Amazon is reportedly lining up a new Echo Dot speaker with a revamped design, judging by newly-leaked photos.
Images posted online show a mini, circular speaker that’s more akin to the Amazon Echo 2, with speaker fabric surrounding the sides of the device. Overall, the images show a more rounded device, with the familiar button array on top.
It appears from the speaker fabric that the next-gen Dot would offer a sound boost compared to its predecessor, which funnelled the sound out of the top of the device through a circular speaker grille. In fact, pictures posted by FrAndroid and Numerama, show a device that’s a little more akin to the Google Home mini than the original Echo Dot. The design certainly looks like a step up from the current model.
Image credit: FrAndroid and Numerama
If the leak proves to be genuine, it’d be the first Echo Dot refresh since the September 2016, so the time is right. Given September is just around the corner, and has often been a fruitful month for new Amazon product launches, the next-gen Echo Dot could be right around the corner.
Related: Which Echo speaker to buy
The Echo Dot is the most affordable in the range, with Amazon marketing the device as a multi-room solution for those seeking Alexa access without the need for great audio quality.
In our review, Ced Yeun wrote: “The Amazon Echo Echo Dot is simply a better device than the standard Amazon Echo. It does everything its big brother does, but offers greater versatility and it costs half of the price. If you’re after a voice assistant to take control of your home, or even if you’re just curious to take a peek at the future of home automation, this is a no-brainer.”
It’s likely Amazon would want this gadget, and perhaps others, in place by the time the Black Friday sales events kick off. Amazon continually offers major discounts on its own products during this time.
Is the time right for a new Echo Dot? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
