Whether you want to know the news headlines, how many calories are in an avocado (around 250), quick and failsafe scone recipes or whether the cat misses you now you’re back in the office, Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant can be found baked into certain speakers, waiting patiently for your next query. Amazon’s most expensive smart device to date, the 3rd-gen Echo Show 10 launched earlier this year, swiftly followed by Google’s more budget screen-enhanced option.
Apple HomePod Mini Apple’s new Siri-powered smart speaker is small but mighty Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 8.4 x 9.8 x 9.8 Power: 20W Features: Bluetooth 5.0, Siri, Apple Music, AirPlay 2, music over wi-fi Connections: None TODAY’S BEST DEALS £69 View at John Lewis £89 View at argos.co.uk £99 View at O2 Mobiles Reasons to buy + Sophisticated, engaging sound + Substantial smart skills + Impressive music discovery Reasons to avoid – Limited third-party service support – Lacks a full control app
Get its swirling orb of coloured light up and running (when Siri is listening or processing) though, and you realise you’ve got a classy performer on your hands. From the moment we start playing music, it’s clear that the HomePod Mini comfortably outperforms its size and price, quite frankly embarrassing its direct competition with the sophistication and maturity of its sound. Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation) The new Echo Dot is the most compelling and affordable case for choosing Alexa Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 10 x 10 x 8.9 Power: 15W Features: Alexa inbuilt, Bluetooth, music over wi-fi Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS £28.99 View at argos.co.uk £28.99 View at Currys £34.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Packed with features + Premium design Reasons to avoid – No JBL Connect support – Fussy over placement But by updating its most popular and affordable Echo device with this degree of skill, Amazon has laid down the most compelling case yet for choosing Alexa. JBL Link Portable For a great, affordable, durable home smart speaker, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a product that can match JBL’s Link Portable Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 17 x 8.8 x 8.8 Power: 20W Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v4.2, Google Assistant built-in, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, music over wi-fi Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS £139.99 View at Acer UK Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Packed with features + Premium design Reasons to avoid – No JBL Connect support – Fussy over placement
Amazon Echo (4th generation) All in all, the Echo Dot with Clock is the best-sounding and most useful such smart speaker Amazon has designed so far Specifications Virtual assistant: Alexa 3.5mm audio out: Yes Wi-fi: Yes Dimensions (hwd): 14 x 14 x 13cm Weight: 970g TODAY’S BEST DEALS £28.99 View at BT Shop £54.99 View at argos.co.uk Prime £89.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive bass in a small design + Lots of smart features + Classy build and finish Reasons to avoid – Slightly underwhelming treble – Not fully omnidirectional The cylinder design has gone, in favour of a Magic 8-Ball-esque sphere, and perhaps fittingly you can ask it any question you want – as long as it’s plugged in to power and linked to your wi-fi.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) The weightiest and most refined little speaker we’ve heard in a while Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 4.6 x 13.3 x 13.3cm Power: 2x30W Features: Alexa inbuilt, water/dustproof IP67, Bluetooth 5.1, stereo-pairing mode Connections: USB-C TODAY’S BEST DEALS £159 View at Peter Tyson £199 View at John Lewis Prime £199 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound, weighty bass + Competent Alexa integration + Stunning build and finish Reasons to avoid – Nothing at this level The new A1 supports Qualcomm’s latest aptX Adaptive Bluetooth 5.1 codec, and of course, Alexa is built-in (in a manner of speaking – it’s a Bluetooth-only speaker).
Throw in its classy, well made design, easy to use operation and the bonus of Alexa (as long as your smartphone is nearby and connected to wi-fi), and you’re looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait. Specifications Virtual assistant: Alexa Wi-fi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Outputs: 3.5mm Dimensions (hwd): 25 x 23 x 17cm Weight: 2.56kg Screen : 10.1-in (1280 x 800p) Camera: 13MP Reasons to buy + Large, responsive touchscreen + Added security camera functionality + Ease of use Reasons to avoid – Can be beaten for sound quality – No YouTube ‘skill’ support It’s the most expensive smart device Amazon has produced by a whole £20 ($20, AU$50) but when you consider that its 10.1in Full HD screen can now tilt and twist to follow you around the room, and that both the speaker and camera performance have been significantly improved from the previous-generation model, that price hike begins to look entirely reasonable.
