Skip to main content

Amazon kills Echo Loop, improves Echo Frames

When Amazon first announced the Echo Loop in 2019, it raised a lot of eyebrows — and a lot of hands were raised to be the first ones to try out the device. The smart ring promised to be a way to subtly receive notifications from your phone, activate and control Alexa, and more.

On Thursday, November 19, Amazon announced that the Echo Loop will no longer be supported. The good news, however, is that the company is doubling down on the Echo Frames, a set of smart glasses with built-in Alexa functionality. These frames are designed to operate just like a normal set of glasses, but with smart features implemented in a seamless way.

The Echo Frames are not like early iterations of Google Glass or similar products, with large, bulky protrusions to contain the electronics. Amazon put time into designing a set of eyeglasses that look like designer lenses, while still allowing users to ask Alexa questions and hear her responses.

This functions through the open-ear design. It makes it easy for the wearer to hear Alexa’s responses, while minimizing the amount of sound that escapes to anyone else standing nearby. And that was just in the Day 1 features. The new and improved Echo Frames are poised to build on what made the original model so appealing. These frames are equipped with an Auto Volume feature that adjusts the volume based on the ambient noise around you. In a busy store, the Echo Frames will be louder than in a quiet conference room.

The battery life has also been improved to allow for up to 40% more capacity than before. If you place the lenses upside down for three seconds, they automatically turn off to better conserve battery life. The new Echo Frames still utilize the VIP filter, which lets users sort what apps and contacts they want to hear from while wearing the frames.

From an aesthetic front, the new Echo Frames are available in more colors than before, including Modern Tortoise, Horizon Blue, and Classic Black. The Echo Frames are available for pre-order starting at $250, and are slated to begin shipping on December 10 — just in time for the holidays.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
How to improve Ring video doorbell battery life
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus installed outside a front door.

Most battery-powered Ring video doorbells will last between six to 12 months, with a wide degree of variability depending on your climate, usage, and specific model. If you find your video doorbell falling below that range (or want to optimize its performance), there are several steps you can take to improve your Ring video doorbell's battery life.

From changing your motion settings to adjusting your Wi-Fi settings, here’s how to get a bit more juice out of your battery-powered Ring video doorbell.
Update your motion settings

Read more
U.S. government to launch a new cybersecurity program for smart home devices in 2024
The US Cyber Trust Mark logo on an off-white background.

Smart home devices are only becoming more popular, and it seems they’ve now piqued the interest of the U.S. government. On July 18, the Biden administration announced a new cybersecurity certification and labeling program for smart devices that will help customers find devices that are “safer and less vulnerable to cyberattacks.”

The so-called U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program is intended to get manufacturers thinking more carefully about the cybersecurity of their products and ensure they’re safe for the general public to have in their homes. It’s not expected to roll out until 2024, but the program would cover a wide range of products, including smart refrigerators, smart microwaves, smart televisions, smart thermostats, fitness trackers, and more.

Read more
What is Amazon Alexa, and what can it do?
Echo 4th Gen speaker on table.

Amazon Alexa is an interactive voice assistant that can check the weather, launch your favorite playlist, and everything in between. Alexa can be found on most Amazon products, including the new Echo Pop, the iconic Echo Dot, and even a variety of smart thermostats, soundbars, lamps, and more. Aside from taking basic commands from you, Alexa can also dish out commands to the rest of your connected smart home -- making it easy to streamline your life.

Interested in learning more about Amazon Alexa? Then you’re in the right place. Here’s a closer look at where Alexa comes from, how it works, where it got its name, and just about everything else you’d want to know about the popular voice assistant and smart home savant.
Who/what is Alexa?

Read more