The Echo Show 16 price is $499.99: Amazon’s five new Alexa devices compared

The Echo Show 16 price is $499.99, or $569.99 for the anti-glare nanomatte version, and you can pre-order it now. Amazon announced it on October 28 alongside four other Alexa devices, and the Echo Show 16 is the only one that isn’t shipping yet.

Here’s the quick version before we get into who should buy what.

• Echo Show 16: $499.99 ($569.99 nanomatte), pre-order now, ships “later this year.”
• Echo Dot: $99.99, Echo Studio with Home Camera: $249.99.
• Echo Time alarm clock: $199.99. Alexa Photo Frame: from $199.99.
• Everything except the Show 16 is available today.

Prices below come from Amazon’s announcement as reported by 9to5Mac and Engadget.

Echo Show 16 price and release date

The big smart display costs $499.99 for the standard screen and $569.99 for nanomatte, which Amazon says cuts glare by more than 90%. Amazon hasn’t given a firm ship date, only “later this year.” Engadget adds that stands are sold separately at $70 for the standard one and $125 for the tilt-and-swivel model.

That’s a lot of money for a kitchen screen. So what do you get for it?

What’s new on the Echo Show 16

It’s a 16-inch HD display that Amazon says is nearly 40% thinner, with about 10% more viewing area and 20% more processing power than before. It has Fire TV built in, so it doubles as a small TV for the counter.

The camera gets the biggest upgrade. Per Engadget it’s a 13MP sensor, and 9to5Mac says it adds a wider field of view, auto-framing and night vision. There’s also a new feature called Alexa Home Map for navigating your smart home.

If you want a smaller, cheaper Alexa screen instead, our breakdown of the Alexa tablets and their $229.99 starting price is a better fit.

The other four new Alexa devices

Amazon launched four more products on the same day. Here’s how they compare.

The new Echo Dot is the sleeper pick. For $99.99 you get a Zigbee, Thread and Matter hub plus a Wi-Fi extender for eero routers, and Engadget says it’s tuned for the newer Alexa+ assistant. That’s more useful than a slightly better speaker.

The Echo Time is the odd one. It senses your sleep without a wearable or camera, using what Engadget calls an ultrasonic sensor, then wakes you in a lighter phase. Whether that works reliably is something only reviews will tell us.

Which one should you actually buy?

Start with what you have. If your smart home runs on Alexa already, the Dot’s built-in hub is the easiest upgrade. If you’re building from scratch, it may help to see how rivals handle the same job, for example in our look at the Google Home speaker update for Nest Mini and Nest Audio.

The Echo Studio with Home Camera makes sense only if you want a room-filling speaker and a home camera in one. Amazon says the camera doesn’t record footage, but Engadget notes it offers live views and face recognition, so read the privacy settings before you place one in a bedroom.

I’d wait on the Echo Show 16. There’s no ship date, no reviews and a steep price. The Photo Frame is the easier gift.

What to check before you pre-order

A pre-order locks in a price but not a ship date, so a few quick checks save regret later.

• Look for the final ship date on the product page, since Amazon only says “later this year.”
• Confirm the return window and whether the price drops if Amazon discounts it.
• Decide on a stand, because the $70 or $125 price isn’t included.

That last point is easy to miss, and it can push the total well past $600 with the nanomatte screen.

You may also see headlines saying Amazon raised smart speaker prices alongside this launch. I couldn’t confirm which existing models changed, and the 9to5Mac and Engadget reports don’t spell it out, so check the current listing for any older Echo you plan to buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Echo Show 16?

It’s $499.99 for the standard screen and $569.99 for the nanomatte screen. Stands cost extra.

When does the Echo Show 16 ship?

Pre-orders are open, and Amazon says it ships later this year. It hasn’t confirmed an exact date.

Is the new Echo Dot worth $99.99?

Probably, if you want a smart home hub. It supports Zigbee, Thread and Matter and extends eero Wi-Fi, which the old Dot didn’t do.

Does the Echo Studio camera record video?

Amazon says it doesn’t record footage. It’s meant for live viewing, room mapping and face recognition.

My verdict: buy the Echo Dot if you’re in the Alexa world, skip the Echo Show 16 until reviews land, and treat the Photo Frame as a gift idea rather than a must-have. Amazon’s pricing is bold, and early adopters will pay for it. Everyone else can wait a few weeks and watch for real-world testing before spending $500.