If you want to make sure the family silver hasn’t been pinched, see if a parcel has arrived or just spy on the cat, you now have a security camera that zooms in and out, depending on how close a moving object is to the screen.
To put the Google Nest Hub’s 7in (1024 x 600) touchscreen into context, the display real estate is only marginally bigger than the 6.7in one sported by the largest iPhone 12 Pro Max when measured on the diagonal – and here, there’s no camera for selfies, video calls or security duties. But thanks to Disney Plus, Sleep Sensing tech and a good (if not great) sound, the Google Nest Hub is a worthy proposition depending on your priorities.
There’s no denying the Echo Dot with Clock is more comfortable keeping a tempo as well as offering more rhythmic drive than previous iterations. Amazon Echo Studio An Echo smart speaker truly fit for audiophiles is a bold claim – and the Echo Studio almost delivers Specifications Virtual assistant: Alexa Wi-fi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Outputs: 3.5mm, mini optical digital Dimensions (hwd): 21 x 18 x 18cm Weight: 3.5kg TODAY’S BEST DEALS £139.99 View at argos.co.uk Prime £189.99 View at Amazon £189.99 View at John Lewis Reasons to buy + Decent spread of sound + Clear, precise midrange + Hi-res audio support Reasons to avoid – Overcooked bass hampers timing – Hit and miss 3D audio
The speaker sits you in the jaws of a tall soundstage, where there’s a good amount of detail to percussion and high frequencies. Although it can be beaten for sound quality, this is an £80 box of tricks that opens up the world of the digital assistant to a whole new audience for both audio and video; and if that’s what you’re after, this is about as good as you’ll get – especially for this kind of money.
There’s Spotify and Tidal integration, the ability to chat with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the option to build a multi-room system around it using other Sonos speakers or AirPlay 2. Specifications Virtual assistant: Alexa Wi-fi: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Battery life: 16hrs Dimensions: 23.7 x 8.8cm Inputs: Micro USB TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 338 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Dynamic, detailed sound + Goes really very loud + Excellent build and design Reasons to avoid – Presentation is slightly lean – Not fully featured just yet
More crucially, the Megablast joins the brand’s portfolio of five-star Bluetooth speakers that are simply fun to use and listen to. Available for the price of an Addon C5 plus the cost of an Amazon Echo product bolt-on, it brings the whole package into one tidy, easy-to-set-up box.
And with that same Award-winning sound, this is the ideal combination for those who want an excellent Alexa wireless speaker that can be expanded into a full-blown multiroom system. It looks like your average smart speaker, but the Citation 100 produces bass by the bucket-load and can play extremely loud without strain.
This Harman Kardon speaker has a pretty standard, minimalist design, and it keeps connections to a minimum, too, with no aux input. Sonically, while the Harman Kardon Citation 100 isn’t exactly balanced, it is otherwise a tasteful-sounding smart speaker with enough scale to fill most rooms.
The best smart speaker 2021: which one should you buy?
The best smart speaker not only lets you listen to your favorite playlists and albums, but builds on this with the addition of a voice assistant that can complete tasks for you. From setting timers and alarms to serving up the weather report, latest news headlines or sports scores, and even answering your burning questions, voice assistants can be extremely handy.
Smart speakers manufactured by Amazon, Google, or Apple (the brands behind the relevant voice assistant) will only come with their own virtual helper installed. They can be a handy tool for staying in touch with friends and family by making voice calls to other smart speakers, even if they’re not in your home, or smartphones with specific apps installed.
