Amazon has unveiled the Echo Show 16, its latest smart display featuring a larger screen, slimmer design and a new nanomatte display option designed to reduce glare in brightly lit rooms.
The new model features a 16-inch Full HD display, offering 10% more viewing area than the Echo Show 15. Buyers can choose between a standard screen and Amazon’s nanomatte finish, which uses anti-reflective technology developed with Corning to minimise reflections without compromising colour accuracy or image detail.
It’s the same technology Amazon previously introduced with the Alexa Tablet 12 Pro, and it could make the Echo Show 16 particularly useful in kitchens and living rooms where reflections from windows and overhead lighting can be distracting.
Thinner, more premium
Beyond the screen, Amazon has given the Echo Show 16 a substantial hardware refresh. The device is nearly 40% thinner than its predecessor, with a new anodised aluminium frame and a redesigned audio system featuring eight custom micro-woofers and two tweeters. Amazon also claims a 20% increase in computing power, while a new 13MP wide-angle camera allows its Visual ID facial recognition feature to identify users from up to 17 feet away, compared with eight feet previously.
The Echo Show 16 also comes with Fire TV built in, giving users access to streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube and HBO Max. Alexa+ has received an upgrade too, with the assistant now capable of generating interactive charts, shopping comparisons and personalised information cards directly on the display rather than simply showing conversation transcripts. These Alexa+ features require an Amazon Prime membership or a separate subscription.
Elsewhere, the display can double as a digital photo frame, smart home dashboard or family organiser, with support for Amazon’s new Alexa Home Map, shared calendars, tasks and meal planning.
It won’t come cheap
The Echo Show 16 is available to pre-order, priced at $500 for the standard model and $570 for the nanomatte version. Amazon is offering a $100 pre-order discount, with shipping expected later this year. Optional stands are also available for $70, or $125 for a swivel-and-tilt version.
