TL;DR
Get decor and gifts delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Amazon announced the Echo Show 16, a 16-inch Alexa smart display priced at $499.99, with preorders open and a release planned for later this year. A hands-on report found responsive hardware and a redesigned interface, but the price is high and several features, including microphone performance, were not tested.
Amazon has announced the Echo Show 16, a $499.99 Alexa smart display built around customizable home screens for household calendars, meal planning, photos and smart home controls. The company opened preorders with a release planned for later this year; a hands-on report by The Verge describes the device’s hardware and software, while leaving some performance questions unanswered.
The standard model costs $499.99, with a wall mount included. Amazon is also offering a version with an anti-glare Nanomatte display for $569.99, and the report says a $100 preorder discount is available ahead of release. The display has a full HD screen, slimmer bezels than the Echo Show 15 and 21, and a MediaTek processor rather than Amazon’s AZ3 chip. Two optional stands are available, according to the report.
The central software feature is Screen Styles, a set of customizable home screens for a family organizer, smart home dashboard, Alexa widgets or digital photo frame. Users can keep a selected screen visible or have it appear when they approach. The interface is intended to make information and controls easier to reach without relying on voice commands alone.
The device also includes the Fire TV interface, a redesigned Alexa remote, a new Cooking Library that supports recipes from Alexa’s database as well as emailed or uploaded recipes, and a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera with infrared for night vision, according to the supplied report. The hands-on account found the screen bright and responsive and the speakers clear and loud, though the sound lacked some depth. The reviewer did not test whether the four microphones improve Alexa’s ability to hear commands.
A Larger Screen for Household Control
The Show 16 marks a push to make an Alexa display a more persistent shared household hub, rather than a voice assistant with a screen used mainly for extra visual information. Its calendar, meal-planning, photo and smart home panels are designed to put everyday tasks on one visible surface. That approach could be useful in a kitchen or shared living space, where family members may want to check schedules or control devices at a glance.
The price will shape how far that pitch reaches. At $499.99, it costs twice as much as the $250 Echo Show 11 cited in the report, and $200 more than Apple’s new HomeView smart display. The Verge reviewer described the Show 16 as potentially versatile but questioned whether the cost is too high, even for committed Alexa users. The product’s appeal will depend on whether buyers value its size and household features enough to pay the premium.
Amazon’s advertising choices also matter for how the screen works in daily use. Alexa Recommendations can display weather, news, photos and other content, as well as ads. Amazon told The Verge that ads, including full-screen ads, will appear only in that recommendations mode, and that users can turn the mode off. The report says users can instead choose a photo frame or keep their selected home screen accessible.
Popular right now
Sony BRAVIA 5 85-Inch Mini LED 4K HDR Smart TV (K-85XR50)
Dyson Cyclone V10 Origin Cordless Vacuum
Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew, Black, CM371
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Voice Assistant to Family Display
Echo Show devices have gradually gained more functions, but the report characterizes their screens as historically secondary to voice interactions. The Show 16’s customizable screens represent a more direct attempt to make the display itself useful as a household interface. It brings together functions that are often spread across calendars, recipe apps, photo frames and smart home controls.
The hardware has similarities to Amazon’s new Alexa Tablet Pro 12, including the optional Nanomatte finish and some shared development work. Amazon devices and services chief Panos Panay told The Verge, “A lot of the same work went into this as the tablet.” The Show 16 uses a MediaTek processor, according to the report, and is thinner than the Echo Show 15 or 21. Its large size may suit wall mounting better than a crowded countertop, though the reviewer said it could feel too big for some kitchen counters.
Amazon has not positioned the Show 16 as only a display for schedules and controls: it also runs Fire TV and can act as a photo frame. Its design therefore spans several roles, but the report’s first look is based on time with a pre-release device at a media event in New York, not a full review of long-term use.
“Will continue to offer the broad variety of content, just as it does now.”
— Aidan Marcuss, incoming vice president of Alexa and Echo, speaking to The Verge
Questions Before the Full Review
The hands-on report does not establish how the four microphones perform in a busy room or whether Alexa hears commands better than on earlier models. It also does not provide a full assessment of battery life, software reliability, long-term responsiveness or how well the new interface works across different household setups.
Amazon’s announcement sets the price and preorder availability, but the supplied material gives no exact release date beyond later this year. The report also does not specify the prices of the two optional stands or explain all regional availability details. While Amazon said full-screen ads are limited to Alexa Recommendations and that the mode can be disabled, the report does not detail every ad format or how recommendations behave across all settings.
The reviewer’s comments on screen quality and sound reflect an initial hands-on session, not independent testing over time. The Show 16’s value compared with less expensive Echo displays and competing products remains a matter for buyers to weigh, not an established performance finding.
Preorders Ahead of Release
Amazon has opened preorders for the $499.99 standard model and the $569.99 Nanomatte version, with a $100 preorder discount reported ahead of release. The company says the device will ship later this year, but has not provided a specific date in the supplied material.
A fuller review should test the microphones, smart home controls, calendar and meal-planning functions in daily use, along with the screen’s visibility and sound in different rooms. That testing can help clarify whether the Show 16’s added size and interface justify its price compared with smaller Echo displays and other smart screens.
Key Questions
How much does the Amazon Echo Show 16 cost?
The standard Echo Show 16 costs $499.99, with a wall mount included. A version with a Nanomatte anti-glare display costs $569.99. The supplied report also cites a $100 preorder discount ahead of release.
What is new about the Echo Show 16?
Its main new feature is Screen Styles, which lets users choose a family organizer, smart home dashboard, Alexa widgets screen or digital photo frame. The device also has a redesigned interface, a new Cooking Library and a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera with infrared night vision, according to the report.
When will the Echo Show 16 be released?
Amazon has opened preorders and says the Echo Show 16 will be released later this year. The supplied information does not give a specific shipping date.
Can users turn off ads on the Echo Show 16?
Amazon told The Verge that ads, including full-screen ads, can appear in Alexa Recommendations and will not appear on other home screens. The company said users can turn off Alexa Recommendations, though the supplied report does not detail every available ad setting.
Has the Echo Show 16 been fully tested?
No. The report is a hands-on look after a media event, not a full review. The reviewer did not test whether the four microphones improve voice pickup, and long-term software performance and day-to-day usability remain unassessed.
Source: theverge.com