Smart speakers can even double as a chime, playing a sound when a video doorbell is pressed or your home security camera detects motion. Sonos One The best-sounding smart speaker on the market Specifications Voice assistant: Alexa or Google Assistant Dimensions: 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inch / 16.15 x 11.97 x 11.97 cm Speaker: 2 x class-D digital amplifiers, 1 x mid-woofer, 1 x tweeter Physical controls: Volume up/down, previous/next track, play/pause, microphone mute Power: Mains TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Best Buy View at Walmart 2 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Rich sound + Access to Google Assistant or Alexa + Mic array picks up commands even from a distance Reasons to avoid – Expensive compared to the rest of the market
The latest spherical Amazon Echo is a complete revamp of the company’s flagship smart speaker, and the aesthetic overhaul, while impressive, is just the half of it: with improved audio, a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, and a new AZ1 neural edge processor that will reduce the time it takes for Alexa to respond to commands, it’s a complete makeover. Apple HomePod mini The best smart speaker for Siri Specifications Voice assistant: Siri Dimensions: 3.3 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch / 8.43 x 9.79 x 9.79 cm Speaker: Full-range driver and dual passive radiators for deep bass and crisp high frequencies Physical controls: Volume up/down, previous/next track, play/pause, summon Siri Power: Mains TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Best Buy View at Staples Reasons to buy + Incredible sound + Sleek design + Only smart speaker with Siri built-in Reasons to avoid – Needs Apple Music for full function – Small number of compatible smart home devices
It’s also the only smart speaker on the market with Siri built-in, as Apple discontinued the bigger HomePod in early 2021, and stocks are no longer available.
Google Nest Audio The best smart speaker for Google Assistant Specifications Voice assistant: Google Assistant Dimensions: 4.9 x 4.9 x 3.1 inch / 17.5 x 12.4 x 7.8 cm Speaker: 1 x 75mm woofer, 1 x1 9mm tweeter Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute Power: Mains TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Crutchfield View at Best Buy 757 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Subtle and unassuming design + Picks up voice commands very well + Quick, clear responses Reasons to avoid – Missing detail in the mids and trebles – Doesn’t function as a Zigbee hub
It already hooks into some of the largest platforms now available by including Nest, Philips, and Samsung’s SmartThings – however, there’s no built-in Zigbee hub as with the latest Amazon Echo. Amazon Echo Studio The best smart speaker for home cinema set-ups Specifications Voice assistant: Alexa Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.9 x 8.1 inch / 17.5 x 17.5 x 20.6 cm Speaker: 1 x 1 inch tweeter, 3 x 2 inch mid-range speakers, 1 x 5.25 inch woofer Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute Power: Mains TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime Low Stock View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Impressive sound quality + Pair two together for an affordable home cinema set up + Doubles as a Zigbee hub Reasons to avoid – Large size won’t suit all – Requires subscription for 3D audio
Bose Smart Speaker 500 The best smart speaker for audiophiles Specifications Voice assistant: Alexa or Google Assistant Dimensions: 8.67 x 6.7 x 4.3 inch / 20.3 x 17 x 10.9 cm Speaker: Not provided Physical controls: Volume up/down, previous/next track, play/pause, microphone mute Power: Mains TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Recommended Retailer View at HP (US) View at Best Buy 3 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Excellent sound quality + Elegant stylish design + Preset buttons for quick access to playlists Reasons to avoid – One of the most expensive smart speakers on the market – Hit and miss Wi-Fi setup An eight microphone array, designed for near and far-field listening, lets you talk to Alexa or Google Assistant even when music is playing loud. However, you won’t find a Zigbee hub inside, unlike its more expensive sibling and the affordable price tag does mean that while the sound can fill a room, it’s directional and shallow. Braun LE01 wireless speaker The best smart speaker for reto style Specifications Voice assistant: Google Assistant Dimensions: 27.6 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch / 70 x 27 x 9.9 cm Speaker: 3 x front-firing drivers, 2 x passive radiators and 3 x class D amplifiers Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute Power: Mains TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Refined sound and build quality + Apple AirPlay 2 and Chromecast streaming + Google Assistant voice control Reasons to avoid – Basic app – No HDMI or optical audio
A re-imagining of the iconic minimalist LE1 speaker from 1959, the Braun LE01 not only offers retro styling but also sounds great and has Google Assistant built-in too – making it the perfect modern update. Simple to use, the Braun LE01 offers a premium built quality along with AirPlay 2 and built-in Chromecast so if you have either of these smartphone platforms, you can stream to it without having to compress music. On test, we found the app basic, and there’s no HDMI or optical audio so it can’t be connected to your TV set-up. Also look for models that can be paired together to create stereo sound if you’re planning to use a smart speaker as part of your home cinema set-up.
