Amazon Announces Pre-Order For Second-Gen Echo Dot

[Julio Urquidi]

Amazon announced the pre-order status for its latest version of the Echo Dot, a smaller version of the Echo smart speaker that uses Alexa commands to automate smart home devices.

In multi-room homes, multiple Echo Dots can be spread out to better help pick up voice commands to turn on lights, set alarms, play music, etc. With its built-in array of seven microphones, the Echo Dot uses beamforming and noise cancellation technology to help improve sound detection for the Alexa wake word used to operate devices compatible with Alexa commands.

Additionally, Echo Dot has ESP - short for Echo Spatial Perception - that helps multiple Echo Dots clarify with Echo Dot is best qualified to respond to voice commands.

What makes the Echo Dot different from the original Echo is a smaller, lower fidelity internal speaker. Instead, Echo Dot owners can listen to music and sounds through external speakers that connect via Bluetooth or a 3.5mm cable.

Available in two colors, black or white, the new Echo Dot is available for $49.99 individually, or as a discounted six-pack or twelve-pack set.