Smart speakers have become the center of many connected homes, letting you control lights, thermostats, and other devices with your voice. They also play music, answer questions, and provide entertainment. With so many options on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Here are some of our favorites across different price points and needs:
Best Overall: Amazon Echo 4th Gen
The Amazon Echo 4th Gen is a great all-around smart speaker with good sound quality, reliable voice recognition, and a wide range of smart home compatibility. It has a stylish spherical design that comes in multiple colors to match your decor. The sound is surprisingly good for its size, with clear highs and decent bass. The Echo 4th Gen also has a built-in Zigbee hub, which lets you connect and control compatible smart home devices without needing a separate hub.
Key Features
- Good sound quality
- Reliable voice recognition
- Wide range of smart home compatibility
- Stylish spherical design
- Built-in Zigbee hub
Who is it Good For?
The Echo 4th Gen is great for anyone looking for an all-around excellent smart speaker. It works well on its own for music and voice commands, and also integrates smoothly with other smart home devices. The stylish design means it looks good in any room.
Best Sound Quality: Sonos One
If you’re looking for the best sound quality in a smart speaker, the Sonos One is the way to go. It delivers rich, room-filling sound with clear highs and powerful bass. The Sonos One also has a built-in Trueplay tuning system that automatically adjusts the sound to your room’s acoustics for an even better listening experience. Plus, it works seamlessly with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio.
Key Features
- Amazing sound quality
- Trueplay room tuning
- Works with other Sonos speakers
- Clear highs and powerful bass
Who is it Good For?
The Sonos One is perfect for audiophiles looking for exceptional sound quality. Its room tuning feature optimizes the audio performance for wherever you place it. And if you already have Sonos speakers, it integrates seamlessly.
Best Budget: Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
The Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is a great option if you’re on a budget. It doesn’t have the same sound quality as the Echo 4th Gen or Sonos One, but it still sounds pretty good for its size. The Echo Dot 5th Gen also has reliable voice recognition and a wide range of smart home compatibility. Plus, it’s compact and can be easily placed anywhere in your home.
Key Features
- Budget-friendly price
- Good sound for its size
- Reliable voice control
- Lots of smart home integrations
- Small and portable
Who is it Good For?
If you want an affordable entry point into the world of smart speakers, the Echo Dot 5th Gen is a great choice. It packs a lot of functionality into an inexpensive package.
Best for Apple Users: Apple HomePod mini
The Apple HomePod mini is a great option for Apple users who want a smart speaker that seamlessly integrates with their Apple ecosystem. It works with Siri for voice commands, and it can be used to control other HomeKit-compatible devices in your home. The HomePod mini also has good sound quality for its size, with clear highs and decent bass.
Key Features
- Works with Siri
- Controls HomeKit devices
- Good sound for the size
- Designed for Apple ecosystem
Who is it Good For?
The HomePod mini is the perfect smart speaker for iPhone/iPad households. It integrates directly with those devices and Siri for a seamless connected experience.
Best for Google Assistant Users: Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
The Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen) is a great option for Google Assistant users who want a budget-friendly smart speaker. It has good sound quality for its size, with clear highs and decent bass. The Nest Mini also has reliable voice recognition and a wide range of smart home compatibility. Plus, it’s compact and can be easily placed anywhere in your home.
Key Features
- Good sound for the size
- Google Assistant built-in
- Lots of smart home integrations
- Affordable price point
- Compact design
Who is it Good For?
Google Assistant fans who want an inexpensive but capable smart speaker will love the Nest Mini. It brings the power of Google’s assistant to any room.
Other Great Smart Speaker Options
Here are a few other excellent smart speakers worth considering:
Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen)
This smart speaker has an 8-inch touchscreen display, making it great for video calls, watching videos, and browsing the web.
Google Nest Hub Max
This smart speaker has a 10-inch touchscreen display and a built-in camera, making it great for video calls, watching videos, and monitoring your home.
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
This smart speaker has amazing sound quality and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, but it’s more expensive than other options.
Finding the Right Smart Speaker
No matter what your needs or budget, there’s a smart speaker out there that’s perfect for you. With so many great options to choose from, you’re sure to find one that makes your connected home even more enjoyable.
Think about how you want to use your smart speaker. Do you want to control other smart devices? Make video calls? Or just listen to music? This will help narrow down which one fits your lifestyle best.
Also consider which voice assistant you prefer between Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Smart speakers are designed around a specific platform, so pick the one that works with your current device ecosystem.
And don’t forget to factor in sound quality. While connectivity and voice control are important, many of these devices can also stream music and other audio. Make sure it will sound good!
Finding the perfect smart speaker takes some thought about your needs and preferences. But with the right choice, it can become an indispensable addition to your connected home.
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