As we’ve already mentioned, a smart speaker can do more than just offer a way to listen to your favorite music streaming service, or the albums and tracks stored on your smartphone. The built-in voice assistant can control the playback of your music for you; adjusting the volume, skipping tracks and even selecting a specific song, album or playlist for you, leaving your hands-free.
It can also provide a weather report, offer an audible summary of the day’s headlines, and answer your burning questions; whether that’s ‘what is the tallest mountain in the world’ or simply ‘who is the Queen of England’. Smart Speakers can even be used for light entertainment in the form of jokes and games and also allow you to stay in touch with friends and family by making audio calls through the device.
Sure Amazon’s Echo range is very similar to the Google Home, but the Show, Spot, and Dot look quite different – check out our guide to the best Alexa speakers for more information.
8 Best Smart Speakers (2021): Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
It sets the bar in a number of areas, including sound quality, stable multiroom audio, and smart-home utility. It’s worth noting that Sonos was in a bit of hot water last year over the fact that its older speakers weren’t going to get software updates. There is now a fix to support legacy hardware, but unfortunately, this is a reality of computer-powered speakers; unlike their analog predecessors, you can’t expect them to last forever. Alexa also makes getting news and weather updates convenient, and it’s dead simple to set kitchen timers and alarm clocks.
The Best Smart Speakers for 2021
As our homes get smarter, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri have become our reliable digital helpers, living inside our devices and jumping at our spoken commands to set timers, play music, and teach kids how to spell those difficult homework words. The top choices don’t work very well together, and if you want to equip multiple rooms, you should stick to a single platform. Amazon continues to develop Alexa and has recently begun adding its new A1Z neural processor to Echo speakers to help improve machine learning, but for now Google and Apple are easier to get along with. Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri can control pretty much any smart home device nowadays.
Most newer smart home devices are Wi-Fi-based and hubless, or otherwise work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you should be covered. You’ll then be able to create rooms, groups, and multi-step routines, and control your devices remotely, but only from iOS.
These skills do everything from giving you your local transit status, to checking your credit card balance, to trivia about your favorite college football team, to playing games and singing songs. It tends to accept more free-form conversation rather than demanding specific word-by-word syntax, making it easier to use with these skills.
Alexa and Google Assistant both connect to Spotify Premium accounts, as well as to Pandora, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio for free.
Most smart speakers also support Bluetooth connections so you can stream audio directly from your phone, tablet, or computer.
The Echo, HomePod mini, and Nest Audio sound notably better, as do most smart speakers in the $100 to $200 price range. Amazon has more third-party skills, but Google is built into all Android phones and has better natural-language query understanding, and that makes a big difference.
Best Bluetooth speakers with voice assistant support in India
The Tagg Sonic Angle 1 also features a bass radiator so those wanting a bass-heavy speaker can consider this too. Connectivity options on the Tagg Sonic Angle 1 include Bluetooth 4.2 and a 3.5mm headphone jack for wired usage. It has a built-in mic so you can take calls and also access Google Assistant and Siri for hands-free control.
It also features a USB Type-C so you can get faster charging than most Bluetooth speakers in the same range. The JBL Charge 3 is also equipped with dual external passive radiators for that extra bass. The JBL Charge 3 offers some funky designs to choose from in addition to black and grey options. The JBL Clip 3 also supports Google Assistant and Siri that can be activated by long-pressing the remote button. It’s a highly portable Bluetooth speaker with a strap that makes it easy to carry around for outdoor activities.
The highlight of the Mi Outdoor Bluetooth speaker is its 20-hour battery life which is quite long for its price.
