What Is Amazon Glow In 2026? (How It Works + FAQs)

Amazon is constantly innovating, developing new products that bring fun and convenience to customers‘ lives. One of their newest devices targeted at kids and families is called Amazon Glow. But what exactly is Amazon Glow, and how does it work? This in-depth guide will explain everything you need to know about the Amazon Glow in 2024.

What Is Amazon Glow?

Amazon Glow is a first-of-its-kind immersive projection device combined with a video chat system. It was designed by Amazon for kids ages 3-9 and their families to play, learn, and connect together through interactive content and two-way video calling.

The main component of the Amazon Glow is a 19-inch touchscreen display mounted on a freestanding stand. Integrated into the display is a projector that creates an interactive surface on any flat surface in front of the device, essentially turning the area in front of the Glow into a touchscreen as well. This allows kids to interact with digital content by touching the projection surface. There is also a camera built into the Glow for video chatting.

With Amazon Glow, kids can read books, play games, create art, and join interactive learning activities projected right in front of them. The device utilizes infrared and computer vision technology to sense hands, objects, and surfaces in front of the Glow so that the projected content can respond to tactile input.

While kids are playing with the projected content, far-away family and friends can join in the experience in real-time using the two-way video chat functionality. This allows for immersive, quality time between kids and remote loved ones.

How Does Amazon Glow Work?

The Amazon Glow device relies on a sophisticated integration of custom hardware components and software to enable its interactive capabilities.

Hardware

• Display – The Glow has a 19-inch HD touch display with an integrated 8MP wide-angle camera located above the screen.

• Projector – An infrared laser projector is built into the bottom of the Glow device. It projects content onto surfaces up to 24 inches in front of the device.

• Camera – A depth camera in the Glow‘s base maps objects and surfaces in front of the device and detects tactile interactions.

• Microphones & Speakers – Dual front-firing speakers provide sound. Far-field microphones allow for voice interaction and video chat.

• Processor – Amazon has not released specifics, but the Glow likely runs on a quad-core ARM processor based on its speed and performance.

Software & Technology

• Infrared laser projection – By projecting invisible infrared light and capturing the reflections with the depth camera, the Glow can map surfaces in 3D and detect touch gestures.

• Computer vision – Advanced algorithms analyze the camera imagery to identify surfaces, hands, objects, and interactions with the projected content.

• Touch recognition – Machine learning models interpret the hand and object motions seen by the camera to enable seamless touch interactivity with the projected content.

• Two-way video chat – The 8MP camera, microphones, and WiFi connectivity enable smooth video calling functionality through the Glow app.

This combination of custom hardware and software allows kids to enjoy interactive games, stories, and learning activities on the Glow while simultaneously video chatting with remote family members for meaningful shared experiences.

What Else Does Amazon Glow Include?

In addition to the Glow device itself, a purchase comes with the following:

• 1 year subscription to Amazon Kids+ – This gives access to thousands of books, movies, TV shows, educational apps, and games for kids ages 3-12.

• Amazon Glow content – The Glow comes preloaded with a library of games, activities, recipe cards, and more specifically designed for the device‘s interactive projected experience.

• Worry-free guarantee – Amazon provides a 2-year worry-free guarantee in case of any defects.

• Amazon Glow app – Required to set up the device and enable video chat capabilities. Available on Fire tablets and Android/iOS smartphones and tablets.

There is also an optional Amazon Glow+ subscription available for $2.99 per month which unlocks an additional library of content including:

• Thousands of popular children‘s books
• Hundreds of games like puzzles, coding skills, and brain teasers
• Arts and crafts activities
• Enhanced parenting tools like time limits and content controls

Does Amazon Glow Come With a Guarantee?

Yes, every Amazon Glow purchase includes Amazon‘s 2-year worry-free guarantee. This means that if the device breaks or is defective within 2 years of receiving it, Amazon will replace it at no additional cost.

The worry-free guarantee provides peace of mind that you can get a free replacement Glow if anything goes wrong with the device due to manufacturer defects or ordinary wear-and-tear. Accidental damage is not covered, but manufacturing issues or system malfunctions will be addressed with a replacement unit.

