FabianAmazon has expanded the Echo ecosystem a bit further today with the introduction of the new Echo Time. It’s essentially an upgraded Echo Spot, with a display that now spans virtually the entire front panel. The Echo Time is available in three different colors—Graphite, Coral Pink, and White—for 214.99 euros. Shipping begins immediately.
Unsurprisingly, Amazon’s new speaker comes with Alexa, of course. And naturally, it also includes the improved Alexa+, which offers you even more possibilities. But the Echo Time has much more to offer, especially thanks to its small screen.
At first glance, the Echo Time looks like a clock; it features a round 3.2-inch touchscreen and has no camera. You can personalize the information displayed and choose from hundreds of clock faces to suit any room and style—including timeless analog designs, nature-inspired backgrounds, or seasonal themes. Since this can also be done via voice command, making changes is a breeze.
Using Echo Time as a Smart Light Alarm Clock
“Echo Time offers science-backed features for falling asleep and waking up that support healthier habits from bedtime to wake-up time,” according to an Amazon press release. Among other things, the small Alexa speaker offers a smart alarm function designed to help you start your day gently.
The Echo Time doesn’t necessarily wake you up at a fixed time; instead, thanks to Alexa, it detects when you’re in a lighter sleep phase so it can wake you at the optimal moment. This wake-up time can be anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes before the set time. This is made possible by Omnisense, Amazon’s sensor fusion technology: room temperature sensors and presence detection track sleep patterns, while ultrasound detects breathing and proximity—all without the need for a wearable device.
In addition to various alarm tones, the Echo Time also features a light alarm. In the morning, the display simulates a natural sunrise and gradually gets brighter as the wake-up time approaches. In the evening, the screen switches to night mode—it dims, displays only the time or the next alarm, and reduces blue light emissions.
The Echo Time also functions as a smart home hub and supports Zigbee and Thread, among other protocols. As a Thread border router and Matter device, it’s also compatible with Philips Hue. Whether the light alarm can be extended to smart lights in the same room is still an open question—as soon as I know more, I’ll update this article immediately.