Best smart speaker for 2021
Apple, Amazon and Google all sell good smart speakers, and the competition between these tech giants leads to continually improved products. Amazon gets the credit for the popularization of smart speakers with the original Echo device and the Alexa voice assistant, but now there’s a whole market of competitors, each with their pros and cons. When shopping for the best smart speaker for your needs, the key differences you’ll encounter largely come down to price, size and audio quality. Pretty much all of your smart device options include multiroom audio and let you turn on the lights, play music, ask a question, set reminders and more with a simple voice command.
If that sounds appealing to you, it might be time to give in to the growing hype of this burgeoning category of devices and buy a smart speaker. If you’re platform-agnostic, and don’t need to choose between an Amazon Alexa or Google speaker, the range of choices might seem intimidating at first.
While Google Assistant is a little smarter, Alexa works with more smart home devices and makes setup with voice commands easier. Alexa can send alerts if your smart speaker hears glass breaking or a smoke detector blaring.
The newest Echo combines the usual Alexa smarts with a speaker that sounds great and has a smart-home Zigbee hub built in so you can sync your small sensors with it instead of needing to buy more gear. James Martin/CNET Amazon used to be the unquestioned ruler of the smart speaker world, but Google has done an admirable job of catching up its digital assistant in the sound race. If you’re already living with an iPhone, Apple TV or original HomePod the Mini makes sense as your next small smart speaker. Note that neither the original Amazon Echo nor the Nest Audio made an appearance above because you can get the same capabilities for less with the smaller (Dot and Mini) versions.
If theater surround sound for your TV is your biggest smart speaker priority, Sonos offers the best audio quality in our opinion. Apple’s Siri is on the board, but in a solid third place when it comes to true reliability, knowledge and comprehension of human requests.
Overall, we give the edge to Google Assistant for its superior cadence, naturalistic tone and ability to understand (and answer) questions and follow up queries consistently.
That said, it’s close enough that you can safely invest in either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa based on other preferences like speaker style, devices and compatibility with other popular smart home products.
The Best Smart Speakers Available for 2021
Despite being released a couple of years ago, it’s mighty tough to overlook even with all the options from big players such as Google, Amazon, and Apple. Our team has reviewed smart speakers since the category emerged with Amazon’s Echo all those years ago, and we’ve developed a keen sense of what to look for in one of these products. After hundreds of hours of listening, controlling smart home tasks, and generally getting the various voice assistants to do our bidding, we’re confident the Sonos One will be ideal for most people. Why you should buy this: It sounds great, gives you a choice of voice assistant, works with every Sonos device, and offers more streaming services than any other smart speaker.
The speaker’s far-field microphone array effortlessly hears voice commands from across a room, even when music is playing. If you have qualms about privacy, Sonos claims that muting the microphones is done via hardware, ensuring that when the mic indicator light is off, the speaker is definitely not listening.
It has support for almost every major music streaming service, and it’s all controlled from an app on your phone, tablet, or PC. Why you should buy this: It’s affordable, controls your home, displays the time, and can route sound through bigger speakers — though you might not need to.
While it’s meant for smaller spaces, such as offices and bedroom nightstands, the amount of bass and power put out by the Echo Dot (4th Gen) with Clock is impressive.
At $60, it’s easy on just about any budget — meaning you can buy multiple units without forking over a huge sum of money! Why you should buy this: The Amazon Echo is the go-to Alexa-powered speaker thanks to its excellent audio and home control. When it comes to music, it certainly is an upgrade versus the Echo Dot, since it’s packing a 3-inch woofer and dual front-firing 0.8-inch tweeters.
Of course, it’s a wonderful centerpiece in the living room if you’re planning to entertain guests, thanks to its robust and ample audio quality. When it comes to controlling the smart home, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) can be used to turn off lights, check up on calendar appointments, and order pizza. Meanwhile, it can also monitor your home while you’re away by sending you notifications if it hears the sounds of smoke alarms with Alexa Guard. And this time, it’s playing to a wider range of people because it brings that perfect mixture of intelligence and raw power.
