Best smart speakers: Best Smart Speakers for 2023: We Tested Alexa, Google, Apple and More
Best Smart Speakers for 2023: We Tested Alexa, Google, Apple and More
While most phones allow you to control a basic home setup, adding a smart speaker is a great way to take things to the next level. Smart speakers are affordable and versatile. You’ll not only be able to listen to your favorite tracks and podcasts, but you can also control your compatible devices with nothing but your voice. These devices allow you to give commands and ask questions via a smart assistant, without having to press a button. Before you get started though, you’ll need to find the best smart speaker for you.
Folks choosing a smart speaker for the first time might be intimidated by all the options. But here at CNET, we’ve been testing voice control devices and smart speakers since they first hit the scene. We’ve considered all the important smart device features, from sound quality to the ease of installing multiple speakers. There are lots of products to choose from, but here are the very best.
What’s the best smart speaker?
Amazon Echo speakers are among the most affordable and easy-to-set-up smart speakers out there. That’s why the fourth-generation Amazon Echo is our pick for top smart speaker overall. It’s likely to best meet the needs of most households. Though it’s a few years old, the device features improved sound quality over the previous generation is compatible with an assortment of smart devices, and goes for the relatively affordable price of $100 (though it can often be found on sale for $80 or less).
That said, the fourth-generation Echo might not be the best pick for your particular home. Almost every smart speaker allows you to control the lights, play music, ask questions, set reminders, and much more with simple voice commands. The decision may simply come down to which brand you’re already invested in. If you have an affinity for a particular company’s products, whether you’re an Amazon acolyte, Apple obsessive or Google stan, picking a speaker is easy.
But for platform-agnostic folks, our top picks aside from the fourth-gen Amazon Echo, are the second-gen Google Nest Mini, the Apple HomePod Mini, and the new Sonos Era 100. Find out why below.
Best smart speakers of 2023
Other smart speaker options
Those smart speakers are our favorites, but you still have lots of other options if you’re looking for something specific in audio performance. Read our breakdown of Alexa versus Google Assistant versus Siri if you’d like to learn each one’s pros and cons and decide on a smart home device by platform.
In the past year or so, we have seen a number of new smart speakers — namely the Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo Pop, the Sonos Era 100 and the Era 300 — but most of the models out there have been available for much longer. The Era 100 is the pick of these new speakers, and though the $40 Pop is interesting in its own way, the Dot offers more features for only $10 more.
If you like the idea of always-listening help but want something more visual, check out our list of the best smart displays.
Smart displays essentially combine a smart speaker with a touchscreen so you can watch videos on YouTube, make video calls, scroll through pictures and control your smart home gadgets with a touch. Amazon and Google both have several options worth considering in the category.
Read more: Best Smart Displays for 2023
Figure out what platform or features you’d like, and you should be able to quickly narrow down your options and find the best smart speaker for you and your family.
Smart speaker FAQs
Best Smart Speakers for 2023: We Tested Alexa, Google, Apple and More
While most phones allow you to control a basic home setup, adding a smart speaker is a great way to take things to the next level. Smart speakers are affordable and versatile. You’ll not only be able to listen to your favorite tracks and podcasts, but you can also control your compatible devices with nothing but your voice. These devices allow you to give commands and ask questions via a smart assistant, without having to press a button.
Before you get started though, you’ll need to find the best smart speaker for you.
Folks choosing a smart speaker for the first time might be intimidated by all the options. But here at CNET, we’ve been testing voice control devices and smart speakers since they first hit the scene. We’ve considered all the important smart device features, from sound quality to the ease of installing multiple speakers. There are lots of products to choose from, but here are the very best.
What’s the best smart speaker?
Amazon Echo speakers are among the most affordable and easy-to-set-up smart speakers out there. That’s why the fourth-generation Amazon Echo is our pick for top smart speaker overall. It’s likely to best meet the needs of most households. Though it’s a few years old, the device features improved sound quality over the previous generation is compatible with an assortment of smart devices, and goes for the relatively affordable price of $100 (though it can often be found on sale for $80 or less).
