Our first look at Amazon’s big new Echo Show 16

Amazon unveiled its latest Echo Show smart display, the Echo Show 16, at a media event in New York City. Priced at $499.99 with wall mount included, it is now available for pre-order, with a Nanomatte display option available for $569.99. Pre-order customers receive a $100 discount.

The Echo Show 16 boasts a sleek design and introduces a new software experience, offering better smart home controls and an enhanced calendar interface. It also includes customizable homescreens, dubbed Screen Styles, with options such as a family organizer, smart home dashboard, Alexa widgets, and a digital photo frame. Unlike previous Echo Shows, these homescreens can remain on continuously or appear when approached.

The device is described as a versatile family hub, ideal for users who have been requesting such functionality from Alexa. With its slim bezels and tablet-like appearance, the Echo Show 16 resembles a miniature iMac when mounted on one of two optional stands. Its full HD screen, while responsive and clear, lacks some depth in sound, though it matches the performance of the Echo Show 11. The display also supports night vision capabilities through its new 13MP wide-angle camera with infrared.

The software experience is described as a central hub for the family, providing quick access to calendars, meal plans, family photos, and smart home device controls. The device runs the Fire TV interface and includes a redesigned Alexa remote. Additionally, Alexa Recommendations offers a rotating screen of content, including weather, news, photos, and ads.

Despite the impressive hardware and software updates, experts question whether the double price of the Echo Show 16 justifies its cost compared to similar products like Apple’s HomeView smart display.