You can also pair it with another Google Nest Audio for stereo sound, plus now you can group multiple speakers in other rooms to play your tunes everywhere — while being harmoniously in sync. Apple users will appreciate the HomePod Mini in the home because Siri can be leveraged on the speaker to accomplish a number of things, such as turning on the lights, unlocking the door, and much more.
Even the best TVs typically have lousy sound quality due to their tiny built-in speakers, which makes soundbars an attractive option for many. A compact and well-styled bar, it can easily fit under the smallest of TVs on either a console or on the wall using the optional bracket.
Like every Sonos product, it has very good sound quality for its size and can become part of a much larger multiroom audio system.
What we really like about the Beam is that it can translate spoken commands for Google Assistant or Alexa into signals that control your TV. But don’t worry, the Sonos Beam also plays nicely with traditional infrared TV remotes too. Using your voice to control music playback via Spotify works like a charm, but the Bose app gives you additional options like multiple speaker groupings.
The app isn’t as good as the one Sonos provides, but as long as you don’t intend to build a whole-home music system using Bose speakers, we doubt you’ll mind. While you shouldn’t let it fall in the pool, the speaker is protected from small amounts of water thanks to its IPX4 rating, so you need not fear the occasional unexpected rain shower.
When on the road (or if you’re an Android user) the Bose Portable Home Speaker‘s Bluetooth connection lets you keep the tunes going. With its retro-cool, guitar amp-inspired design, there’s no denying the Stanmore II Voice makes a statement.
That vintage vibe carries all the way through with physical control knobs on the top surface and chunky rubber feet on the bottom. With its single woofer driven by a 50-watt amplifier and two discretely-powered tweeters, you not only get big, bold sound, you also get true stereo — making it one of the few smart speakers on the market that does this.
Even if you like it loud, your voice assistant will hear you clearly, thanks to the built-in far-field mics that are surprisingly sensitive, while connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 3.5mm line-in jack, and a set of RCA plugs on the back — perfect for connecting one of the best turntables. You can’t use both Alexa and Google Assistant, unfortunately, but Marshall sells two different versions of the Stanmore II Voice, so the choice over which one you prefer is still yours.
Why you should buy this: As the only smart speaker with Dolby Atmos capabilities, it delivers an incredibly immersive, 3D sound experience. Though it bears a resemblance to the Apple HomePod with its cylindrical shape, the Echo Studio is, in fact, an entirely new breed of smart speaker. It’s still an Amazon Echo, which means that you get all of the benefits of being able to issue voice commands to Alexa to control everything from your music to your thermostat. The Echo Studio not only projects these formats around a room the way they were meant to be heard, but it also reinforces the sound with a clean and powerful bass response we simply didn’t expect from a speaker at this price.
Because they have a lot of functionality that doesn’t require buttons, smart speakers can be great for visually impaired people.
Best smart speakers in 2021
Not only does it offer practically every Alexa skill you could need, but this clever device doubles as a bedside alarm clock, too. Compared to the previous, puck-shaped Echo Dot with Clock, the LED display on the new spherical one is raised, and therefore easier to read. The one caveat is that the Sonos One doesn’t get all of Alexa’s or Google Assistant’s capabilities, such as the ability to call other smart speakers.
Not only does the spherical shape of the device improve the fullness of the Echo Dot’s sound, but it makes the display a bit easier to read, too. More than just the time, though, the Echo Dot with Clock’s display can also show you the current temperature, and also functions as a timer. In fact, we wish more smart home companies took Amazon’s cue and make minor —yet effective — enhancements to already excellent devices.