That said, the fourth-generation Echo might not be the best pick for your particular home. Almost every smart speaker allows you to control the lights, play music, ask questions, set reminders, and much more with simple voice commands. The decision may simply come down to which brand you’re already invested in. If you have an affinity for a particular company’s products, whether you’re an Amazon acolyte, Apple obsessive or Google stan, picking a speaker is easy.
But for platform-agnostic folks, our top picks aside from the fourth-gen Amazon Echo, are the second-gen Google Nest Mini, the Apple HomePod Mini, and the new Sonos Era 100. Find out why below.
Best smart speakers of 2023
Other smart speaker options
Those smart speakers are our favorites, but you still have lots of other options if you’re looking for something specific in audio performance. Read our breakdown of Alexa versus Google Assistant versus Siri if you’d like to learn each one’s pros and cons and decide on a smart home device by platform.
In the past year or so, we have seen a number of new smart speakers — namely the Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo Pop, the Sonos Era 100 and the Era 300 — but most of the models out there have been available for much longer. The Era 100 is the pick of these new speakers, and though the $40 Pop is interesting in its own way, the Dot offers more features for only $10 more.
If you like the idea of always-listening help but want something more visual, check out our list of the best smart displays. Smart displays essentially combine a smart speaker with a touchscreen so you can watch videos on YouTube, make video calls, scroll through pictures and control your smart home gadgets with a touch. Amazon and Google both have several options worth considering in the category.
Read more: Best Smart Displays for 2023
Figure out what platform or features you’d like, and you should be able to quickly narrow down your options and find the best smart speaker for you and your family.
Smart speaker FAQs
TOP-14 Best smart speakers in 2023 👑 daboom.ru
Smart speaker will become a pleasant companion, personal secretary, TV or game console, entertain children and control devices at home.
It is a pleasure to receive it as a gift or treat yourself to a purchase, it will open up a world of new possibilities, you will feel that your life has changed for the better.
04/29/2023 Update
Models from VK and Sber have been added to the rating of the best smart speakers.
Before choosing a smart speaker, you need to think about which applications and subscriptions are relevant for you, and which devices you want to optimize at home. After analyzing this information, you can choose a suitable smart speaker with the necessary software and a voice assistant, adjusted for the limited operation of streaming services in Russia. With this review, we supplement the previously released review of smart speakers with Alice.
We bring to your attention the TOP 12 best smart speakers this year.
1
Yandex New Station Mini (with clock)
Best smart speaker with Alice for most people
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4 Voice assistant language: Russian
Ecosystem: Yandex Smart Home
Power: from the network
Total power: 10 W
Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Connectors: audio output
Dimensions (WxHxD): 97x54x97 mm
Weight: 0.26 kg
Pros
- Practical watch
- Quality sound for size
- Easy setup and use
Cons
- No gesture controls
- Not really for listening to music
One of the most popular smart speakers with Alice now with a clock on the front panel, has become even more convenient. The new version of the speaker has significantly improved sound quality, ergonomics and Wi-Fi speed.
The dimensions of the speaker will allow you to place it almost anywhere in your home, but it is believed that a bedside table in the bedroom will be ideal. The speaker comes in several colors: garnet red, opal gray, sapphire blue and onyx black.
The speaker can work on its own, with other smart speakers with Alice, or in an entire smart home ecosystem. Alice can answer questions, turn on music (requires a subscription to Yandex services), connect to a TV (requires an additional module with Yandex.TV), set an alarm, reminders, and much more.
However, if you are looking for devices to play music in high quality or at high volume, you should probably pay attention to other models in the ratings below. On the other hand, if musical performance is not paramount when choosing a smart speaker, this is a great option for starting or expanding an existing ecosystem.
