Amazon just unveiled an all-new, entry-level Alexa-powered smart speaker. At $40, its a little cheaper and half the size of the Echo Dot.

Amazon recently announced four new Echo devices. An updated Echo Show 5, an Echo Show 5 Kids, new Echo Buds and this Echo Pop. With these new devices, Amazon also says they have surpassed half a billion Alexa-enabled devices sold globally, while engagement with Alexa increased more than 35% in 2022.

It was a big challenge to imagine and deliver a powerful smart speaker at this price. We designed a unique form factor and added two new color options—we think customers are going to love it.

Rajesh Parthasarathy, Principal Product Manager, Amazon

Echo Pop comes in a new compact, semi-sphere form factor. Built to subtly integrate into your room, the new smart speaker is ideal for smaller spaces. The 1.95-inch front-facing directional speaker is slightly larger than the 1.73-inch front-facing speaker in the latest 5th generation Echo Dot.

At $39.99, Echo Pop is the cheapest Echo in Amazon’s current line-up and the most affordable way to add a new Alexa device to your room. The familiar pulsing blue strip light sits on top of the Echo Pop, to visually show it’s listening after using the keyword “Alexa”. The virtual assistant will give you hands-free access to music, podcasts, audiobooks, news/weather updates, as well as control smart home devices, answer questions, order products, tell jokes, set timers/reminder, make calls and more!

Use the Alexa app to install your choice of tens of thousands of skills, that gives the smart speaker access to third-party platforms, enabling relaxing sounds, news updates, quizzes and more. Alexa supports all major streaming services such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM, Audible and more.

Echo Play is powered by the same Amazon AZ2 Neural Edge processor that’s in the current generation Echo Dot. With eero Built-in, you can add up to 1,000 square feet of coverage to your existing eero Wi-Fi network. Connect via Bluetooth to stream anything from any device.

On top of the device you’ll find three buttons that switch on/off the microphone and manually adjust the volume. Around back, you’ll find a single port for power. No 3.5mm headphone jack here.

The Amazon Echo Play is available to pre-order today for $39.99, with shipping starting May 31. Echo Play is available in Charcoal and Glacier White, as well as new colours Lavender Bloom and Midnight Teal. An optional wall mount will also be available soon. This price puts it at $10 less than the 5th generation Echo Dot retails for, however you can frequently find Echo Dots for $40 or less. With the Echo Play, you’ll get similar sound to the latest Echo Dot, but the smaller size sacrifices motion detection, a temperature sensor, built-in Zigbee smart home hub, and the option for an LED clock display.