A smart speaker will instantly make your life easier. Yes, really! It'll allow you to get information, set timers, play your favorite audio content, and perform a number of typically mundane tasks via voice commands. The clever home gadget can also control connected home appliances, including lights, thermostats, smart TVs, and streaming players, among many other devices.
Currently, you can choose between smart speakers with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, and Siri. The Cortana assistant by Microsoft used to be an option, but it's phasing out of this product category.
Choosing a virtual assistant is a matter of personal preference, but here are some guidelines if you've never used one before: Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant are the two most popular options, and the Google Assistant has an edge in terms of sheer knowledge. Exclusively available on Apple's own hardware, Siri is constantly getting better and closing the gap with the Google Assistant in terms of capabilities.
Now that you have the basics down, you can find the right smart speaker for all of your needs from our top picks.
The Bose Home Speaker 300 offers the best of all worlds. It has an elegant design with an all-metal body, a powerful 360-degree sound with thunderous bass, and support for Apple AirPlay 2 for a seamless connection with an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.
Best of all, the product is compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant — users can choose the virtual helper they prefer during its setup.
Equipped with a six-microphone array, the Home Speaker 300 is also great at hearing voice commands even at high volume. We like that it has six customizable buttons for one-touch access to favorite content. Other noteworthy highlights include Bluetooth connectivity and its ability to pair to another 300 speaker for an immersive stereo sound.
A PCMag expert praised the Home Speaker 300 for offering "Alexa and Google Assistant voice control in a small, powerful package." Bose offers the device in black or silver.
If budget permits, I recommend the Bose Home Speaker 500 for $100 more. It has a similar design and functionality but a more powerful stereo sound and an awesome color display.
The second-generation Sonos One is another solid option that's compatible with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. It has an easy setup, six microphones for seamlessly hearing voice commands, and convenient touch controls. The speaker is also compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 for seamless audio connection with an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.
With two high-quality audio drivers on board, the speaker sounds incredible for its size. Of course, being a Sonos product, the speaker — available in black or white — is easy to incorporate into an existing setup in your home.
The Sonos One received a high review score from TechRadar. The editor observed that the speaker is "a cleanly designed, feature-rich, and great-sounding device that brings together the best of both ecosystems."
The Apple HomePod has the best audio quality of any smart speaker that we've tested. Available in white or space gray, the device sounds amazing for its size, and it'll wow you every time you play your favorite tunes. It also picks up voice commands better than its competitors.
The audio quality of the Apple HomePod comes courtesy of seven high-end audio drivers, a high-excursion woofer, Apple's A8 processor, and six built-in microphones. Combined, they let the speaker constantly deliver great sound regardless of where it's placed.
You can pair two HomePods for true stereo sound or use multiple units in a multiroom setup. An upcoming update will make the product even more exciting by bringing support for immersive Dolby Atmos and surround sound. The new features will allow users to replace an entire home theater system by connecting two HomePod speakers with an Apple TV 4K.
Amazon’s latest, thoroughly redesigned Echo speaker is an equally great option for first-time smart speaker buyers, as well as Alexa users who are looking for an upgrade. The product has a beautiful design and a surprisingly immersive sound, all at an outstanding $100 price point.
Thanks to a built-in Zigbee smart-home hub, the gadget can effortlessly control a plethora of connected home products without the help of additional hardware. A review editor from The Verge concluded that the latest Echo is "a great-sounding speaker that also happens to do a million other things." I couldn’t agree more!
The Amazon Echo Dot, on the other hand, has the same design as the Echo, but a more compact footprint and a lower price tag. It lacks the acoustic capabilities and the smart home hub functionality of the bigger Echo, but it costs half as much.
You can order the fourth-generation Echo and Echo Dot with a fabric finish in charcoal, glacier white, or twilight blue. I tip my hat to Amazon for using recycled aluminum, fabric, and plastics in the making of the products.
The Nest Audio smart speaker is our favorite for Google Assistant users. Priced at only $100, it has a refined design, impressive audio performance for its compact size, an easy setup, and the ability to control a multitude of smart home gadgets.
