Popular accessory company Anker launched its own low-cost smart speaker with built-in Alexa on Wednesday called the Eufy Genie. Costing $35, the Genie is a little bigger than Amazon's Echo Dot, which retails at $50, but claims to offer stronger bass and double the volume of Amazon's equivalent device thanks to a 2W speaker.

The Genie's list of features pretty much tallies with Echo Dot's abilities, so it can play music, control other smart home devices, order products, answer questions, set calendars, report the weather and news, and more.

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According to Anker, it's also possible to use the Amazon Alexa app with the Genie to access over 10,000 skills and services, such as Pandora, Domino's Pizza, Uber, ESPN, NPR News, and more. Future updates from Eufy are said to include the ability directly control Spotify with your voice, and Alexa messaging and calling.

The Genie also links up to other smart products under Anker's Eufy brand, which include a robotic vacuum cleaner, air purifier devices, and a range of domestic lighting. According to The Verge, Anker also plans to introduce a $40 version of the Eufy Genie that includes Bluetooth support, which might let it connect to external speakers for playing music.

The Eufy Genie is available to pre-order off Amazon today but doesn't ship until August 16. Eufy plans to launch the speaker in Europe around mid-October. Further details on the Genie and Anker's other products under the Eufy brand can be found on the Eufy website.

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Tags: Alexa, Amazon Echo, Anker

Top Rated Comments

Kangastu Avatar
Kangastu
108 months ago
Dear god that thing is ugly! Looks like a fat robot vacuum cleaner!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
69Mustang
108 months ago
So this seems sort of odd to me. Amazon is allowing other manufacturers to use Alexa in their devices AND Amazon is helping them sell them through Amazon.com in direct competition with Amazon-branded products? If Siri was included in some Chinese speaker/music product, what do you think the chance is that device would sit next to the Apple HomePod in the Apple Store? (hint...none).
Amazon wants people using their services. That's where the long term repeatable money is. Amazon doesn't care about a speaker. It's simply a means to an end.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
avanpelt Avatar
avanpelt
108 months ago
I will be honest with you, the majority of smart speakers on the market are not aesthetically pleasing. They all have this awkward, Somewhat unrefined look. As long as the results deliver, that's all I can ask for. But my sights are set on the HomePod.
My only potential problem with HomePod is Siri. Siri is the dumbest assistant of the major assistants out there. That's really a shame considering Siri has been around the longest of all of them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LukeChannings Avatar
LukeChannings
108 months ago
Better audio than the Echo Dot will be easy given the Echo Dot has no speakers.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glassed Silver Avatar
Glassed Silver
108 months ago
So this seems sort of odd to me. Amazon is allowing other manufacturers to use Alexa in their devices AND Amazon is helping them sell them through Amazon.com in direct competition with Amazon-branded products? If Siri was included in some Chinese speaker/music product, what do you think the chance is that device would sit next to the Apple HomePod in the Apple Store? (hint...none).
Amazon is a services and software company first and foremost (online retail aside).

They literally don't give a damn how you access their products.

They will embrace competition using their software, because they hope that others can fill the gaps in their targeted demographics/preferences.

Glassed Silver:ios
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
44267547
108 months ago
Interesting to see Anker contribute in the smart speaker market. Granted it's only really competing with the Dot, Having stronger audio is an advantage when using these devices across the room or simply for other media. For $35.00, this is a decent starting price and Anker makes quality products.
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Dear god that thing is ugly! Looks like a fat robot vacuum cleaner!
I will be honest with you, the majority of smart speakers on the market are not aesthetically pleasing. They all have this awkward, Somewhat unrefined look. As long as the results deliver, that's all I can ask for. But my sights are set on the HomePod.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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