Amazon Echo Frames hands-on: Alexa makes these smart glasses useful
Amazon Echo Frames are smart glasses with Alexa built-in, and will be available on an invitation basis for $180 in the US. Here's our first impression of the Amazon Echo Frames.
Amazon Echo Frames are the company’s smart glasses powered by its voice-assistant Alexa. We tested these out during the launch in Seattle, and here’s what we thought. (Image source: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
What exactly is the purpose of smart glasses? Google wanted us to believe that it would replace smartphones, but that didn’t quite work out. Snapchat has been offering it as a fashion accessory, a very tech-savvy toy that records videos, while keeping you stylish. But neither approach has worked out to popularise smart glasses. And now Amazon is here with a different take. It doesn’t think smart glasses will replace a smartphone anytime soon. Instead it wants to sell a pair of smart glasses as an extension to phones, with some help from Alexa.
At a high-profile event in Seattle, it unveiled its first-ever pair of smart glasses, the Echo Frames, which will be available on an invitation basis for $180 in the US. The idea of the Echo Frames is clear, to make the smart glasses more interactive in situations when you are away from your phone.The focus is on how to make the smart glasses as part of your lifestyle. I had a chance to briefly test out the Amazon Echo Frames at the launch event, and here are my initial impressions.
You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
Sign up and keep reading more stories that matter to you.
The Echo Frames doesn’t look different from most standard glasses. They have the right size and feel just right to wear. At the moment, Amazon showed just one style, as they are part of the Amazon Day 1 program. But the glasses do support prescription lenses.
The Echo Frames doesn’t look different from most standard glasses. They have the right size and feel just right to wear. (Image source: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
Look, the Echo Frames aren’t trying to become the Google Glass, Snapchat’s Spectacles or North’s smart focals, which is backed by Amazon. The tech giant wants the Echo Frames to be like normal glasses, but unlike other smart glasses, they don’t have a camera or display within the frames. What they have is Alexa built-in, which is kind of expected from an Amazon-branded device.
So yes, the Echo Frames work just like any other Echo smart speaker. Just say the Alexa wake word, and you get answers to most of your queries. I asked Alexa about the weather in Seattle, and her answer was prompt and loud enough to hear in a crowded room full of reporters.
This was possible because of four beam-forming micro speakers that direct the sound toward your ears. There are buttons located on the glasses’ arm that allow you to adjust the volume and silence the microphones.
Story continues below this ad
By swiping along the side of the glasses, one can accept a notification or dismiss it. (Image source: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The Echo Frames are smart glasses, which means they can be used as an extension to your smartphone. The glasses, like a smartwatch, provide notifications from your smartphone. And for that you need to use the Alexa app.
By swiping along the side of the glasses, one can accept a notification or dismiss it. So when you receive any notification, Alexa will tell you what app the notification is from. You can choose to accept or dismiss the notification – all of this depends on you.
I was impressed by Amazon’s vision to create a simple pair of smart glasses that work. At $180, the price is right for people to at least consider the smart glasses. However, keep in mind that Amazon is releasing the Echo Frames as part of its Day 1 program.
Like all “Day One edition” devices, the Echo Frames will have limited availability before being released to the general public. The glasses are sort of an experiment, something Amazon isn’t shy of accepting.
Story continues below this ad
Disclaimer: The author is in Seattle on the behalf of Amazon India
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here.
You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More
