Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is quickly breaking free of the company’s own hardware, with the company allowing other manufacturers to integrate the technology into their own products. Not only is the Fabriq one of the more affordable examples of this, but it’s also the first non-Amazon speaker to feature Alexa to be released, hitting Amazon on Wednesday.
“We wanted to introduce an affordable speaker that allows consumers to express themselves while providing them access to Alexa’s amazing capabilities,” Fabriq director of marketing Jordon Sansom said in a statement. “But creating Fabriq wasn’t just about bringing a new product to the marketplace. Our years of experience in the home audio industry and our exclusive distribution network and supply chain partnerships have enabled us to deliver an incredible smart speaker at an even smarter price.“
The speaker is relatively compact, measuring 3.15-inches high, long, and deep, with a unique fabric covering giving it a softer, cuddlier appearance than much of its competition. Despite the small size, the speaker offers a claimed frequency range of 60Hz to 18kHz, powered by a built-in 5-watt amplifier. Battery life is claimed at up to five hours of playback time.
In terms of connectivity, the Fabriq supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections. The speaker can be used on its own, but can also be paired with out Fabriq speakers, allowing for multiroom sound. This feature seems to function over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, though range is likely more limited when using Bluetooth.
An app is available for both iOS and Android devices, allowing for remote control of the speaker. That is, of course, assuming you’re not using Alexa. As with Amazon’s Echo and similar hardware, the Alexa integration in the Fabriq allows it to function as a combination of smart home hub and personal assistant, letting users look up words without opening a book or easily order a pizza or Uber. As
“We are starting to see more and more consumers put Alexa at the center of their homes and we’ll start to see the magic of what an Alexa-powered smart home can do,” Sansom said. “There is no doubt the
The Fabriq sells for $50 and is available Jack Plaid, Earl Grey, and Splat options, all of which are on sale now via Amazon.
Editors' Recommendations
- Bose has a bigger Bluetooth speaker to power your next pool party
- KEF launches a more affordable version of its coveted LSX II bookshelf speakers
- B&O’s latest speaker is a love letter to aluminum
- New Klipsch tabletop wireless speakers are a more affordable, capable take on mid-century modern
- Soundcore’s new Motion speakers are tough little portables with hi-res sound
