Having good taste is expensive. Alas, it has always been thus.
But $200 for a clock is pushing it, even for a snob like me.
That's unfortunate, because I love the design of Amazon's new Echo Time smart alarm.
Earlier this week, Amazon launched a bunch of new Echo smart home devices, and Mashable was there for the unveiling. The new Echo devices have less of a Death Star vibe, and the Echo Time stands out to me for its friendly design. It's exactly the kind of product I can imagine installing on my nightstand.
I really do love the design of this smart alarm. It doesn't have quite the same appeal as the new Apple HomeView for me (I'm not a huge fan of the knitted fabric cover on Amazon smart devices), but the round shape and pleasant, customizable clock faces work extremely well together. I even like the optional stand.
Why does everything have to be so expensive right now? Whether you're booking a hotel, ordering food, buying a phone, or looking for an alarm clock to break your morning phone habits, prices are painful. Amazon's last smart alarm, the Echo Spot, was priced at a much more reasonable $79.99. That is, until Amazon raised prices on the Echo Spot to $109.99 in August. Now, the company is asking us to pay even more.
The Echo Time isn't even the only pricey alarm clock I'm lusting after in 2026. Stylish, Instagram-famous analog alarms like the Nanu Arc Alarm Clock cost even more, at $299.
This is why I play the lottery.
The Echo Time: What you get for the money
The Echo Time does work really hard to justify the price tag. And, for the record, I really wouldn't be mad about getting this as a Christmas gift this year. I just don't know that I can justify the money myself.
Billed as "your Alexa smart clock," the Echo Time has hundreds of clock faces for its 3.2-inch circular touchscreen, and with the AI-powered Alexa+, you can even use it to control smart lights, set the perfect sleep temperature, or open your blinds. The Echo Time also doubles as a noise machine, playing soothing sounds as you fall asleep at night or meditate in the morning. Amazon says its built-in speaker offers lossless high-definition audio for listening to music.
The Echo Time also comes in a kid-friendly version. More importantly, your privacy is also considered with the Echo Time, which is "built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a microphones enable/disable button."
I've long since learned that having good taste is expensive, but in 2026, having any kind of taste is expensive. This, despite the fact that President Donald Trump promised to bring down prices at the pump, grocery stores, and beyond, telling crowds, "Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again." Obviously, that's not what happened. Tech companies, in particular, keep raising prices as they pass along the higher costs of the memory squeeze spurred by the AI industry.
So, you'll have to decide if your budget can bear a $199.99 smart alarm.
My verdict: Wait for Black Friday and see how much the Echo Time is going to cost when it inevitably goes on sale.
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today.