Amazon Astro, first unveiled in 2021, has maintained an enigmatic presence in the years since its debut. The home robot remains accessible only through an invite system and has shied away from public appearances at conventions or press conferences. This begs the question: What’s the status of Amazon Astro in 2024? Is there a release date? Have new features been introduced? And how will the discontinuation of Astro for Business affect its development?
The shutdown of Astro for Business, announced this summer, saw Amazon discontinuing the product and offering refunds to buyers. The robots, deemed unusable after September 25th, are unable to be repurposed or reprogrammed. However, a positive development emerged from this decision as Amazon revealed that the Astro for Business team will now contribute to the development of Astro for Home. This shift in resources could potentially lead to accelerated progress or the integration of unique new features for the home robot.
The landscape of home robotics has witnessed significant changes since Astro’s introduction in 2021. While Amazon has remained relatively quiet about its plans, several competitors have emerged. Notably, EBO X and the revamped Samsung Ballie have entered the market, both featuring orb-shaped designs aimed at interacting with families and controlling smart homes. Reviews of EBO X, while acknowledging its limitations, highlighted its appealing features, including a 4K security camera and various smart home functionalities. Ballie, on the other hand, incorporates a built-in projector, enabling it to display images and videos on surfaces like floors, walls, or ceilings. Although smaller than Amazon Astro, these robots present a formidable challenge, showcasing innovative capabilities. It will be intriguing to observe if Amazon draws inspiration from these competitors and integrates similar features into Astro. Considering Astro’s larger size, there’s ample room for incorporating a projector or other hardware upgrades.
Despite the dynamic changes in the homebot arena, Amazon Astro has remained relatively silent in 2024. The discontinuation of Astro for Business stands as the most significant news surrounding the robot. Beyond that, there have been no announcements regarding new features, design updates, or a potential release date. Amazon might consider integrating AI features to enhance Astro’s utility as a companion and conversationalist, though nothing has been confirmed officially. As the Astro for Business team focuses their efforts on Astro for Home, there’s a possibility we might hear about their progress in the coming months. We’re hopeful for specific details regarding the team’s contributions to Astro’s development, or at least a timeline for its launch. However, at this point, we’re left with the same level of knowledge as we had last year. For the most recent information and to request an invite, you can visit the official Amazon Astro store page.