2
Xiaomi Mi Smart Speaker
24 Language : Russian
Ecosystem : Xiaomi Mi Home, Smart home Mail.
ru
Power supply : mains
Total power : 12 W
Wireless : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 104x151x13 1 mm
Weight : 0.853 kg
Pros
- Nice sound
- Easy to set up
Cons
9005 3
Smart speaker from Xiaomi will make life easier for active users of Vk and Mail.ru, please with a bass range and a pleasant appearance. Highly sensitive speaker microphones will hear your commands and accept them for execution even while playing music at the same time. The voice assistant controls Smart Home devices, pairs with Smart TVs, and you can also use Spotify Connect.
The speaker has a minimalistic design with a small backlight strip on top. The volume of the speaker can be changed, there is a night mode with reduced backlight and reduced volume.
Kids Mode recognizes your child by their voice and filters out inappropriate content.
Smart speaker will make a good impression on you and please you with an affordable price.
3
Yandex Station 2
The best functional smart speaker with Alice
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Voice assistant: Alice
Voice assistant language: Russian
Ecosystem: Yandex smart home
Power supply: from the network
Total power : 30W
Smart Home Communication Protocol: Wi-Fi , Bluetooth, ZigBee
Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Dimensions: 123x199x99 mm
Weight: 1.5 kg
Pros
- 90 054 Design for every interior
- Beautiful top panel
- Good sound and microphones
Cons
- Few devices working on the ZigBee protocol
Yandex Station 2 is a smart speaker that has many useful features.
It is equipped with Alice voice assistant, ZigBee wireless communication and an LED panel that can be used as a night light. When you unpack the device, you find a beautiful box, and setting up and using the speaker is very simple.
The quality of sound and microphones is at a high level, but compared to Yandex.Station Max (below), the sound may seem a little simpler. However, the only disadvantage of this device is that there are not many devices on the smart home market that support the ZigBee protocol. In general, Yandex Station 2 is a great device for home use with the help of Alice.
4
Apple HomePod mini
Apple users only0024 Voice Assistant : Apple Siri
Language : English, Russian
Ecosystem : Apple HomeKit
Power : AC
Wireless : Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 97.9×84.3× 98 mm
Weight : 0.34 kg
Pros
- Unobtrusive design
- Nice sound quality
- Work in stereo with another HomePod mini
Cons
- Siri has not mastered the Russian language perfectly yet
- Non-removable power cable
Smart speaker in a compact design from the giant Apple is equipped with an S5 chip, which is also used in the Apple Watch.
Its power is enough for full-fledged high-quality work of acoustics and support for AirPlay 2 technology.
The device has an integrated U1 ultra-wideband chip, which allows Apple devices to exchange information. In simple terms, if you bring your iPhone close to HomePod mini, the music that is played on your smartphone starts streaming from the smart speaker. AirPlay technology streams media from your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV) directly to your smart speaker and facilitates the use of the Spotify service without additional settings. The AirPlay protocol is integrated with HomeKit, which expands the speaker’s capabilities in the direction of combining and controlling smart home devices.
Apple fans will love the opportunity to pair two HomePod minis for a super high quality smart speaker system.
The English- and Russian-speaking assistant Siri acts as a voice assistant, which is constantly improving in knowledge of the Russian language.
Fans of the brand agree that the smart speaker fits perfectly into the Apple ecosystem.
5
Yandex.Station Max
The best premium smart speaker with Alice
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Voice Assistant: Alice
Voice Assistant Language: Russian
Ecosystem: Yandex Smart Home 9002 6 Mains supply:
Total power: 65 W
Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Connectors: audio output, HDMI output, Ethernet (RJ-45)
Dimensions: 141x231x141 mm
Weight: 2.7 kg
Pros
- Awesome functionality
- Great loud sound
- Useful screen
Cons
- 9 0006 Expensive
For those who want to get the most out of a smart speaker with Alice, Yandex has released Station Max. As the name implies, the column has the maximum possible number of functions from listening to music to watching 4K video on your TV (monitor) screen.
Equipped with six speakers for powerful and detailed sound. Therefore, even the most demanding music lover or even an audiophile should appreciate the sound quality of tracks in high resolution. The quality and sensitivity of the seven installed microphones is also top notch, the speaker will hear you and understand you from almost anywhere in a medium-sized apartment..
