28 February 2024 , 07:00
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If you thought homes couldn't get more advanced, Amazon's newest product will give users full control at the click of a button, from doorbell security to controlling music and TV. The Prime retailer has discretely launched an all-new tablet, the Echo Hub, and it could be massive for homeowners.
In a seemingly surprise launch, the new Echo Hub is now available for eager UK buyers as it launches for £169.99, cheaper than its look-alike Echo Show 15. Instead of a smart display, this brand-new device goes a step further by managing all of your swanky home gadgets.
An Alexa-enabled smart control panel for all of your smart home devices, be it a new Echo Dot, Echo Show, or Ring Doorbell, the Echo Hub displays all devices on a touchscreen panel - and of course, it's fitted with Alexa for added ease.
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Since its launch for UK shoppers last week 25% of its sales have been left with five-star reviews from users, with many showing off how helpful the tablet has been in streamlining their home. As a recent shopper explained: "So this is near my front door. It controls my smart lock, shows 4 of my ring cams at once, controls my ring alarm etc.
"It does a great job and being attached to the wall makes it look very modern. I traded in an old Echo Dot and got 25% off of this so even better." As this shopper highlighted you can cut the price down to £127.99 by trading in an older Amazon Alexa device.
Amazon launches hidden price-drop on the new Echo Hub
- Get up to 25% off the £169.99 price when you trade in an older Alexa device - GET DEAL HERE
Click the 'trade-in' button and it will pop up with a search bar, here you can search for the older device you want to hand in and see the amount you'll get knocked off the price. An Echo Show 8 for example cuts the price by £30 - making it £139.99.
The retailer will even give you money off if your old device is broken, once-traded in you'll receive an Amazon gift card with the amount to take off the shop-front price.
'This is no Echo Show'
Tech experts have also taken to social media to share their first thoughts on Amazon's surprise new device, with many testing out its panel control features for themselves. Tech reviewer and the face behind TheUnLockr David Cogr took to X to share his first thoughts of the device.
Posting to his 45,000 followers he said: "Got to test out the new Amazon Echo Hub and kinda love the idea of having this control panel that can be mounted on the wall to be able to control all of my smart devices connected to Alexa.
"It feels snappy, as well (some of my older Echo devices are starting to struggle honestly and this feels super snappy so hopefully it'll last for years). It also has a stand accessory so you don't have to wall mount it (even though to me wall mounting is a main benefit of it and probably the only reason I'd get this over another Echo screened device, personally) and it's also an IoT hub built in so can be used to replace the need for a separate hub for Zigbee, Sidewalk, Matter, Thread, and Bluetooth.
"It's simple to install and use (and it's even light enough to install using some command strips like I did if you don't want to drill the included mount to a wall), and is exactly what you'd expect from a new Echo show that you can wall mount. Nice to see Amazon expand Echo into different form factors personally."
Tech with Brett, another tech reviewer with a large following, said: "You can easily adjust all your smart home devices. It can quickly display your Ring doorbell and you can view multiple cameras at a time. You can set widgets to control devices in one room. The Routines tab can be a great way to control many devices at once."
Smaller Echo Show devices like the Echo Show 8 can also be bought from retailers including Currys, Very, and John Lewis while the retailer's newest Echo Hub is only at Amazon.... so far.
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