Amazon announced quite a bit at its September 2021 hardware event. We got a brand-new Echo display, new AI features, and even a robot that looks like it'll be a lot of fun to keep around the house. Amazon is clearly eyeing to rule the household with a bevy of device types that aim to keep you safe and connected.
Last year's event saw the introduction of several new Echo devices, Fire TV sticks, and Amazon's foray into gaming with Amazon Luna. This year's even may not have had as much hardware, but what we did get was quite impressive.
Not every device is available for preorder just yet, but you can sign up to get updates on when those devices will be available. And given how popular some of these devices are, you should sign up fast before space runs out!
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Echo Show 15
The new Echo Show 15 is the largest smart display from Amazon, which doubles as a digital photo frame that you can mount on your wall. It comes with Amazon's new Alexa widgets to better keep track of tasks around the house. It's powered by the new AZ2 Neural Edge processor that enables an optional Visual ID feature. This way, it will show contextual information based on the family members it recognizes.
Amazon also announced new AI advancements, with custom events based on sound and visual data. This way, devices can detect certain noises like the beeping of an appliance or inform you if you left the garage door open. Advancements like these could give it a leg up over many of the best smart displays from other companies.
For the whole family
The new Amazon Echo Show 15 features a large, rotating display that can be placed almost anywhere in the home, from a wall in the living room to a kitchen countertop. It's great for entertainment, and with Visual ID, it can quickly adjust to any family member's needs,
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Ring Always Home Cam
This technically isn't a new announcement, but Amazon is finally opening up invites for those interested in buying its new Always Home Cam drone. It features a 2K camera for capturing video around the house and can fly for a few minutes at a time before returning to its charging station.
If you've ever wanted a security drone flying around your house, you don't want to miss out on this. Sign-ups are now open for U.S. residents only.
Mobile security
The Ring Always Home Cam is a personal drone that can patrol your home for a few minutes at a time with an ultra-sharp 2K video camera, so you don't have to keep a ton of cameras around.
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Amazon Glow
Amazon Glow is the ideal video calling device for kids. Thanks to its unique down-firing projector, your children and loved ones can engage together like never before, playing games, reading books, and completing puzzles together.
The Amazon Glow is among the few kids-related updates announced at Amazon's event, including the new voice assistant from Disney that will let kids interact with their favorite Disney characters through Alexa devices, and new additions to Amazon Kids+ like LEGO Monkie Kid and the new Super Spy Ryan game.
Together when you're not
The Amazon Glow is the ultimate kids device that lets them engage with loved ones thanks to the top-down projector, giving them access to games and books that can be enjoyed together.
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Halo View
The Halo View takes the first-generation Amazon Halo fitness band and puts an AMOLED display on it, giving users instant access to health data without needing to pull out their phone. For added privacy, there's no microphone on the band like the orignal Halo had. Amazon promises one week of battery life, which isn't bad, although it's on the lower-end when compared to the best fitness trackers on the market today.
You can't preorder Halo View yet, but when you can, it will retail for $80.
Coming soon
The Amazon Halo View takes a more traditional stance to fitness tracking thanks to the new AMOLED display, which makes it ideal so that you don't have to carry your phone around to view health metrics.
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Amazon Smart Thermostat
Amazon's Smart Thermostat is an Energy Star-certified device with a simple design that works "reliably with most existing 24V HVAC systems." Thanks to Alexa, it will automatically adjust your home temperature to suit your preferences when you're home or while you're away, and you can set up routines so that it will change whenever you say things like "Good morning" or "Good night."
The Amazon Smart Thermostat is available for preorder now for just $59 or even lower depending on utility rebates.
Alexa smarts
The Alexa-powered Smart Thermostat uses AI to adjust your home's temperature based on your preferences and can even be programmed to change based on specific events and routines.
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Ring Alarm Pro
Amazon's latest base station offers enhanced security features thanks to the built-in TrueMesh eero Wi-Fi 6 router for reliable connectivity. Owners can also receive optional professional monitoring with Ring Virtual Security Guard, a subscription service that hands-off monitoring your video feeds to a professional security company. This would be ideal for when you're sleeping or when the family is away on vacation.
Peace of mind
The Ring Alarm Pro is the ultimate home security system thanks to built-in Wi-Fi 6 and optional professional monitoring with the new Virtual Security Guard
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Blink Video Doorbell
In addition to Ring, Amazon also has another company, Blink, which offers smart video cameras that can be placed around the house. Now, Blink is launching its first video doorbell, which can be wired or battery-powered. When on battery power, the Blink Video Doorbell can last up to two years when used along with the Sync Module 2, which will also provide local storage with a USB drive.
Blink also introduced a new Floodlight Camera as well as a new solar-powered mount for the Blink Outdoor camera.
The Blink Video Doorbell is available for preorder now for $50.
Blink won't miss a thing
Blink's first video doorbell has all the best features you might expect from an Amazon company, including connection to Alexa-powered devices and long battery life.
Amazon Fall Hardware Event 2021: Amazon Astro
Not to be confused with the popular PS5 character from Astro's Playroom, the new Amazon Astro is a robot — yes, a robot — that can roam around and monitor your home. It features a large display with expressive eyes that can also display its current task. It can even be used for video calling and can move around the house intelligently to find you if it needs to, which is helpful particularly when paired with the new Alexa Together service, which will be available soon on Astro.
The new Amazon R2-D2 Astro can be preordered through Amazon's Day 1 program for $999, and it will retail for $1,450 when it's more widely available. That said, you should sign up now!
This is the droid you're looking for
The new Amazon Astro is a cool household security robot that can monitor your home while you're asleep or away. It even has video calling features and a periscope lens to get a good look at spaces that are too high for it to reach normally.
