The big screen Echo smart display gets an update as it moves beyond wall mounting to desks and counters, too.
Homes are changing and the smart home is why. Smart lights, smart TVs, smart speakers, and smart security cameras just the tip of the iceberg, with smart ovens and smart laundry machines also a part of what can be given an internet connection in your home.
All that’s left is to control everything, a crucial part of the puzzle that often relies on your phone or tablet, but it doesn’t have to be just that.
Smart displays can provide that control, something that basically amounts to a tablet of sorts on a speaker stand, often left in the kitchen or bedroom, or even the hall.
Amazon started changing how that concept would work with a larger display in 2022’s Echo Show 15, and it even has a much larger Echo Show 21 in the US, but that doesn’t appear to be on the cards for Australia right now.
However, Aussies will find a new variation of the Echo Show 15 landing now, including a Full HD 15 inch panel, WiFi 6E, support for smart home technologies including Matter and Thread, and an upgraded camera supporting 3X zoom for video calls.
The most interesting addition is something made for entertainment, with a built-in Fire TV including support for Apple TV, Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube. It’s essentially a 15 inch smart TV, but made to control the rest of the home, and can work with other Echo speakers, including the Echo Dot and Echo Studio, synchronising sound across the home.
It also now doesn’t need to be set up on a wall, though still can be. The upgraded edition can be used on a stand somewhere else, giving it just that little bit extra flexibility.
One thing worth noting is the price: at $549, the Echo Show 15 is one of Amazon’s more expensive smart speakers, and it doesn’t come with the adjustable stand, which is an optional $169.95. Both are available now.
