Amazon has invited members of the global press to its autumn hardware launch event.
Held annually and generally behind closed doors – no livestream, sadly – Amazon's event is typically used to announce new Echo devices and other kit compatible with Alexa.
The launch event will take place on Tuesday 28 September 2021 and the invite simply says it will provide "news about our latest Amazon devices, features, and services".
What will Amazon announce at the event?
Last year we were treated to the new ball-shaped design for Echo and Echo Dot, and the launch of the Amazon Luna cloud gaming platform. Maybe we'll find out if the latter is spreading out to other regions this time around.
We've not heard much about new devices, but there have been some rumours that Amazon might be looking at a wall-mountable Echo Show version. This will give you a smart display on your wall, rather than having to stand on a surface.
Amazon has released a range of Alexa devices over the past couple of years, including the Alexa Clock and Alexa Microwave and we wouldn't be surprised to see an expansion in smart home devices.
New video doorbells and wireless cameras from Amazon-owned Ring also tend to appear, although Ring has released a range of doorbells recently – so we can't help feeling it will be focusing on its lighting and cameras insteads
Rumours have said that we might be seeing an Alexa soundbar from Amazon in the future, perhaps with an integrated camera. Amazon also recently launched a Fire TV Stick 4K Max. It offers faster Wi-Fi support and processing, plus the entire gamut of video and audio tech – including HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
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Elsewhere, Amazon has already announced updated Kindle models, with a new family of Paperwhite devices, all currently on pre-order, but pushing out devices like the new Fire Stick and Kindles suggest that Amazon wanted them out of the way so that other products could be launched without the distraction of these upgrades.
We'll bring you all the news from the event as it happens.
