Amazon reboots the Echo Dot with lower price, new color (official video)

Not long after its announcement earlier this year, the Amazon Echo Dot is getting revamped to appeal to a wider audience. The Echo Dot, which converts speakers and other audio equipment into an Echo-like device, is now cheaper than ever and you get a second color to choose from.

The Echo Dot’s new price is $49, down from the $89 Amazon wanted before. Included, too, is the option to get the device in white. And you won’t have to own an Echo to purchase an Echo Dot anymore.

Other than being friendlier to buy and having another color option, this Echo Dot is largely the same device we saw at launch. Amazon is saying it’s slimmer, but my eyes aren’t noticing anything major. Inside, though, the big difference is the upgraded speech processor to mesh better with the seven microphones.

With its more affordable price, Amazon is pushing multi-packs for the Echo Dot. The online retailer is offering a 6-pack that gets you one for free and a 12-pack that gets you two for free. Amazon last did this with the Fire tablet and ended up being the best-selling item during the holidays in 2016. So now, with that same $49 price tag, Amazon is trying to make its hardware a hot item by repositioning the Echo Dot.

The new Amazon Echo Dot is up for pre-order right now with October 20 being listed as the release date. If you’d like to get compatible equipment in the same purchase, Amazon is offering special bundles that includes an Echo Dot and a speaker at a slight discount.