The Echo Studio is a small speaker with big sound

"The majority of Amazon smart speakers lean more into the "smart" than the "speaker," except for the Echo Studio. That device, which arrived in November 2019, was an imposing, sound-quality-first speaker that delivered Alexa functionality alongside impressive sound for a $200 device. But that was nearly six years ago - an eternity in tech product years - and the Studio has been due for a redesign. The 2025 model of the Echo Studio, which costs $219.99, is one of four new Echo devices - alongside the Echo Dot Max, Echo Show 8, and Echo Show 11 - designed for Alexa Plus."

"Instead of the cylindrical design of its predecessor, it's an orb, a bigger version of the new Dot Max with a flattened, angled side on the front that might bear a resemblance to a large space station in a galaxy far, far away. The flattened circle is ringed with the blue Alexa light and has the volume up and down buttons flanking the mic mute button. When muted, the button glows red, but the full Alexa LED ring no longer lights up as the old Studio ring did, so it's less visually intrusive. The 3.5mm jack is gone from this version of the Studio, so the only way to listen to anything is by streaming from Amazon Music (an Unlimited subscription is required for Atmos), Spotify, Apple Music, iHeartRadio, Pandora, or SiriusXM. The Echo Studio has a new acoustically transparent 3D knit fabric that is only available in stealth gray and glacier white. If your heart is set on the striking amethyst colorway, your only choice is the Dot Max."

Amazon refreshed the Echo Studio for 2025 with a $219.99 orb-shaped design that prioritizes sound while integrating Alexa Plus functionality. The new form features a flattened, angled front with a blue Alexa light ring and accessible volume and mute buttons; the mute button glows red while the full LED ring no longer illuminates. The 3.5mm headphone jack is removed, making streaming the only playback method via supported services and requiring Amazon Music Unlimited for Atmos. The speaker uses an acoustically transparent 3D knit fabric in two colorways and new custom processors, with a Pro chip optimized for Alexa Plus.

Read at The Verge