Does Amazon Glow Take Privacy Into Consideration?

Absolutely. Amazon has built a number of privacy features into the Glow to give parents control.

• Camera privacy shutter – A physical sliding shutter disables the camera and microphone for complete privacy.

• Parent Dashboard – Gives parents the ability to review contacts, set screen time limits, filter content and turn off Glow‘s features remotely.

• Limited contacts – Kids can only call pre-approved Glow friends and family set up by parents. Strangers cannot initiate contact.

• No open internet – Kids cannot access any websites or content outside of the preloaded Amazon Kids+ and Glow libraries.

• Data encryption – All personal data and video calls are fully encrypted for data privacy and security.

• Clear audio cues – The Glow provides notifications when the camera and microphone are on/off so kids always know when they are being seen and heard.

With these robust controls, parents can feel confident kids have safe, monitored access to age-appropriate content.

How Much Does Amazon Glow Cost?

The upfront cost of an Amazon Glow device is $249.99. There are also monthly access fees:

• Amazon Kids+ subscription – Included free for 1 year, then $2.99 per month thereafter

• Amazon Glow+ subscription – Optional but provides expanded content access for $2.99 per month

There are also options to pay for the hardware over time through 5 monthly payments of $49.99 instead of the full upfront cost.

In total, the ongoing costs are:

• Hardware: $249.99 upfront or $49.99 x 5 months

• Amazon Kids+: Free for 1 year, $2.99 per month after

• Amazon Glow+: Optional $2.99 per month subscription

So the total cost ranges from $249.99 upfront to $324.88 if paying over 5 months and subscribing to both content libraries. There are no contracts so you can cancel optional subscriptions anytime.

How Do You Set Up Amazon Glow?

Getting started with your Amazon Glow is straightforward:

1. Unpack the Glow device and plug it in.

2. Connect the Glow to your home WiFi network.

3. Download the Amazon Glow app on your phone or tablet.

4. Follow the in-app setup instructions to link the Glow to your Amazon account.

5. Add any approved Glow contacts you want your child to video call.

6. Personalize settings like screen time limits.

7. Let your child explore their content library and make their first video call!

The Glow app walks you through each step of the process. Setup takes about 10-15 minutes from unboxing to making the first call.

The app also allows parents to manage contacts, adjust settings, review activity, add content filters, and disable features remotely from their own mobile device.

How Is Amazon Glow Different From Other Devices?

There are a few key ways the Amazon Glow differentiates itself from other interactive devices for kids:

• Interactive projected space – The infrared laser projection system allows kids to enjoy hands-on interaction with digital content, not just a flat screen.

• Two-way video chat – Seamless integration with a video calling platform enables virtual shared experiences between kids and remote family/friends.

• Growing content libraries – Amazon Kids+ and Glow+ provide ever-expanding content and activities optimized for the interactive format.

• Designed for young kids – From hardware durability to content selection, Amazon Glow is tailored for children ages 3-9 compared to tablets.

• Private platform – Glow does not allow any public internet access or random contacts – only pre-approved friends and family can connect.

• Parental controls – Robust controls like time limits, content filtering, and purchase restrictions provide oversight and peace of mind.

These capabilities combined make Amazon Glow a unique product focused on immersive, social, and developmental experiences for young children.

What Content is Available on Amazon Glow?

The Amazon Glow offers a wide variety of kid-friendly content across three libraries:

Pre-Loaded Content

These apps, games, activities, and features come loaded on the Glow device:

• Interactive games: Tangram puzzles, memory matching, interactive coloring pages
• Educational apps: Interactive word searches, math puzzles, basic coding skills
• Creative apps: Coloring, drawing, and sticker packs from recognizable brands like Disney
• Recipe cards: Step-by-step cooking cards for kids to make recipes along with an adult
• Kid-friendly interface: Easy navigation designed for young children

1 Year Amazon Kids+

Included with the Glow is a free 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ which provides access to:

• Over 10,000 books including popular titles like Pete the Cat and Dr. Seuss
• Over 1,000 movies and TV shows like Team Umizoomi, Arthur, and Dora the Explorer
• Educational apps covering reading, math, science, problem-solving and more
• Audiobooks to build listening and comprehension skills

Amazon Glow+

The optional $2.99 per month Amazon Glow+ subscription unlocks additional content including:

• Expanded book library: Thousands more children‘s book titles of all genres and reading levels
• Games: Tutoring games for math, reading, puzzles, memory games, and other skills
• Arts and crafts: Step-by-step interactive drawing guides and coloring pages
• Discovery Activities: Interactive learning content for ABCs, shapes, patterns, and more
• Learning games from Avenues: Award-winning curriculum-based games developed by early childhood experts

Does Amazon Glow Have Parental Controls?