The front panel display shows useful information such as time, air temperature, equalizer and other cool features. The speaker itself is not the most compact, but thanks to its simple but stylish design, it will fit perfectly into the interior of the living room, for example, on a cabinet next to the TV.
The only drawback of the column is its price, but it’s not surprising that you have to pay for quality.
6
VK Capsule mini
For active users Vk
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Voice Assistant : Marusya
Language : Russian
Ecosystem : Smart Home Mail.
ru 90 026 Power supply : mains
Total power : 5 W
Wireless : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 100x45x100 mm
Weight : 0.305 kg
Pros
- LED screen
- Compact and cute
- USB Type-C power cable
Cons
- Connection difficulties when changing Wi-Fi (for example, when moving)
- Works only from the network
- 9 0006 Limited functionality
Compact smart speaker with LED – will be a pleasant companion and assistant for hours, and its LED screen will amuse you with cute faces. The screen also displays the time, weather, volume level, and depending on the time of day, the brightness of the backlight will be adjusted.
The speaker controls smart home devices, functions as an alarm clock, radio and plays Spotify tracks. It connects to Vk and Mail.ru, reads your mail and messages in the messenger, tells the children a bedtime story and makes a music playlist according to your preferences.
USB Type-C power cable gives you more choice of power source; mini-jack allows you to connect large speakers or headphones.
When setting up for the first time, you need to install the Marusya application on your smartphone and turn on Bluetooth. The application will check for a Wi-Fi network, connect to it, and after that the smart speaker will become independent.
This little speaker is a good choice for those who are satisfied with its limited functionality.
7
VK Capsule
networks
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Voice assistant: Marusya from VK
Voice assistant language: Russian
Ecosystem: Rostelecom, Smart Home Mail.ru 900 26 Mains supply:
Total power: 30W
Wireless: Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi
Connectors: Ethernet (RJ-45)
Dimensions: 110x222x153 mm
Weight: 1.
46 kg
Features: 9002 5 support for streaming audio services, microphone
Pros
- Excellent sound
- Responsive microphone
- TV control with Wink
Cons
- Works only from the mains
- Limited functionality
VK Capsule is an intelligent audio speaker with clear and surround sound, equipped with Marusya’s voice assistant. It is useful in work and household chores, helping in the development of children and is ready for a conversation at any time. With the help of voice commands, you can ask her to tell the news, turn on music or an audiobook, read email, contact friends or put the children to bed under a fairy tale – Marusya will cope with all tasks. If you stroke the speaker, Marusya will begin to purr comfortably.
VK Capsule makes it easy to control other smart devices — Marusya is already friends with more than 55 smart home brands, and the list is constantly growing. You can use your voice to start a humidifier or a robot vacuum cleaner.
Or create scenarios for many devices and different situations – for example, turn on the heater and put on the smart kettle just in time for your arrival.
8
SberBoom
Excellent powerful sound noted by Mikhail Borzenkov
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Voice assistant: Sber Salut
Voice assistant language: Russian
Ecosystem: Sber smart home
Power supply: from the network
Total power: 40 W
Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi- Fi
Dimensions: 145x200x145 mm
Weight: 1.3 kg
Pros
- Spacious and powerful sound
- Interest
- Multiple assistant voices
Cons
- Not the easiest setup when connecting
SberBoom is a smart speaker with a total sound output of 40 watts. The built-in microphone allows you to use the Sber Salut voice assistant to control the playback of tracks.
Bluetooth version 5.0 makes it possible to connect the speaker to other devices such as smartphones or tablets. The built-in Wi-Fi module allows you to use various online services.
The beautiful plastic case is equipped with spectacular lighting that sets the mood. The kit includes a USB Type-C cable and a power supply.
