Amazon’s Echo Time is a $200 camera-free smart clock built for better sleep

The smart clock detects sleep without a wearable. Amazon’s Echo Time is a $200 camera-free smart clock built for better sleep. It has sleep detection that wakes you within 10 to 60 minutes of a set alarm time.

There is a version for kids that has parent-controlled sleep schedules. Amazon is expanding its smart home devices today, updating some existing ones, and adding something completely new with the Amazon Echo Time. The orb-like smart clock is similar in look to the Echo Spot, and with sleep wellness as its focus, it’s meant for the nightstand.

As Amazon explains, the Echo Time is powered by Alexa+, and has “science-backed wind-down and wake-up features” that have been given the National Sleep Foundation’s SleepMark designation for meeting evidence-based sleep health standards. Those include a smart alarm that kicks in within 10 to 60 minutes of a set alarm to wake you up when it detects you’re in a lighter sleep.

Amazon launched a new smart alarm clock that can determine when you’re in lighter sleep before waking you up. Amazon’s new Echo Time smart alarm clock tries to make waking up less painful.

Big Tech Amazon Amazon’s new Echo Time smart alarm clock tries to make waking up less painful It has a more colorful version for kids. The company says it designed Echo Time specifically for the bedroom, because "the bedroom asks for something different from a device than the kitchen or living room does." Let’s talk about privacy first, which might be at the forefront of your mind, since the device was created for a very private part of your home: The Echo Time does not have a camera and comes with visual indicators when Alexa is listening, as well as a dedicated button that switches off its microphones completely.

It has a spherical design with a 3.2-inch circular touchscreen that you can customize. You’ll have hundreds of clock faces to choose from, including analog designs and seasonal themes, as well as ones featuring characters from popular franchises like the DC Universe.

Switching its look is as easy as telling Amazon’s AI assistant, "Alexa, change to a seasonal [or any other theme] clock face." The display mimics natural sunrise in the morning, brightening as your alarm approaches. At night, the display dims down as it shifts to night mode, having just enough brightness to show you the time.

Amazon gave Echo Time "science-backed wind-down and wake-up features" that you might or might not like. The device has smart alarms that can detect when you’re in lighter sleep before waking you up, without the need for a wearable.