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This year’s Amazon 2021 event has plenty of surprises in store. There was a smart home robot called Astro that combines huge chunks of Amazon’s tech portfolio into a single companion device – smart screens, video cameras, etc. – as well as an Amazon Glow toy for games broadcast via a projector on the floor in front of him. .
We also saw more information on a Ring camera drone, a new security system and Wi-Fi 6 router in the Ring Alarm Pro, a Blink video doorbell, a Halo View fitness tracker with a built-in display, and Moreover.
But for every big surprise announcement, there was also a notable absence.
Although Amazon built its technological reputation on the Amazon Echo line of speakers, there were no further iterations to be had. Whereas previous years have seen re-imaginations of the Echo (with the kind of shiny orb that befits a Pixar villain) or even Echo Studio speakers that an audiophile wouldn’t feel completely embarrassed about being surprised listening, it is strange not to see anything advertised in this product category this time around.
As the category at the heart of Amazon’s gadget lines, however, it’s clear the retail giant still has big plans for it – and more hardware iterations will certainly come next year for some time to come. number of Echo models.
As for Black Friday, then there should be plenty of discounts on existing models to keep interest in the Echo line-up – and move the aging stock before a new generation of Echo speakers hit the line. scene.
Last year we saw price drops on a number of Amazon productsincluding $ 20 / £ 20 the recommended retail price of the fourth-gen Echo Dot, $ 40 / £ 40 off the Fire TV Cube, $ 60 / £ 60 off the Ring Video doorbell, and more.
We’re already seeing lower prices on the third-gen Echo Dot (now $ 40 / £ 40 compared to the fourth-gen’s $ 50 / £ 50) and that gap will only widen over the period of time. sale. Everything from the main Amazon Echo line to the high-end Echo Studio is also expected to see price drops – and the lack of any immediate Echo hardware refresh means the focus will be entirely on older models.
This equipment is on fire …
We also expect to see discounts on the Fire TV line. It was very unusual not to see any new Fire TV products announced at an Amazon launch event, although this was likely due to the Fire TV models that were already on the horizon.
The Fire TV Stick 4K Max was unveiled a few weeks ago – possibly to allow the September event to focus on other gadgets and products for the first time, like the Astro smart home robot – while Amazon’s Omni line of smart TVs are already on the scene too.
Cheaper and older Fire TV Sticks like the Fire TV Stick (2020) and Fire TV Stick Lite – even the regular Fire TV Stick 4K – are all expected to get $ 10 to $ 20 / £ 10 to £ 20 off their prices. recommended sale, making Black Friday the best time to buy a new Amazon streamer, if you haven’t purchased one during Prime Day sales earlier in the year.
Even the 4K Max model might just save a little money, as Amazon tries to generate interest in the new dongle with a flash discount, and we might see the same with the new Halo View fitness tracker – which relies on the Halo Wrist Gadget with Display.
So, when new hardware is available, it’s worth checking to see if the latest model in a range is getting a discount – before choosing a less advanced version for a similar price.
We don’t expect to see Black Friday discounts on the Astro robot – largely because it is part of Amazon’s “Day 1 Edition” program for innovative products, so you need to register for the privilege to ‘buy one. It is also only available in the United States at this time. But if you consider the adorable (dangerous?) Little con artist, the introductory price of $ 999 should drop to $ 1,499 after the first few months on sale – so maybe that is the real savings to be had before the release of 2021.
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