9
LG Xboom AI ThinQ
For music lovers
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Voice assistant : Alice
9 0024 Language : Russian
Ecosystem : Yandex Smart Home
Nutrition
Total power : 30 W
Wireless : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 135x211x135 mm
Weight : 1 .9 kg
Pros
- Great sound
- Complete voice assistant
Cons
- Software EQ cannot be reset
- 9000 6 The sound is directed in one direction
- Alice does not hear commands well
- Touch buttons are not visible in the dark
- Loses Wi-Fi
Two manufacturers worked on the creation of this smart speaker: software from Yandex, acoustics from Meridian.
The body of the smart speaker is made in a minimalistic design, on the top there are touch control buttons and a small backlight, on the bottom there is a power connector and a reset button. For initial setup, you need to install the Yandex application on your smartphone and follow the instructions.
Speakers sound clear and deep with the preset Clear Vocal and Enhanced Bass EQ options, you can enjoy rock basses or jazz melismas.
Alice, as a voice assistant, will perform a standard range of functions: set an alarm, record a reminder, tell the children a bedtime story, play simple games and find information on the Internet. To fully listen to melodies, it is better to subscribe to Yandex.Plus after the first three months of its free use, at the same time get a discount on taxi services.
The smart speaker will bring together all the gadgets in the house controlled by Yandex, make your routine easier and delight you with cool sound.
10
VK Capsule Neo
Nice compact speaker Voice assistant language: Russian
Ecosystem: Smart Home Mail.
ru
Power supply: mains
Total power: 5 W
Wireless: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Connectors: Ethernet (RJ-45)
Dimensions: 75x90x 75 mm
Weight: 0.345 kg
Features: support for audio streaming services, support for video streaming services
Pros
- Easy to use and set up
- Compact but loud
- Watch on case
Cons
- Non-universal power cord
- Limited functionality
VK The Neo Capsule is a smart speaker that is compact in size and light in weight, making it easy to fit in the palm of your hand. Despite this, it has all the features of a full-fledged speaker with voice control. The LED display, which automatically adapts to the lighting in the room, provides time, weather and other useful information.
With 5W of power and omnidirectional sound with bass boost, it provides clear and high-quality sound at any volume and perfectly recognizes human speech even during music playback.
The Marusya voice assistant built into the speaker can send and read messages and the VKontakte feed, play tracks from the playlists of users and their friends on the social network, and also launch movies from the Wink online cinema, podcasts and workouts. It also manages smart home devices from more than 50 manufacturers and runs a variety of educational quizzes and simulators.
11
Sber SberBox Time
For gamers and TV lovers
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26 Language : Russian Cons The cone-shaped smart speaker from Sber at first glance looks like an analog clock, but hides a lot of possibilities: it is both a TV set-top box and a voice assistant, and game console. You can control it with a smartphone, buttons on the case or remote control. It is convenient to use a column with a SberPrime subscription to use the maximum features, for example, listen to music through the Sberzvuk application or watch movies at the Okko cinema, although it has a reduced package of free options. By the way, if you use a smart speaker as a set-top box, you will get access to the Okko online cinema, YOUTUBE, Smotreshka TV channel service, you can install IVI, Wink, more.tv and KION. Gamers will be able to play previously purchased games from the Steam, Origin, Epic stores. The Gigabit Ethernet port provides a stable connection for cloud gaming and streaming. Interestingly, when connected to a TV, a smart speaker gives you a choice of sound source: directly from it or from the TV speaker system. Sber voice assistant (aka Joy, aka Athena) has the voice of an ordinary person, unlike Alice or Marusya, and is more interested in your life than you expect. As a smart home hub, the speaker can connect and pair a narrow range of devices – Tricolor, Era, etc. This smart speaker has good potential, we are waiting for software updates and we believe in Sberbank! 