Trepidation, hurt morale precede last-of-its-kind Amazon hardware event: report

Enlarge / David Limp at Amazon’s hardware event in Seattle, Washington, on September 27, 2017. (credit: Daniel Berman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As Amazon prepares for its annual hardware event tomorrow, Reuters is reporting feelings of trepidation and weakened morale among the company’s flailing hardware team. The beleaguered department is said to be worried about the potential of upcoming products, while being pressured by a push for cheaper hardware and the impending departure of long-time department head David Limp.

Reuters’ report today cited “more than 15 current and former employees” of Amazon’s Lab126 for developing hardware. The publication said it was able to uncover five devices Amazon was developing:

• Carbon monoxide detector with Alexa
• Household energy consumption monitor with Alexa
• Digital measuring device with Alexa
• Virus-testing device that was originally “intended to detect COVID,” Reuters said
• Home projector

Some of Reuters’ sources pointed to additional projects, but the publication couldn’t verify full details. Amazon says it doesn’t comment on products in development.