• Tech
  • Gadgets

Amazon Is Building a Sequel to One of Its Most Popular Products

2 minute read
Amazon's Echo is seen on July 29, 2015 in New York City.
Amazon's Echo is seen on July 29, 2015 in New York City.Mark Lennihan—AP
By Lisa Eadicicco

The Amazon Echo is a speaker and personal assistant meant to be used in the home, but a newer version that’s easier to use on the go might be in the works. Amazon is reportedly developing a new wireless Echo speaker roughly the size of a beer can, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The device, which is internally being called “Fox,” will likely be cheaper than the $180 full-sized Echo. The upcoming speaker can be charged via a docking station so that it doesn’t always have to remain plugged in, like the current model.

The drawback, however, is that the smaller Echo will only be able to respond to voice commands after the push of a button, in order to preserve battery life. The current Echo can listen up for voice commands completely hands free.

That feature, however, has stirred some concerns about privacy.

Read more: How Amazon delivers packages in less than an hour

The more portable Echo is designed to fit in the palm of a user’s hand just like a beer can, people familiar with Amazon’s plans told The Journal. It was developed in Amazon’s Lab126, which is the same unit responsible for the company’s lineup of Fire products.

Amazon’s Echo is designed to bring the company’s virtual assistant Alexa to the living room. In addition to asking Alexa to play music from various streaming services, users can also request things like news updates, traffic reports, information on local businesses, and more. It can also control smart home devices such as those made by WeMo, Philips Hue, Wink, and Samsung SmartThings. Soon enough, you’ll even be able to start your Ford car through the Echo.

See the Factories Where Amazon Can Move 426 Items a Second

Employees collect merchandise ordered by customers for shipment from the Amazon.com distribution center in Phoenix, Arizona, Nov. 26, 2012.
Employees collect merchandise ordered by customers for shipment from the Amazon.com distribution center in Phoenix, Arizona, Nov. 26, 2012. David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty Images
A worker collects order items at the Fulfilment Centre for online retail giant Amazon in Peterborough, central England, on Nov. 28, 2013.
A worker collects order items at the Fulfilment Centre for online retail giant Amazon in Peterborough, central England, on Nov. 28, 2013.Andrew Yates—AFP/Getty Images
Merchandise sits on shelves before shipment at the Amazon.com Inc. distribution center in Phoenix, Arizona, Nov. 26, 2012.
Merchandise sits on shelves before shipment at the Amazon.com Inc. distribution center in Phoenix, Arizona, Nov. 26, 2012. David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty Images
An employee packs merchandise for shipment at the Amazon.com Inc. fulfillment center in Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 2, 2013.
An employee packs merchandise for shipment at the Amazon.com Inc. fulfillment center in Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 2, 2013. David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty Images
BRITAIN-US-RETAIL-COMPANY-AMAZON
A picture shows the Fulfilment Centre for online retail giant Amazon in Peterborough, central England, on November 28, 2013, ahead of Cyber Monday on December 2nd, expected to be one of the busiest online shopping days of the year.Andrew Yates—AFP/Getty Images
BRITAIN-US-RETAIL-COMPANY-AMAZON
An employee packs orders in the Fulfilment Centre for online retail giant Amazon in Peterborough, central England, on November 28, 2013, ahead of Cyber Monday on December 2nd, expected to be one of the busiest online shopping days of the year.Andrew Yates—AFP/Getty Images
Inside An Amazon.com Distribution Center On Cyber Monday
Employee Maria Miller loads boxes onto a conveyer belt for shipping at the Amazon.com Inc. distribution center in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty Images
Interior view of the hall of a logistics center of the online shopping company Amazon, taken on March 26, 2014 in Leipzig, eastern Germany.
Interior view of the hall of a logistics center of the online shopping company Amazon, taken on March 26, 2014 in Leipzig, eastern Germany. Peter Ending—AFP/Getty Images
Packages sit in regional delivery dividers ahead of distribution at the Amazon.co.uk Marston Gate 'Fulfillment Center,' the U.K. site of Amazon.com Inc. in Ridgmont, United Kingdom, Dec. 3, 2012.
Packages sit in regional delivery dividers ahead of distribution at the Amazon.co.uk Marston Gate 'Fulfillment Center,' the U.K. site of Amazon.com Inc. in Ridgmont, United Kingdom, Dec. 3, 2012. Simon Dawson—Bloomberg/Getty Images

Since its November 2014 debut, the Echo has been a surprising success for Amazon. It was one of the most popular items ordered through Amazon’s Prime Now delivery service on Christmas Eve this holiday season. The device currently has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon’s website based on more than 30,000 customer reviews.

An Amazon spokesperson said the company doesn’t comment on rumors and speculation.

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com