12 Cool but not for everyone LOOK IN Y.MARKET : Russian Pros Cons The product of the American company Sonos will open up a new world of truly cool audio products with wide possibilities and its own peculiarities of use. Very attractive and aesthetic smart speaker is made according to the IP67 standard, which claims increased moisture protection and durability. On one of the cuts of the case there are physical keys with the most pleasant move and snap off. Two amplifiers, a midrange driver and one tweeter are responsible for sound quality, you can change the equalizer settings to your liking. Trueplay technology very well optimizes the sound for external factors. Transferring music over Wi-Fi is very convenient, and iPhone owners will appreciate AirPlay2 technology. Voice assistants are not well enough focused on Russian-speaking users. With another such smart speaker, you can make a stereo pair and enjoy their wonderful sound, and the Sound Swap sound interception technology between speakers will delight in simplicity and convenience. Charges device via USB-C (adapter not included) and supports wireless charging. The smart speaker from Sonos is small in size but big in performance, and its chic performance will complement your home audio system or become a premium accessory on the go. 13 Gadget for kids LOOK IN Y.MARKET Voice Assistant : Alice Cons Smart speaker is a joint product of Prestigio, Perenio and the radio station ” Lighthouse. Prestigio is responsible for the hard component, Perenio for the Red Atom console, “Mayak” for some parts of the shell (design, signature sounds, the children’s project “I want to know everything”). The smart speaker evokes nostalgia for Soviet design bureaus, because it is made in the form of a sturdy barrel in a rough mesh braid with a patriotic inscription and physical control buttons, which together looks a little old-fashioned. The smart speaker is equipped with a MicroUSB charging port and a mini-jack for expanding the possibilities of acoustics. You should not count on high-quality sound, it is better to connect external acoustics to the speaker via a mini-jack. A huge plus of the device is the possibility of portable battery operation, the main thing is not to forget to put the smart speaker on charge, because until it is completely turned off, there is an active consumption of energy. The voice assistant will explain the initial setup. The device is equipped with 4 microphones, however, users note that Alice does not recognize commands well in the presence of additional noise, which is not always convenient. Alice-friendly, Google Assistant and Alexa-friendly Perenio Red Atom IR remote control, which will help you manage smart home devices in the Yandex ecosystem. This smart speaker is perfect for kids because of its easy-to-understand controls, autonomous power supply and the integration of the children’s “I want to know everything” project. 14 For a picnic atmosphere LOOK IN Y.MARKET Voice assistant : Alice Pros Cons JBL smart speaker has a minimalist design and is equipped with moisture protection according to the IPX7 standard. Pretty good sound is provided by the built-in speakers, which spread the sound 360° due to the peculiarities of their location. Built-in voice assistant Alice performs standard functionality from a simple conversation to the execution of instructions. Of course, it’s better to have a Yandex.Plus subscription to make the most of its features. In conclusion, I would like to note that this is one of the few portable speakers compatible with Yandex smart home. When Apple introduced Siri to the world in October 2011 (with the release of the iPhone 4S), it seemed like a simple novelty. But what should you pay attention to when choosing a smart speaker? While it may seem intimidating at first, once you determine your needs, the choice can be quite simple. When buying a smart speaker, one of the key considerations is the voice assistant you want to use. The top three options are Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. Alexa has become one of the most famous voice assistants over the years, in part because you can get an Alexa-enabled smart speaker quite cheaply. There are thousands of “skills” available on the Alexa platform, allowing you to do everything from checking your bank balance to remote starting your car. Amazon Echo speakers also integrate with Zigbee-enabled devices, so if you have these smart products at home, an Alexa smart speaker is a good choice. If you use an Android smartphone, you are probably already familiar with Google’s voice assistant. Support for the world’s largest search engine has its obvious advantages, since others, such as Alexa, use Microsoft Bing (somewhat worse) to find information. It also excels at things like route planning as it can leverage Google’s years of Maps expertise and use real-time public transport information. Finally, Apple’s Siri voice assistant. Unlike Alexa and Google Assistant, it’s only available on Apple’s smart speaker, the HomePod Mini. Although it costs a bit more than similar offerings from Amazon and Google, it is generally considered to have better sound quality. If you’re already using Apple products, HomePod Mini is worth considering as it seamlessly integrates with the rest of your devices. For those who care about privacy, Apple also has a clear advantage over Alexa and Google Assistant. Bigger isn’t always better, but