Samsung is planning to launch a new Bixby-enabled smart speaker in the first half of 2018. The brand is planning to introduce the smart speaker around $200 and it plans to make the device available in different markets, including the US.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the company will have a strong focus on audio quality and the smart speaker will also manage to connect home appliances like lights and locks. The speaker will run on company’s in-house Bixby voice assistant to rival the likes of Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. Further, the speaker will synchronise with Samsung TVs, smartphones and other devices as well.
The report further highlights that the brand is currently working on improving the device’s ability to do voice-based web searches and just like Apple HomePod, the speaker will not come with a screen but will feature a light on the top for limited visual feedback. The company is planning to launch the speakers in different colours and one of its prototypes versions in testing has the size between Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod. To recall, DJ Koh, President, Samsung Mobile Division, has already confirmed that the company will soon launch a smart speaker.
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Samsung’s entry to the smart speaker is already quite late as a majority of the tech giants have come up with a smart speaker that features their own assistants. Google has Google Home with Assistant, Amazon has a strong lineup Eco speakers with Alexa, Apple recently took the wraps off from HomePod which will feature Siri and Microsoft’s Invoke comes Cortana. It would be interesting to see whether the brand will be able to make some lasting impression in the smart speaker segment.