When it comes to acoustic capabilities, the Nest Audio sounds better than its $100 price tag suggests. Powered by a 75-millimeter woofer and a 19-millimeter tweeter, it delivers a crisp and detail-rich sound with just the right amount of bass. I like that there’s an option to easily pair a duo of speakers for an even more captivating stereo sound that still won’t break the bank.
A PCMag tester noted that the Nest Audio brings "Google Assistant functionality and clear, detailed sound in an attractive design for a reasonable price." Available with a charcoal, chalk, sage, sand, or sky fabric finish, the Nest Audio's enclosure is made from 70% recycled plastic.
If you are looking for a Google Assistant-powered speaker on a tighter budget, consider the Nest Mini instead. It has a more compact design with the same fabric finish, but only one audio unit for considerably less.
The Bose Soundbar 300 is the best smart soundbar available today. Compatible with both Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant, it has an impressively compact footprint, an easy setup, and an audio performance that's worthy of a home entertainment centerpiece.
The impressive sound of the Bose Soundbar 300 comes courtesy of four full-range audio drivers and a center-placed tweeter. A Digital Trends editor tested the speaker and found it to be "a superb choice for music and movies in small-to-medium-sized rooms, with an expansive sound and some really innovative extra features."
With eight built-in microphones, the Soundbar 300 can hear a voice command from across a large room with music blasting at high volume. Users can expand the audio experience by adding a bass module and surround speakers.
In case you are after the best home entertainment audio that money can buy, consider the pricier Bose Soundbar 700 — it has a sleeker design and even more sound improvements.
Amazon’s Echo Studio is an Alexa-powered speaker made for discerning audiophiles. A CNET reviewer referred to the product as "the biggest and best-sounding speaker Amazon has produced to date."
The Echo Studio packs five audio drivers which combine to deliver Dolby Atmos-enhanced sound with phenomenal quality. The speaker is unsurprisingly a great option for experiencing its maker’s Amazon Music HD streaming service.
Our favorite bit about the Amazon Echo Studio is its ability to wirelessly connect with a Fire TV streaming device to upgrade the sound of the video content that’s streaming. Users can also pair two Echo Studio speakers for a stereo setup or add an Echo Sub for an even more powerful bass.
The fabric-covered Studio, like the new Amazon Echo, is also a powerful smart home hub, which will effortlessly control compatible appliances with voice commands.
The Bose Portable Smart Speaker, just like the Home Speaker 300 we already mentioned, is compatible with Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay 2. However, thanks to a water-resistant build, the product is ideal for use in a backyard or a patio, as long at there's Wi-Fi in range.
With Bluetooth connectivity and a convenient handle, the device is suitable for use just about anywhere. It is deservedly one of our favorite waterproof speakers.
Like all Bose products, the Portable Home Speaker delivers a rich and entertaining sound. Its built-in microphones pick up voice commands, too.
The Smart Speaker can last up to 12 hours between charges, and it packs a USB-C connector for replenishing its battery. Bose also offers an optional charging cradle for the speaker.
The Uxbridge Smart Speaker by Marshall has a characterful design that’s a nod to the legendary brand’s guitar amplifiers. Its gorgeous retro design is complemented by equally awesome top-panel controls for playback, volume, bass, and treble. The last two bits set the product apart from all of the other options on this list.
Marshall equipped the Uxbridge with a woofer, tweeter, and high-quality amplifier that deliver an entertaining sound that’s worthy of the gadget’s design. Tim Gideon from PCMag rightfully noted that the product "delivers respectable audio performance and hands-free Alexa voice control in a stylish package."
Even though it looks old-school, the Marshall Uxbridge packs Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast — two of today's most popular wireless streaming standards. Bluetooth connectivity is also available.
This variant of the product is powered by Amazon Alexa. But if you are a Google Assistant user, don’t worry! Marshall offers a version with the Google Assistant on board as well.
Stefan VazharovSenior Technology EditorStefan is the senior technology editor for BestProducts.com, where he’s been covering the tech industry and testing the latest gadgets since 2015; He previously covered tech products for GSMArena.com and his work can also be found on Popular Mechanics.
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