Update: Anker’s new Eufy Genie Alexa Speaker is now available for purchase at Amazon for $34.99 shipped.
This morning, Anker has unveiled a new Echo Dot competitor under its sub-brand Eufy. The $35 Genie has Alexa capabilities in a familiar form-factor that not only beats Amazon’s in-house accessory on price, but also sports an arguably more attractive design. Anker is known for its high-quality smartphone accessories and today’s move signals that the company will continue to push into emerging categories.
The Eufy Genie will be comparable in many ways to the Echo Dot in terms of specs and features. Anker does claim that it will offer improved audio of the Amazon alternative, but that’s yet to be seen. We’ll be doing a full hands-on comparison of the two models, so you can look forward to a more in-depth report in the near future.
If Anker is able to match the Echo Dot on most features, look for the Genie to be a very popular buy over the coming months as we approach the holiday season. Not only does it come in at $15 less than its main competition but it also packs a few extra capabilities. Particularly, Genie can control other Eufy smart home devices. Anker is still filling out this new brand with products but more are slated for the coming months.
You can expect Hue-like lighting strips and WeMo-style smart plugs and switches to hit the market from Eufy by the end of the year. Like the rest of Anker’s line-up, these products will follow the road map of familiar designs, good quality and lower prices than competitors. A recipe that has served Anker well thus far.
One difference worth noting is that today’s release does not include Bluetooth connectivity but Anker plans on remedying that with a $40 version in the near future. It’s a curious exclusion, but the sticker price seems to be the priority for now with a 3.5mm connection.
Eufy Genie is not yet available for purchase but will hit Amazon on August 16th with its $35 price tag. We’ll update this post with more information when that date rolls around. In the meantime, you can shop the entire Eufy lineup right here.
[9to5-press-release]
Anker Announces ‘Eufy GenieTM’ with Amazon Alexa
The Eufy Genie smart speaker delivers Alexa and high-quality sound at a low price tag of $34.99
Seattle, WASHINGTON—August 9, 2017— Anker, the world leader in mobile charging technology, announced today the launch of their first smart speaker with Amazon’s intelligent voice assistant Alexa built-in. The device, named “Eufy GenieTM”, will fall under Anker’s smart home brand Eufy, and will be available for sale on Amazon starting August 16 at a price of $34.99.
On the Genie, Alexa can simultaneously control multiple smart home appliances using voice commands. Alexa will also be able to answer questions and provide useful information. Users can ask Alexa for the latest news, traffic updates, weather forecast, music, or even make a purchase on Amazon, all through while being on the opposite side of the room.
“Eufy Genie users will be able to enjoy the majority of benefits Alexa offers at an accessible price point,” said Steven Yang, CEO of Anker Technology. “We’re excited to deliver a smart speaker with Alexa and high-quality sound at an affordable price point for customers.”
With Genie, users can:
● Stream music: Genie will play your favorite music from Amazon Music or Pandora— its 2W speaker delivers a warm feeling sound. You can also connect your speaker via the AUX port. Support for Spotify is coming soon.
● Control all Eufy smart appliances with your voice.
● Access 15,000+ skills, covering every service the Internet has to offer.
● Get your daily briefings—news, weather calendar, sports scores—without lifting a finger.
● Add items to your shopping and to-do list just by asking.
● Ask questions and get quick answers.
● Set timers and alarms – perfect for making your favorite dishes.
● Order delivery when you don’t feel like cooking.
“Genie is the core of the Eufy smart home system, but this is just the beginning. Eufy users should expect a complete line of smart devices in the coming weeks, including smart light wall plugs, light bulbs, and even an Alexa-enabled version of our flagship product, the RoboVac 11,” said Yang.
Making smart homes easier
After analyzing the current market, Yang and his team discovered that in order for a consumer to truly have a connected home, they’d be forced to purchase smart products and appliances from various, competing companies.
“Some companies make smart thermostats, others make robotic vacuum cleaners, and others specialize in smart light bulbs. This means that consumers have to download multiple apps from all of these different companies in order to set up and manage each device. In some cases, they might even have to use multiple smart assistants at the same time. To me, this doesn’t seem ‘smart’ at all,” explained Yang.
The largest obstacle preventing consumers from upgrading to a smart home is simply the price. According to a study by PwC, 42% of people willing to upgrade to a smart home are unable to do so due to price concerns.
“Everyone deserves the chance to live in their very own ‘house of the future’; where through one simple platform, they can order pizza, turn their lights on, and direct their robotic vacuum to clean. At present, a connected home like that requires an investment of at least $1,000,” Yang continued. “What we are trying to do is to turn the smart home concept into something more affordable, accessible and integrated. With less than $600, consumers can experience a Eufy smart home entirely controlled by Genie.”
About Eufy Genie TM
Eufy Genie is a smart speaker with Amazon Alexa. Stream your favorite playlists, check upcoming appointments, or find out if you should carry an umbrella today just by asking Genie. Most importantly, voice recognition technology makes it super-easy to control your smart home devices just by giving voice commands.
About Eufy
Eufy is a smart home brand by Anker, the world’s leader in USB charging technology. Eufy was founded in 2016 with the objective of bringing the latest smart home technology to households across the country at attainable prices. The RoboVac 11, the Eufy’s flagship product, has sold over 100,000 pieces in the US.
[/9to5-press-release]
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