Sonos One The best-sounding smart speaker Specifications Size: 4.8 x 6.4 inches Speakers: Dual amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 1 mid-woofer Ports: None Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz Smart assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Amazon View at Best Buy View at Walmart 2 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Excellent audio quality + Comprehensive Sonos app + Works with Alexa and Google Assistant Reasons to avoid – Can’t make calls using either Alexa or Google Assistant – Alexa drop-in not supported Google Nest Audio The best smart speaker for Google Home users Specifications Size: 6.89 x 4.89 x 3.07 inches Speakers: 75-mm woofer, 19-mm tweeter Ports: None Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Google Assistant TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Crutchfield View at Best Buy 757 Walmart customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Eco-friendly, attractive exterior + Balanced sound and soaring vocals + Speedy Google Assistant responses Reasons to avoid – Can’t be used an an audio-out source Not only is it one of the best smart speakers in terms of sound — thanks to on-device processing, Google Assistant gives speedy responses, which comes in handy when searching for music or getting a morning rundown while you’re in a rush. Apple HomePod mini The best Siri smart speaker yet Specifications Size: 3.9 x 3.3 inches Speakers: one full-range driver, two passive radiator Ports: None Wireless: 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread Smart assistants: Siri TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Best Buy View at Staples Reasons to buy + Great audio for size + Competitive price + Attractive design Reasons to avoid – No physical mute button
Apple fans who have been looking longingly at Amazon and Google’s budget smart speakers finally have a device to call their own. Plus it looks great, complete with a colorful glowing panel and a base that won’t stain your furniture.
Compared to the 3rd-generation Amazon Echo, this one not only has improved audio, but a host of other features that make it one of the most convincing smart home devices around. The inclusion of a Zigbee hub lets this Echo lay a foundation for the rest of your connected products. With the 4th generation Echo Dot, Amazon has once again delivered an inexpensive smart speaker that doesn’t skimp on features or quality. The new spherical shape is an interesting deviation from the hockey puck, plus it lets audio sound fuller despite this Echo Dot having the same speaker hardware as the previous one.
The added microphone, twice as strong bass and in-house learning chip give it spectacular value for the price. Touch-sensitive controls on the top of the Mini let you adjust volume, and are otherwise hidden, which gives its cloth-covered exterior a non-techy look.
The Nest Mini also comes in a variety of colors: a modern-looking light-grey, Chalk, Charcoal gray, Coral orange and Sky blue. The third-generation Echo Dot has vastly improved sound over the previous generation and, with a fresh, cloth-covered design, looks better too.
Amazon is continuing to sell this Echo Dot until it runs out of stock, which will likely happen during the holiday season.
Specifications Size: 9.9 x 7.2 x 4 inches Speakers: Dual 18-millimeter 10-Watt tweeters, 75-millimeter 30-Watt woofer Ports: None Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Google Assistant Display: 1280 x 800 TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Dell View at Google Store Reasons to buy + Attractive design + Great speakers + Clever motion-tracking + Privacy switch blocks camera and microphones Reasons to avoid – Can only make video calls using Google Duo – Nest Cam integration issue for iOS users
Yes, the Google Nest Hub Max is a great smart speaker — it has two 18mm, 10W tweeters and one 75mm, 30W woofer, which pump out great audio — but the star of the show its its large 10-inch display, which lets you do everything from watch videos to look up step-by-step recipes, control your smart home devices, and even get a glimpse at how long your commute will be. Atop the Nest Hub Max is a camera which you can use to make video calls (sadly, via Google Duo only), but it has a clever motion-tracking feature that will keep you in the center of the frame as you move about a room.
It’s great if you’re in the kitchen making dinner, and can’t remain planted in front of the display. It’s taken Google longer than Amazon to come out with a 10-inch smart display, but the Echo Show now has a more than worthy competitor in the Nest Hub Max. The main difference is that the Echo Show 8 has a smaller 1-megapixel camera, but we didn’t find that impacting the overall quality of our video chats. Apple HomePod The best smart speaker for HomeKit users Specifications Size: 6.8 x 5.6 inches Speakers: 7 tweeters, 1 woofer Microphones: 6 TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Walmart Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Excellent audio quality + Attractive design + Easy setup Reasons to avoid – Pricey
The Apple HomePod smart speaker puts Siri in your living room, kitchen or other interior space without needing your iPhone or iPad nearby. HomeKit has consistently lagged behind Amazon and Google in integrating with other smart home devices because of Apple’s more stringent security rules.
