Overview
The Best Smart Speaker is one of the most versatile devices you can own. It not only lets you listen to music from a number of streaming sources, but it also has a voice assistant that takes your hands off the wheel. From the best smart speakers, you can use your voice to control music, set timers, and even obtain the latest news headlines or sports scores.
Top picks
-
Best Overall: Bose Smart Soundbar 700
-
Best-sounding smart speaker: Sonos One (Gen 2)
-
Best smart speaker for Alexa: Echo Dot
-
Best Echo smart speaker: Echo Studio
-
Best smart speaker for audiophiles: Bose Home Speaker 500
Buying Guide
1. Voice assistant
Choose which voice assistant you want your smart speaker to support first. It makes sense to have a smart speaker with the same assistant if you already have a voice assistant on your phone or tablet, or if you already have smart speakers or smart displays in your home. Alexa in the Echo Dot and Google Assistant can help you decide which voice assistant is appropriate for you.
2. Size
Next, consider where you'll put the smart speaker: smaller, more compact smart speakers, such as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700, are ideal for bedrooms and kitchens, where they can be used to set timers while cooking, whereas larger smart speakers can be used in areas with larger footprints, such as a lounge or dining room.
3. Brand
The smart speaker industry is dominated by Amazon and Google, two online titans that have only recently entered the consumer electronics sector. Major wireless speaker manufacturers, such as Bose and Sonos, are making advances with their Sonos One (Gen 2) models.
4. Price
Smart speakers range in price from $50 to $300, including the Echo Studio. A Best Buy or really good model should cost between $90-$200. They aren't always more expensive than other wireless speakers, but because they have built-in wi-fi for voice control, they can be.
5. Smart display
Echo Show 8 smart screens are a hybrid of a smart speaker and a tablet computer. They have larger speakers than a tablet of equivalent size, and their design is geared around their voice assistant and smart features.
FAQs
1. What is the purpose of a smart speaker?
As we've already mentioned, a smart speaker like the Sonos One (Gen 2) can do more than just listen to your favorite music streaming service or the albums and tracks on your smartphone. All while keeping your hands free, the built-in voice assistant can control the volume, skip tracks, and even select a specific song, album, or playlist for you.
2. Which voice assistant is the most effective?
Some people have always favored Apple products and are Siri devotees. Others fell in love with Alexa after getting an Echo Dot as soon as it was available.
According to the general consensus, Google Assistant is the most accurate voice assistant. Siri is obviously the best if you have a lot of Apple devices, but Alexa is the best for overall compatibility.
3. What smart home devices will my smart speaker work with?
To begin, double-check that your smart speaker, such as the Two Room Set, has full support for its built-in voice assistant.
If the smart speaker claims to be able to do more than simply control your music with your voice – and that it doesn't require a second device – it's likely to have full support. Almost every smart display with a screen is fully compatible. While capability for calling functions varies, it isn't required for most smart home items to be connected.
Final thoughts
The Best Smart Speaker comes with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Only the virtual assistant of the company that makes the appropriate voice assistant will be installed on smart speakers from that company. Third-party smart speakers from companies like Bose and Sonos, on the other hand, provide a variety of voice assistants.