Alexa Plus adds auto‑buy on price drops; Echo Show gets Shopping Essentials hub
Why does a voice assistant start handling purchases the way a price‑tracking site does? While Amazon rolls out Alexa Plus, the service now watches product prices and triggers a purchase the moment a discount hits a preset threshold. It’s a shift from manual “add to cart” prompts to a hands‑free, automated checkout that could change how shoppers think about impulse buys.
But here’s the reality: the feature is limited to items you’ve pre‑approved, and it only works when the price dip meets your criteria. Meanwhile, Echo Show owners are getting a separate upgrade—a Shopping Essentials hub that consolidates product browsing, order tracking and delivery updates on the screen. The two moves suggest Amazon is tightening the loop between discovery and transaction across both audio‑only and visual devices.
The question now is whether consumers will trust an algorithm to spend for them without a final tap.
Alexa Plus can automatically buy stuff when the price drops.
Alexa Plus can automatically buy stuff when the price drops Echo Show devices are getting a new Shopping Essentials experience that makes it easier to buy products and track orders in one place. Echo Show devices are getting a new Shopping Essentials experience that makes it easier to buy products and track orders in one place. These Alexa Plus price-tracking features, which were announced in February and started rolling out to Alexa Plus users in June, can monitor products in your Amazon basket and wish list, or track specific items as instructed.
For example, it's possible to ask it to notify you if the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer falls below $300. The smart assistant can also be told to automatically purchase stuff the moment it falls to a desired price, using your default Amazon shipping address and payment option to complete the order. These auto-buy capabilities came to Amazon's Rufus AI chatbot last month, allowing people to use the same features on the Amazon Shopping app.
While it's nice to have Alexa alert you to price drops for items in your basket, users should be wary about the feature ruining the gift-giving season for people in the same household.
Will shoppers welcome automation? Alexa Plus now promises to buy items automatically once they dip below a user‑set price, a feature that mirrors the proactive alerts of Amazon’s Rufus chatbot. The new capability rolls out alongside a refreshed Shopping Essentials hub on Echo Show 15 and 21, where users can view orders and browse deals in a single interface.
It simplifies tracking, but it also raises questions about consent and oversight; the article doesn’t explain how users confirm purchases or adjust thresholds after a sale. Moreover, the extent of integration with existing Amazon accounts remains unclear, as does any safeguard against accidental spending. For those who prefer manual control, the option to disable auto‑buy appears to exist, though the details are not spelled out.
In practice, the combined experience could reduce missed discounts, yet it hinges on transparent settings and reliable notifications. Until those mechanisms are fully disclosed, the true impact on everyday shopping habits stays uncertain.
Further Reading
- Amazon Alexa Plus launches with new generative AI, ‘Buy for Me’ agent and proactive shopping features - CX Today
- Introducing Alexa+, the next generation of Alexa, built on generative AI and agentic capabilities - About Amazon (Official Amazon Blog)
- Amazon Echo 2025: Smarter Speakers & Displays with expanded Alexa+ shopping and smart home features - Gearbrain
- Amazon releases refreshed devices built for Alexa+ at its 2025 hardware event - TechDogs
- Amazon rolls out Alexa Plus upgrade with new AI features including reservations and shopping automation - WCPO 9 News (YouTube)
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Common Questions Answered
How does Alexa Plus’s auto‑buy feature determine when to purchase an item?
Alexa Plus monitors product prices and automatically initiates a purchase only when the price falls below a user‑set threshold. The feature applies solely to items the user has pre‑approved, ensuring purchases align with personal budget limits.
What limitations does the Alexa Plus auto‑buy functionality have?
The auto‑buy capability is restricted to products the user has explicitly approved and only triggers when the discount meets the preset price‑drop criteria. It does not operate for unapproved items or price changes that fall short of the defined threshold.
Which Echo Show models receive the new Shopping Essentials hub, and what does it consolidate?
The refreshed Shopping Essentials hub is rolling out to Echo Show 15 and Echo Show 21 devices. It consolidates order tracking, deal browsing, and product purchasing into a single, easy‑to‑navigate interface.
When were the Alexa Plus price‑tracking features announced and when did they start rolling out?
Amazon announced the Alexa Plus price‑tracking and auto‑buy features in February, and the rollout to eligible Alexa Plus users began in June. This timeline aligns with the broader launch of the Shopping Essentials experience on Echo Show devices.