing angle. Both have AZ3 Pro, a centered 13 MP camera with self-framing and 3.3× zoom, front speakers and a custom woofer with spatial audio (up to twice as much bass as the Show 8 from 2023, according to Amazon).

• Echo Show 8 — 8.7″ HD screen (15% more usable area than previous generation). $179.99. Prime Video and Netflix in app; rest via browser. Amazon File.
• Echo Show 11 — first 11″ Full HD screen; 60% more area than Show 8 (2025). Same camera and chip; best for recipes, calendars and video calls. $219.99. Amazon File.

In both, the Alexa+ home screen groups together smart home widgets, color calendars by family, lists, entertainment, Amazon shopping, and (optional) health data from partners like Oura. About Amazon details features that will continue to arrive via update: custom recipes, task widget, and custom Ring alerts.

Wall screens: Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21

For the kitchen or hallway, Amazon maintains two wall formats with complete Fire TV (thousands of apps, Alexa remote included) and family organization widgets:

• Echo Show 15 (2nd gen.) — 15.6″ Full HD, sound with two 2″ woofers and two 0.6″ tweeters, 13 MP camera, Wi-Fi 6E, Zigbee/Thread/Matter hub, wall mount included. $299.99 (refurbished offers from ~$255). See on Amazon.
• Echo Show 21 — the largest panel: 21″ Full HD, same audio and camera architecture as the 15, horizontal or vertical orientation (Alexa+ not available in portrait mode). $399.99. See on Amazon.

Both enable Active Media: moving music between rooms on the fly, Amazon Photos photo frame and unified smart home dashboard. If you already had a 1st gen Show 15. on the wall, the bracket works for the 2nd gen. and Show 21.

Quick table: which Echo is best for you?

Model	Price	Ideal for	Alexa+
Echo Dot Max	$99.99	Bedroom, small kitchen, eero extender	Yes
Echo Studio	$219.99	Living room, Atmos music, cinema with Fire TV	Yes
Echo Show 8	$179.99	Countertop, video calls, recipes	Yes
Echo Show 11	$219.99	Large kitchen, family calendar	Yes
Echo Show 15	$299.99	Wall, TV streaming, central hub	Yes
Echo Show 21	$399.99	Maximum wall panel, main Fire TV	Yes (not in portrait)

Note: List prices on Amazon.com as of July 2026; Taxes, shipping and Prime promotions may vary. Check out the official Echo & Alexa for bundles and accessories (stands, long cables, frames).

Privacy and limitations that you should know

• All include a button to turn off microphones (and camera in the Show); physical shutter on screens.
• Alexa+ and many skills require Prime or a separate subscription; Ring, Netflix, etc. They may cost extra.
• Feature availability varies by region; This article focuses on the US market.
• Amazon announced the Alexa+ Store to discover integrations (Uber, TaskRabbit, Grubhub, etc.) and expand the ecosystem beyond its own hardware.

In practice, The Verge summarizes the change: there is finally hardware on par with Alexa+, with fast screens and speakers that don't look like prototypes. If you already have a 2023 Echo Show 8, the audio upgrade and AZ3 Pro chip are the jump; If it's your first device, the Show 8 balances price and screen, and the Dot Max is the cheapest gateway to Alexa+ with decent sound.