Amazon unveils Echo Plus, its first true smart home hub

Amazon's new Echo is its smartest Echo yet.

This is the first Echo to include its own smart home hub. According to Amazon, which unveiled the new Echo Plus on Wednesday at its Seattle headquarters, the company wants to reduce the steps necessary to install smart home products. Instead of 15 steps, it could take just one.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's out of the original Amazon Echo right now, and they won't say why

The $149 Echo Plus looks like the original Echo, but it's a little larger, gray instead of black or white, and has connectivity capabilities.

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In addition to all the sound and listening upgrades found in the new Echo, this device has better bass and treble.

To prove that the Echo Plus can simplify smart home setup, it will ship with a Phillips Hue White light. Phillips joins a host of smart device companies supporting the Echo Plus out of the box. All of the supported devices are ZigBee products.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Check out the Echo Plus

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