Amazon Echo Spot goes on sale April 26 for $199

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 19 April 2018

Amazon is expanding its local range of Alexa-powered devices with the Echo Spot, a smart speaker with a screen.

The Echo Spot is kind of like an Echo Dot but with a 2.5-inch circular touchscreen and a camera. It's essentially a smart alarm clock you can talk to. Since the Echo Spot has a screen, asking Alexa a query can also bring up visual feedback. For example, weather-related responses will also show you the forecast for the coming days.

Echo Spot's screen can also be used as a display for select security cameras and baby monitors. For example, shouting out "Alexa, show me the nursery" will bring up a video feed if you've got a compatible baby monitor or camera. Echo Spot works with Arlo, Nest, and Ring cameras.

The front-facing camera is mostly there for video-calling. You can use it to call friends with Echo Spots, or anyone with the Alexa app. If you have two Echo Spots in one house, you can use them as intercom. If you find having an always internet connected camera in your house a bit creepy (which is a fair call), there's a camera off button on the device (but this stops Alexa from listening too), or you can also disable it entirely in the settings. And you can always put tape over it for good measures.

You can pre-order the Echo Spot now for $199 ahead of a April 26 release date.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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