Huawei goes for a misleading moniker with the AI Cube-- the device is technically a cylinder, but it does make an interesting combination of smart speaker, 4G modem and wifi router.
The result of a Huawei-Amazon collaboration presented at IFA 2018, the AI Cube runs on Alexa and promises a more convenient way to both connect to the internet and control smart devices. A slot for an LTE SIM card makes it a 4G hot spot, while an ethernet port allows use as an 802.11ac wifi router. The router is dual-band, working on the 2.4 and 5GHz bands, and transmits data over LAN at up to 1200Mbps.
On the audio side, the AI Cube delivers 360-degree audio through a 400ml sound cavity and an aluminium diaphragm. A propietary "Huawei Histen" solution further enhances audio with virtual bass, linear phase equalisation, adaptive gain control and fair-field voice recognition. The actual device stands 218mm tall, and carries x4 microphones.
Huawei says the AI Cube arrives in Europe just in time for the holiday season.