Amazon’s new Echo Time is a $199.99 bedside smart clock that uses room temperature, presence detection, and ultrasound to estimate lighter sleep without a watch or ring. With Alexa+, its optional smart alarm can wake the user anywhere within 10 to 60 minutes of the set alarm, according to Amazon.
The 3.2-inch circular touchscreen gradually brightens like a sunrise, and the alarm tone gains energy with each snooze, up to four times. Echo Time has no camera, but its sleep feature still depends on sensors near the bed.
Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Echo Time uses ultrasound instead of a wearable
Amazon calls the sensing system Omnisense. Room-temperature sensors and presence detection help establish a sleep routine, while ultrasound detects breathing and proximity. Echo Time uses those signals to estimate lighter sleep and time its alarm.
Amazon says Echo Time earned the National Sleep Foundation’s SleepMark designation. The foundation says SleepMark reflects an evidence-based review but doesn’t warrant product performance, superiority, or a health benefit.
Sleep sensing is optional and can be turned off in the Alexa app. Amazon’s setup instructions say pressing the microphone-off button disables the microphones, sleep sensing, and smart alarms together.
Alexa+ is included with a Prime membership.
The alarm changes more than the wake-up time
Echo Time’s display shifts to a dimmer night mode in the evening, reduces blue light, and can show only the time or next alarm. It also offers hundreds of clock faces, including analog, digital and nature-inspired designs. Amazon lists DC character faces as coming soon.
It costs $90 more than an Echo Spot
Echo Time is available in Graphite, Glacier White, and Coral Pink for $199.99. A matching adjustable stand costs $39.99. The Kids version starts at $209.99 and includes one year of Amazon Kids+.
Price: $199.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Amazon’s current black Echo Spot listing is $109.99, making Echo Time $90 more expensive. Sleep sensing is the central reason to pay the difference. Someone who mainly wants Alexa, weather, music, and a visible clock has a cheaper option.
