Amazon has confirmed that 97% of its existing devices can support Alexa+, its new, more advanced version of the popular voice assistant. The announcement signals a major shift in Amazon’s strategy: instead of pushing users to buy new hardware, the company is focusing on software upgrades that bring new AI-powered features to devices people already own.
Alexa+ represents Amazon’s biggest overhaul of Alexa since its launch over a decade ago. The upgraded assistant is designed to be more conversational, context-aware, and capable of handling complex tasks that previously required multiple commands or third-party skills.
What Alexa+ Changes
Unlike the original Alexa, which often relied on rigid voice commands, Alexa+ uses generative AI to better understand natural language. Users can ask follow-up questions, give incomplete instructions, or change their minds mid-request, and Alexa+ can keep up.
For example, instead of saying multiple commands to control smart home devices, users can issue a single, conversational request. Alexa+ can also summarize information, help plan routines, and assist with everyday tasks like shopping, reminders, and scheduling in a more fluid way.
Amazon says these improvements are largely software-based, which is why the vast majority of its devices can handle the upgrade.
Which Devices Are Supported?
According to Amazon, 97% of Echo devices and other Alexa-enabled hardware already in customers’ homes are compatible with Alexa+. This includes many older Echo speakers, smart displays, and other connected devices.
Only a small number of early-generation devices lack the processing power or memory required to run the new features smoothly. Amazon has not released a full public list yet, but the company has emphasized that most users will not need to replace their hardware.
This approach could help Amazon avoid one of the biggest frustrations in the smart home market: rapid hardware obsolescence.
A Smarter Alexa without New Hardware
By prioritizing backward compatibility, Amazon is positioning Alexa+ as an AI upgrade rather than a product replacement. This contrasts with earlier eras of smart assistants, where new features often required buying newer models.
For users, this means improved performance, smarter conversations, and expanded capabilities without additional spending. For Amazon, it strengthens Alexa’s presence at a time when AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Apple’s Siri upgrades are competing for attention.
Why is this important?
Alexa has long been one of the most widely used voice assistants in the world, but critics have argued that it fell behind in intelligence and flexibility. Alexa+ appears to be Amazon’s answer to that criticism.
Supporting nearly all existing devices also helps Amazon protect its massive installed base. Millions of homes already rely on Alexa for music, smart home control, and daily routines. Making Alexa+ widely available could re-energize usage and keep users from switching to competing platforms.
What’s next?
Amazon says Alexa+ will roll out gradually, with features expanding over time. Some advanced capabilities may require an internet connection or cloud processing, but the company insists performance will remain smooth on supported devices.
For most Alexa users, the message is simple: your device is probably ready.