Amazon Echo Studio Amazon’s high-end smart speaker Specifications Size: 8.1 x 6.9 inches Speakers: 3 2-inch midrange speakers, 1-inch tweeter, 5.3-inch woofer Ports: 3.5mm in/out Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Alexa TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime Low Stock View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Can be paired with another Studio + Automatically adjusts audio + Great sound + Good bass Reasons to avoid – Large size – Mids and vocals tend to get lost The Echo Studio delivers great room-filling audio and visceral, chest-pounding bass, though in head-to-head tests, the Sonos One still sounded better, with more defined mids.
Specifications Size: 9.4 x 6.3 x 5 inches Speakers: 2 amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 1 mid-woofer Ports: None Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 689 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Superb audio quality + Built-in Automatic TruePlay technology + Durable Reasons to avoid – No smart features in Bluetooth mode – Heavy for a portable device You’re able to transport it around the home and outdoor spaces while still taking advantage of Sonos’ extensive streaming collection. It also introduces Auto TruePlay, a technology that allows the speaker to adjust its sound for its location using the internal microphones. If you’re looking for a portable smart speaker that’s not as pricey as the Sonos Move, the UE Megablast is a great option.
The UE Megablast’s battery is good for up to 16 hours of playtime, which makes it an excellent companion for a backyard barbecue or a day at the beach. As with most third-party speakers, the Megablast has almost all of Alexa’s capabilities, but Amazon reserves some features, such as drop-in, messaging, and calls, for its own devices.
Best smart speakers of 2021: Reviews and buying advice
B&W brings Alexa to the fourth generation of this iconic wireless speaker, rendering it smart for the first time. Michael Brown / IDG An increasing number of soundbars double as smart speakers. If you plan to mix and match third-party products with your smart speaker, do the research to make sure they’ll work together.
The best smart speakers have displays to convey visual information: Everything from song lyrics, to weather forecasts, shopping lists, videos, security camera feeds, and more. If that’s still too high for your budget, the displayless Echo Dot (4th Gen) costs just $50 and is frequently on sale. Amazon continues to improve its smart speakers’ audio performance, and you can pair two of them for stereo.
The Echo Dot with Clock variation features a simple and extremely handy LED display, but it costs a bit more. Google once again takes the runner-up spot here, despite the improvements the company has made to its rebranded smart speaker. Yes, audio quality has improved, and Google Assistant is still smarter than Alexa, but Amazon is ahead of the game when it comes to hooks into the smart home.
Bowers & Wilkins is also promising several new and improved features—including multi-room audio support with the brand’s Formation series speakers—with future firmware updates.
Amazon’s Echo Studio is a great value for $200, and it has an integrated Zigbee smart home hub to boot. A 5.25-inch down-firing woofer handles the lower frequencies and is mounted directly above a slotted bass aperture.
A 10.1-inch display that tracks your movement and rotates so that it always faces you is the big appeal here, but Amazon has also improved display quality, audio performance, and added its new AZ1 Neural Edge processor so that it can track your movement right on the device, enhancing your privacy by not uploading your image to the cloud. As with all of its more-expensive Echo devices, there’s an integrated Zigbee smart home hub, plus a radio that will eventually tap in Amazon’s new Sidewalk neighborhood network technology. With its messy brand realignment out of the way, Google is making tremendous strides in its battle with arch-rival Amazon on the smart display front.
Alexa is still the superior digital assistant when it comes to smart home compatibility, but that advantage won’t last forever.
With the exception of Amazon’s Echo, smart speakers are powered by the same digital assistants used with smartphones. At its most basic, a digital assistant is cloud-based software that understands natural language voice commands, performing tasks and fetching information for you.
The cool thing is that the algorithms powering digital assistants can learn over time and become better at predicting what you need. Products that use the Zigbee or Z-Wave protocols depend on the presence of a smart-home hub, such as a Samsung SmartThings. Amazon’s higher-priced Echo models are exceptions to that rule, because they have an integrated smart home controller (although it’s limited to Zigbee)
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