Earlier this year, Amazon launched the Echo Dot so that it could offer a low-cost way to get its Alexa voice assistant. Now the company may be planning a premium Echo device at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Amazon is said to be working on a new Echo speaker with a 7-inch touchscreen. That’s according to Bloomberg, who added that the speaker will be larger and support being tilted upward so that you can more easily see the display while the Echo is on a counter.
This new, premium Echo will reportedly also include better speakers for improved audio over the standard Echo.
Finally, the new Echo is expected to run Amazon’s Android-based Fire OS and include support for pinning things on the device’s screen.
Amazon is aiming to release its premium Echo in early 2017, says today’s report. There’s no word on how much the device will cost, but the regular Echo is priced at $179.99, so a premium model with a touchscreen will likely cost a bit more.
The Echo was a surprise when Amazon first launched it, but the device seems to be doing relatively well. Now Amazon appears to be filling its Echo family up with devices for every price range, and this new premium Echo would fill out the top end. With an improved speaker and a touchscreen, it sounds like Amazon would want this device to be the center of the kitchen and the family, functioning as a digital assistant that also offers a refrigerator door-like display that you can stick notes, photos, and more to.