from a speaker standpoint, bigger drivers (and more drivers) usually produce better sound. If you’re buying a smart speaker just for simple things like turning off the lights or checking the weather when you leave the house, you might not care about the sound quality. In this case, you can use a small speaker such as the Google Nest Mini with a single 4.2 cm driver. If, on the other hand, you’ll be using it to listen to music, it’s worth investing a little more money in a better speaker with multiple drivers and a woofer. Depending on your use case, you might also consider a smart speaker with an integrated screen, such as the Amazon Echo Show 10 or Google Nest Hub (2nd generation). This is a great option if you want to have recipes handy while cooking or make video calls with family and friends. In addition, you can quickly get useful information such as the weather forecast or upcoming appointments. Naturally, one of the most important considerations when buying a smart speaker is how much you are willing to pay. However, you should remember that whether you spend $30 or $3000, the voice assistant will be just as good. One of the reasons Amazon’s Alexa-enabled speakers are so popular is their affordability, especially as they are often heavily discounted. For example, the Echo Dot (4th generation) costs about $50. But usually it drops to 24.9$9 at least twice a year when Amazon has their Prime Day and Black Friday sales. If you don’t mind buying an older version, you can find the Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for as little as $14.99 during sales periods. Google Assistant speakers like the Nest Mini cost the same as the Echo Dot and get similar discounts during Black Friday. Unfortunately for Apple users, there isn’t much choice right now. After Apple discontinued the HomePod in 2021, the HomePod Mini has become the only smart speaker on offer and is selling for 99$. If you are considering having a smart speaker in your home (which by default always listens to your commands), you should always consider your privacy and the policies of the companies behind these devices.
Ecosystem : Smart Home Sber
Power supply : AC
Total power : 15W
Wireless : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Connectors and interfaces : HDMI output, Ethernet (RJ-45)
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 162x170x162 mm
Weight : 0.42 kg set-top box and game console
While he is learning to solve problems a little better than he can now. Sonos Roam
Ecosystem : no
Nutrition : mains, battery (up to 10 h)
Wireless : AirPlay, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 62x168x60 mm
Weight : 0.43 kg
Prestigio Smartmate Lighthouse Edition
Language 90 025 : Russian
Ecosystem : Yandex Smart Home
Power : mains , battery (up to 9 h)
Total power : 6 W
Wireless : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Connectors and interfaces: audio in, audio out
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 93x113x93 mm
Weight : 0.4 kg Battery and mains operation
JBL Link Portable
Language : Russian
Ecosystem : Yandex Smart Home
Power supply : from the mains , on battery (up to 8 hours)
Total power : 20 W
Wireless : Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Dimensions (WxHxD ): 88x170x88 mm
Weight 900 25 : 0.735 kg
900 54 High price
The model is powered by a docking station or a USB-C cable, has a built-in battery that lasts for 8 hours of active use.
Best smart speakers in 2023
But a decade later, voice assistants have become much more commonplace in our lives. These days, you can even find them on household appliances like microwaves, but most people interact with these virtual assistants at home through smart speakers. In fact, by 2021, more than 50% of US households owned smart speakers. As their popularity grew, so did their functionality. What was once a simple voice assistant used to set timers or check the weather has now evolved into something far more useful, with millions of people using them for everything from turning off the lights to running the coffee machine in the morning. Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri?
All three of them are roughly equal when it comes to functionality, but they have their own advantages. Amazon Alexa
Google Assistant
Apple Siri
Sound quality
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For example, the Amazon Echo Studio has a tweeter, three 5cm mid-range drivers and a 13cm woofer for superior sound. There’s even a Google Assistant-enabled speaker from audio experts Bang & Olufsen, the Beoplay A9. This beautifully designed speaker features a 20cm woofer, two 7.6cm mid-range drivers, two 3.8cm full-range drivers and two 2cm tweeters. Although it costs over $3,000, it’s aimed at audiophiles who have money to spare. Screen
Price
After all, cost usually reflects sound quality, but if that doesn’t bother you, you can get a smart speaker relatively inexpensively. Privacy
