Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) for $180: This is a solid smart speaker with Amazon’s latest physical design and Alexa+ right out of the box, but it’s not a sound improvement over the older model, so I’d personally pick the third-gen option (see above) while it’s still available or upgrade to the Echo Show 11 ($220).
Amazon Echo Show 15 for $300: The Show 15 exists somewhere on the continuum of being a smart display and a smart TV, but it doesn’t quite fully nail being either. The widgets are fun to use since you can add so many to the Show’s 15-inch screen, but I’ve tried this device a few times, and I’ve always walked away underwhelmed. The Show 15 has grown on me while using it with Alexa+, though, particularly with a stand ($125) to sit on my desk. But it’s still larger than I need for day-to-day tasks, but smaller than what I’d want from a television.
Apple HomePod for $299: Apple’s flagship smart speaker has a muddy midrange and high-end, which is disappointing for the price point. The HomePod does have a lot of bass, though, if that’s your jam. If you want an Apple-powered smart speaker in your home, the Mini is a third of the price and has nearly identical capabilities to the full-size model.
Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level for $2,250: This is a gorgeous—though seriously expensive—speaker that’s built to last. The company has designed the high-end model to be repairable and upgradable over time. Made of natural fabric and wood, it’s a high-design flat speaker that comes with Google Assistant onboard—or you can buy it without a smart assistant for the same price.
JBL Authentics 200 for $200: This was my previous pick for a third-party smart speaker, but I’m uncertain of its access to Amazon and Google’s newest assistants. I’ll retest it once I confirm if it will gain access to one (if not both) assistants.
Sonos Era 100 for $189: Another third-party option, but it won’t grant access to Google support. You can connect it to Amazon Alexa, though. Plus, Sonos is a great investment if you’re really looking for a great speaker that can have smarts—but its smart assistant isn’t the primary feature.
Sonos Beam Gen 2 for $369: This is an older version of the Sonos Beam that still has Google support, but I’m uncertain if it’ll gain access to Gemini for Home.
WiiM A10 for $229: This speaker doesn’t have a voice assistant, but it does have compatibility with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Siri to be used as a Bluetooth speaker. WIRED reviewer Parker Hall says it reminds him of a Sonos speaker, but that it can instantly connect with Spotify Connect—faster than any other speaker he’s tried.
FAQs
How Should You Choose Between Alexa, Google, and Siri?
The easiest way to choose which smart assistant to add to your house is to consider which ecosystem you’re already using in some capacity. If you’re a big Google or Android user, for example, adding a Google Assistant–powered speaker to your home is a no-brainer. It’s not always that simple, though. Apple and iPhone users will also find benefits in choosing HomeKit-powered devices, but Apple’s ecosystem is so limited that you might want to choose a different assistant for the devices you want. Amazon’s Alexa has the widest range of offerings, but Google Assistant’s range of features has me coming back again and again.
Here’s what you should ask yourself to decide:
- What assistant are you already using, if any?
- What products do you want to use in your home, and which assistants are they compatible with?
- What features do you want in a smart speaker? Which ecosystem can offer you those features?
Why Do I Prefer Google Assistant?
There are many reasons to love Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, and it works pretty well. If you want to use your voice assistant to shop or use Amazon services like Prime Music or Prime Video, chances are an Alexa-powered speaker is best for you.
Google Assistant has fewer skills and is compatible with fewer smart home devices than Alexa, but Google Assistant can do enough to qualify as truly useful—plus, Google adds new skills fairly frequently. Speakers with Google Assistant work better when you network them together, and they’re compatible with a wide variety of Google apps and services. Google is better at answering random questions and telling you where to go out to eat, since it can access and send information to your phone through Google apps.
Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube Music are the main ways to play music with Google Assistant. The service can also send Netflix shows and movies to your TV if you have a Chromecast attached.
If you’re using a smart display, I also prefer Google smart display devices to Amazon’s because Alexa Show devices serve you sponsored content while Google’s will not. Amazon’s Show displays are already crowded with content by default that you’ll likely want to remove. (To do so, go to Settings on the device, and then click Home Content. You’ll currently find more than 40 options you can toggle on and off.) But you can’t fully remove the sponsored content unless you’re on Photo Frame mode. Meanwhile, Google’s displays make for better photo frames thanks to Google Photos and don’t have such a crowded interface of content to distract you. I’d stick to a Nest Home Hub unless you definitely want an Alexa display and won’t mind the occasional onscreen ad.
