Amazon has given its Echo Hub smart home control panel a redesigned interface with deeper customisation and device controls.

Echo Hub is an Alexa-enabled smart home control panel, designed to make it easier to organise and control smart home devices such as security cameras, alarm systems, lights, locks, plugs, blinds and thermostats. It has a thin, 20cm touch-enabled display with a customisable smart home dashboard. The redesigned interface delivers a more modern look, deeper customisation and device controls to help manage compatible smart devices, arm a Ring security system, start a routine or view live camera feeds.

Echo hub can be mounted on a wall or placed on a counter with a stand accessory sold separately. It includes a built-in smart home hub with support for Zigbee, Sidewalk, Thread, Bluetooth and Matter, making it compatible with a wide variety of connected devices without the need for a separate smart home bridge. Echo Hub can also connect to the internet wirelessly, or via Ethernet with a compatible power over Ethernet (PoE) adapter.

Wifi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Sidewalk, Thread and Matter devices sync seamlessly with the built-in smart home hub, allowing users to mix and match devices to meet their needs, regardless of the brand or manufacturer. Echo Hub can also control select devices, such as lights, switches and plugs, even if the internet is down.

The hub displays the devices used most, providing one-tap access to turn lights on and off, pull up camera feeds, set the security system or start routines. During setup, the hub automatically populates the dashboard with the devices connected to the Alexa account, organised based on the Alexa app configurations. From there, the interface gives expanded options to personalise the layout by adding, removing or rearranging sections with a long press, and choosing from more display configurations to match how the home is managed room by room.

The redesigned Echo Hub gives more visual, intuitive control over every connected device in the home. Users can tap the three-dot menu on any connected device to access granular controls such as precise dimming (0–100%), colour adjustment or the colour wheel to pick from colours on compatible bulbs. The dashboard is organised by room or function such as bedroom, downstairs and climate to help users find and manage devices quickly, control everything in a group with a single tap or create new groups from the device. Users can also access the most-used routines directly from the home screen or the automations tab and trigger them with one tap.

Echo Hub makes it easier to curate camera feeds on the home screen or by asking Alexa and, with Multiview, users can view up to four live camera streams at once. With a Ring AI Pro subscription, Alexa+ can provide a summary of detected camera events and show relevant footage on the Echo Hub, such as package deliveries or dog walker visits. Alexa+ also integrates with Ring’s video search to find and play specific moments, such as: “Show me all the footage of wildlife in the backyard this week.”

Echo Hub can be used to arm and disarm the Ring alarm with a single tap. With modes, users can automate smart home actions and devices for when they are home or away, such as setting the security system, locking front and back doors, closing blinds or turning lights on and off. Similarly, night and vacation modes manage night-time settings or protect the home during extended absences.

There is access to the most frequently used routines and scenes (preset device preferences such as level of light brightness) directly from the home screen using the automations section or tab. These can be triggered with one tap.

Echo Hub can be connected to preferred speakers and control the audio throughout the home. Users can even control the volume for individual speakers in a multiroom music group directly from the device dashboard. How many active media streams are playing throughout the home can be seen by going to the menu button and selecting active media.

With adaptive content, Echo Hub uses infra-red technology to detect when the homeowner is nearby, naturally transitioning from the customised home screen to the smart home dashboard when they approach. To personalise the device, users can choose to display curated collections or personal photos from their Amazon Photos account. Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage with Amazon Photos.

Echo Hub is built with multiple layers of privacy protection.

The redesigned Echo Hub (www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCR7M9KX) experience is beginning to roll out as a free software update for all Echo Hub owners.