STACK #253 November 2025

TECH FEATURE

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Smart home devices have levelled up again, and Amazon is leading the charge.The brand’s new range of Echo smart speakers and displays bring better sound, sharper visuals, and smarter AI that makes Alexa feel more aware and intuitive than ever. Here’s what’s new and why it matters. Words Bec Summer What’s new in SMART HOME TECH

Smarter Alexa with

Omnisense AI Alexa’s big upgrade isn’t just about what she says – it’s about what she notices. Amazon’s new Omnisense AI gives Alexa a better sense of what’s happening around your home by combining data from Echo devices, cameras, and motion sensors. Omnisense can tell whether someone’s in the room, sense unusual activity, and distinguish between normal household sounds and potential alerts like glass breaking or an alarm. This means Alexa can respond in more natural, helpful ways, such as dimming the lights when you start a movie, alerting you if a door has been left open, and recognising different user voices to tailor more personalised responses. The result is a more proactive Alexa that doesn’t just wait for commands but helps anticipate your needs.

Upgraded Echo displays The new Amazon Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 are designed to look as good as they perform. Their modern, minimalist style is paired with custom-built displays that use in cell touch technology and a new negative liquid crystal design. That means clearer, brighter visuals that look great in any light. By reducing extra display layers, Amazon has improved viewing angles and overall picture clarity for a better experience when streaming your favourite shows or making video calls.

Both models boast over a million pixels, so details look crisp and lifelike. A 13MP camera ensures your video chats stay sharp, even if the lighting isn’t perfect. And with adaptive visuals that adjust to the room, these smart displays can blend seamlessly into your space while delivering top-tier performance.

RICHER, ROOM-FILLING AUDIO

the Echo Dot (5th gen) and uses a two-way system with a high-excursion woofer and

another notch, the new Echo Studio delivers what Amazon calls its best sound yet. It’s 40% smaller

Sound is where Amazon’s latest Echo devices really shine. The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 include front-facing stereo

directs sound forward, so you hear music, podcasts, or video audio with greater depth and clarity. Then there's

custom tweeter for impressive power in a compact body. The speaker housing has even been redesigned to double the internal air space, creating fuller bass without increasing the size. If you want to take things up

than the original but still packs in a powerful woofer and three strategically placed full-range drivers. And with Dolby Atmos and spatial audio support, you get immersive, cinematic audio that can fill every corner of a room.

speakers and a custom woofer for surprisingly full and balanced sound. New acoustic design

the Echo Dot Max, Amazon’s first dual speaker Dot, which delivers nearly three times the bass of

Echo home theatre applications

Want to bring cinematic sound to your movie nights without the cost of a soundbar or dedicated surround speakers? Amazon’s new Echo speakers offer an affordable and easy alternative. You can now pair multiple Amazon Echo Studio or Echo Dot Max speakers with a compatible Fire TV Stick to create an instant home theatre system. Alexa can automatically fine-tune everything to suit your room – no complicated setup required.

NOVEMBER 2025

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• For more on Amazon’s new Echo range, see page 12