How Can I Get the Most Out of My Smart Speaker?
My biggest advice for enjoying a smart speaker to its fullest potential is to make sure you put it somewhere you’ll use it often. I love having a small speaker in my bedroom to ask about the weather while I’m getting ready for the day, and then I make sure there’s a smart speaker somewhere near my desk and living area (usually multiple, but I’m an odd case since I test these for a living) so that I can call out requests as I work, cook, and watch TV.
The next biggest to-do to maximize your smart speaker is to invest in other compatible smart home gadgets. Smart speakers work best when they have other devices to control and speak to. Set up some smart lights, a smart lock or two, a video doorbell, a couple of security cameras—you name it! And then command your smart speaker to help you control them or otherwise check on your home.
Can I Use My Smart Speaker With My TV or Entertainment System?
Sometimes! This varies by TV model and what you have connected to your TV. You can find some TVs that have built-in voice control, though some might be voice control through the remote rather than with the smart speaker. Apple’s smart speakers and Apple TV sync the best from what I’ve tested, if you’re looking for a single system. But otherwise, I haven’t found it as painless as I would have hoped.
If you’re looking for music entertainment, smart speakers are great. You can connect multiple smart speakers for a stereo system, or connect your smart speaker to existing systems. Depending on the system in question and what you already have, you might have to choose a smart speaker with a 3.5 mm wire-in option or a speaker that has built-in compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Should I Be Concerned About My Privacy?
Adding microphones to your home (and sometimes cameras) is a valid point of concern. Smart speakers are technically always listening, though they’re supposed to only listen for their wake word and otherwise ignore all other audio until asked a question. But there have been cases where police have requested audio recordings from smart speakers to use as evidence, including two separate murder cases in 2018 and 2019.
Most of the speakers I recommend have some method to shut down the speaker’s listening tendencies, whether an off switch or a camera cover, but it’s annoying to switch on and off if you want to use your speaker regularly. Alexa also no longer allows local processing, so everything you ask Alexa is now sent to the cloud to help Alexa+ run.
Ultimately, you should be concerned about your privacy, and it’s worth considering whether you want a set of microphones in your house. In my years of testing, I haven’t felt any of my smart speakers to be invasive, and they do a good job giving themselves away when activated (lighting up and asking “Hmm?” if they don’t understand the question), so it’s never felt like my speakers are sneakily listening to me. But it’s certainly a personal choice.
Will Smart Speakers Become Bricks?
The smart speakers in this guide are primarily made by large brands—Amazon! Google! Sonos!—and it’s unlikely any of them will suddenly vanish or become a useless brick speaker on your desk. There are even some first-generation Amazon Echos still working that are about a decade old (with mixed results, based on what users say online).
But a UK law passed in April 2024 adds more protection here. The law mandates three key points: more secure password procedures, more clarity on how to report bugs and security issues, and that manufacturers and retailers inform customers how long these products will receive support and software updates.
The last point is the most relevant for smart speaker users, since the fear is that you’ll buy a speaker that will suddenly stop getting updates and become unusable. I’ll be watching to see how much information is really offered to shoppers as it takes effect, but so far, we haven’t seen any changes. But it’s a law we like. While there’s not yet an equivalent law in the US, I’ll watch for updates here as well.
How Does WIRED Test Smart Speakers?
I employ a variety of tests with smart speakers. I do microphone tests, gauging how far away a speaker will hear and respond to a question, both while music is playing and while music is off. I also play a variety of songs to see how well the speaker performs at playing everything from chill lo-fi to our favorite metal band and beyond. I also sync it with smart devices to see how well it connects and controls those devices, and what kind of capabilities it has. If there’s a screen, I also test the features included with that. Finally, I also live with these speakers for at least a week (if not more like months!) to see how they fare on day-to-day use and long-term performance.
How Does WIRED Acquire Smart Speakers? What Does WIRED Do With Them After Testing Them?
Most of the smart speakers I test are provided as press samples by companies that make them. These samples are obtained with the understanding that no coverage is promised, nor are there any agreements about what that coverage will look like if it occurs. I also occasionally purchase my own speakers.
After testing, most smart speakers are kept for long-term testing or in storage for future comparison tests. If a smart speaker is deemed redundant, I usually locally recycle the device, as it likely won’t receive more updates or support from the company. If it’s still a viable speaker, I’ll donate it locally instead.
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