GOOGLE Home and the Amazon Echo have fiercely tussled for smart speaker dominance since the former released back in 2016. While product line...
GOOGLE Home and the Amazon Echo have fiercely tussled for smart speaker dominance since the former released back in 2016. While product lines are incredibly capable, it seems one could be braced for a major change.
Since its initial release, Amazon has bolstered its speaker lineup by releasing new models of the Echo that are each appealing for their nuances.
The American tech giant currently sells seven products in its Echo range - three are smart speakers while another trio boast similar functionality but also come with a screen that can display contextual information.
Finally, Amazon also sells the Echo Input that brings its popular voice assistant, Alexa, to traditional speakers.
In recent years the tech firm has attempted to improve the Echo’s sound quality - it released the Echo Plus that was specifically engineered to pack more of an audio punch.
Moreover, last year Amazon also unwrapped what it dubs the Echo Sub that is designed to boost the sound quality of other Echo speakers, too.
However, both Google and Apple have also released smart speakers that each claim to deliver incredible audio while also delivering connected home functionality.
But it seems Amazon could be about to fight back with a new “higher quality version” of its Echo range geared towards laudable sound, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The outlet, citing “people familiar with the product” declared prototypes of the new hardware are wider than the firm’s current Echo.
It was noted this design decision had been made to “squeeze in additional components” that were noted to include “at least four tweeters”.
For reference, Amazon’s most premium Echo speaker, the Echo Plus, sports a single 0.8-inch tweeter and a 3-inch woofer.
While Bloomberg was eager to discuss details of the claimed new Echo, the outlet admitted it is still possible Amazon could decide to scrap the release of the new product.
An Amazon spokeswoman did not comment on Bloomberg’s report.
In addition to the new Echo, the publication also insisted the firm is working on a “home robot” that boasts Alexa functionality.