Yes, Amazon Glow comes with several parental control features that allow parents to customize and monitor their child‘s experience:

• Contact management – Parents approve all contacts that their child can interact with over video chat in the Glow app. No unknown users can initiate contact.

• Time limits – Set daily time limits for Glow usage that automatically shut off the device when reached.

• Content filters – Filter content by age or block individual titles that you don‘t want your child accessing.

• Purchase controls – Disable in-app purchases or require parental approval to buy Glow+ subscriptions or other content.

• Activity review – Monitor your child‘s activity, recently viewed titles, and chat history from your Amazon Parent Dashboard.

• Remote device management – From your mobile device, you can pause the Glow or enable a "bedtime" mode to restrict nighttime usage.

With these controls, parents can feel confident allowing their young children to independently explore the Glow while still maintaining healthy boundaries and oversight.

Is Alexa Built into Amazon Glow?

When Amazon Glow first launched in 2021, the device did not support Alexa. Amazon‘s voice assistant technology was not integrated into the initial version.

As of early 2023, Alexa functionality has still not been added. The Amazon Glow does not currently support voice commands or have any built-in Alexa capabilities.

It‘s unclear if Amazon plans to add Alexa integration in a future Glow software update. Amazon has made no official announcements regarding plans for Alexa support.

Without Alexa, the Amazon Glow still offers hands-free voice control for basic functions like pausing videos or muting sound. But you cannot ask questions, get information from Alexa, control smart home devices, or utilize other Alexa features typically found on Amazon products.

The focus of Glow remains on screen interaction and video chatting without the need for voice-based assistance. But integration with Alexa could be a possibility down the road as Amazon continues advancing the product.

Do Customers Like Amazon Glow?

Based on customer reviews across websites like Amazon, BestBuy, and Reddit, Amazon Glow has received largely positive feedback, indicating it is enjoyed by many families.

• The Amazon Glow currently has a 4.4 out of 5 star average rating on Amazon based on over 900 customer reviews.

• 72% of Amazon reviews are 5 stars, with most negative reviews stemming from hardware defects experienced by a minority of customers.

• On BestBuy, the Glow scores an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars across over 100 reviews. Positive feedback focuses on fun, interactive content and easy video chat access to family.

• Reddit threads demonstrate positive experiences using the Glow, with users noting that both kids and parents enjoy using it. Parents particularly like the privacy safeguards.

• Critical feedback is mostly around hardware issues some users faced. Many noted Amazon promptly replaced defective units under the warranty, resolving their issues.

Overall, the majority of hands-on customer perspectives reflect that families are having an engaging and meaningful experience using the Amazon Glow for remote interaction, education, and entertainment.

Conclusion

The Amazon Glow aims to bring remote families closer together through an immersive projected experience combined with two-way video chat. Key takeaways:

• It uses infrared projection and computer vision technology to create an interactive touchspace for kids ages 3-9.

• The Glow promotes learning, imagination, and real-time connection with preset content as well as expanding Amazon Kids+ and Glow+ libraries.

• Thoughtful privacy and parental control features ensure kids are accessing appropriate, high-quality content safely.

• The all-in cost for hardware and subscriptions ranges from $250 to $325.

• Setup takes just minutes with the easy-to-use Amazon Glow app.

• Both children and parents are responding positively to the interactive and educational experiences the Amazon Glow enables.

Given Amazon‘s reputation for innovation and its family-oriented services, the Glow represents an exciting evolution in smart devices for families looking to keep kids engaged, educated, and connected to loved ones remotely.