Amazon Slashes Prices Across its Echo Smart Speaker Range for Black Friday

[MacRumors]

Amazon today began offering devices in its Echo smart speaker range at discounted prices for the first time in the products' short history, as part of its Black Friday Deals Week.

For those unfamiliar with the devices, the connected speakers' array of microphones lets users query voice-based assistant Alexa, who can be asked to do things like play music, read the news, use apps, check the weather, turn on the lights, set timers, and more.

The full-size Echo speaker is being offered at $140 (usually $180), while the second-generation Echo Dot - a smaller variant with the same features - has had $10 lopped off the price and is going for $40.

Elsewhere, Amazon has slashed $40 off its Alexa-enabled portable Bluetooth speaker, now selling for $90 instead of $130.

Apple is also offering its own Black Friday deals this year. For all the discounts on Apple products offered on Amazon, Apple, and elsewhere, be sure to check out the MacRumors Black Friday Holiday Roundup, continually updated throughout the week.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.

Article Link: Amazon Slashes Prices Across its Echo Smart Speaker Range for Black Friday

 

[44267547]

Not a bad offer. But nothing Siri can't really do either, for the most part.

 

[chasonstone]

Does anyone know if you can/if it's easy to use Alexa alongside HomeKit/siri? I already have some things (smartplugs) set up using HomeKit/Siri, but a dedicated device such as the echo dot for voice commands would be nice. I would want to be able to use siri and the home app traditionally though. So I guess I'm asking if you can set up the devices to respond to both. So in theory I could tell Alexa to turn the light off and then tell Siri to turn it back on.

 

[jjblinky]

Does anyone know if you can/if it's easy to use Alexa alongside HomeKit/siri? I already have some things (smartplugs) set up using HomeKit/Siri, but a dedicated device such as the echo dot for voice commands would be nice. I would want to be able to use siri and the home app traditionally though. So I guess I'm asking if you can set up the devices to respond to both. So in theory I could tell Alexa to turn the light off and then tell Siri to turn it back on.

Yes you can do that. It works really well with my Hue lights.
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Not a bad offer. But nothing Siri can't really do either, for the most part.

I was in the same place as you, but I use this way more than Siri. Its more responsive and gets it right first time more of the time. Plus everyone in the house can use it, there is no voice print.

 

[Azzin]

Hopefully this will apply to Amazon UK too-no discounts showing currently.

 

[Just1n12]

Too bad you can't get an Amazon Dot in Canada would have been nice.

 

[testcard]

Hopefully this will apply to Amazon UK too-no discounts showing currently.

I'd be very surprised if Amazon UK doesn't follow suit. Bought my Echo a couple of weeks ago - I should probably have waited.

 

[Azzin]

I'd be very surprised if Amazon UK doesn't follow suit. Bought my Echo a couple of weeks ago - I should probably have waited.

Hopefully tomorrow?

 

[netwalker]

Of course MR needs to make money somehow, but this is just an advertorial. Should be marked as such.

 

[mkeeley]

Hopefully tomorrow?

Considering the Dot is £=$, they can afford to. I do think about getting one then think how often would I use it. Bit like smart bulbs.

 

[Azzin]

Considering the Dot is £=$, they can afford to. I do think about getting one then think how often would I use it. Bit like smart bulbs.

I'd bite at sub £40.

 

[testcard]

I'd bite at sub £40.

Alexa, turn on my Christmas tree lights.

 

[mkeeley]

I'd bite at sub £40.

Yeah I probably would too.

 

[mdelvecchio]

For those unfamiliar with the devices, the connected speakers' array of microphones lets users query voice-based assistant Alexa, who can be asked to do things like play music, read the news, use apps, check the weather, turn on the lights, set timers, and more.

​

innovative. sorry but i still don't see the point of any of that, which i can already do via watch or ios device.

 

[timmyh]

Of course MR needs to make money somehow, but this is just an advertorial. Should be marked as such.

Just to be clear, nobody paid MR to highlight this discount.

We've covered news about Amazon products in the past, so we thought some readers might appreciate the heads-up.

 

[netwalker]

Just to be clear, nobody paid MR to highlight this discount.

But you get paid when people click and purchase.

 

[mkeeley]

But you get paid when people click and purchase.

Looks that way but if you don't like it visit Amazon directly.

 

[netwalker]

Looks that way but if you don't like it visit Amazon directly.

I wrote that I don't have a problem with them doing things like this to earn money but it should be transparent. Tell the reader that is an affiliate link. We might still use it to support this site.

 

[timmyh]

I wrote that I don't have a problem with them doing things like this to earn money but it should be transparent. Tell the reader that is an affiliate link. We might still use it to support this site.

Sorry you feel that way. In my defense, I used straight hyperlinks when I wrote the article and clicked publish. In any case, hopefully readers see the gist of the story is in the headline; it's up to them whether they click through to the article or go directly to amazon.

EDIT: Forgot there's an affiliate link disclaimer in the MR footer.

 

[netwalker]

EDIT: Forgot there's an affiliate link disclaimer in the MR footer.

Federal Trade Commission: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising
Hiding it in a footer is not the suggested way.

The black Friday offers posts is also nothing else than a collection of affiliate links.

 

[Mildredop]

Personally, even if I got a link saying I was able to get one for free, I just wouldn't bother.

I don't see the point in the 'smart speakers' - it can't do anything my phone can't do, and my phone isn't tethered to the power socket in one room of my house.

I don't get the hype.
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Sorry you feel that way. In my defense, I used straight hyperlinks when I wrote the article and clicked publish. In any case, hopefully readers see the gist of the story is in the headline; it's up to them whether they click through to the article or go directly to amazon.

EDIT: Forgot there's an affiliate link disclaimer in the MR footer.

So is the forum user accurate when they say MacRumors earn from Amazon should anyone click on the link in the article? If so, I agree this should be much more transparent.

 

[Azzin]

Argos will be discounting the Echos tomorrow (according to a leaked document), so surely Amazon will too?

Either way, I'm bagging a Dot tomorrow.

 

[timmyh]

Federal Trade Commission: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising
Hiding it in a footer is not the suggested way.

The black Friday offers posts is also nothing else than a collection of affiliate links.

So I have it on good authority that Amazon itself automatically affiliatizes links, so we have no control over them our end. However, in this case I'm going to add a disclaimer to the OP because you brought it up. Usually we do try to make it clear when we actually intentionally create affiliate links in posts.

If you have any more queries, it's probably best if you get in touch with Arn (email in the footer).

 

[Ciclismo]

Meanwhile, here in Germany, we're still waiting for it to be released after Amazon said they were overwhelmed with demand and it would take months before everyone will get their invitation to order one.

Obviously not overwhelmed enough to be offering fat discounts for everyone else.

 

[RMo]

Amazon today began offering devices in its Echo smart speaker range at discounted prices for the first time in the products' short history, as part of its Black Friday Deals Week.

(leans awkwardly into microphone) Wrong.

...unless you don't count pre-orders as part of the products' "history."

The Echo was actually $100 of for Prime subscribers when it was introduced. I can't remember for how long, but I do remember that Prime subscribers could get it for $99 for a limited time in late fall of 2014 just after they announced it. The price then went up to $199 before coming down to $179, but I assume that change was coordinated with the removal of the voice remote as an included accessory.