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What are the best smart speakers?

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Apple HomePod vs Google Home vs Amazon Echo

 vs Sonos One Gen 2 vs Libratone Zipp 2 vs Amazon Echo Dot vs Ultimate Ears Megablast vs Google Home Max vs LG XBOOM AI ThinQ WK7 vs JBL Link 20 vs Sonos Beam vs Amazon Echo 2nd Gen vs Libratone Zipp Mini 2 vs JBL Link 300 vs Sonos One Gen 1 vs Audio Pro Addon C5A vs Amazon Echo Sub vs Amazon Echo Spot vs Riva Concert vs Ultimate Ears Blast vs FABRIQ Chorus vs Bang & Olufsen Beosound 1 with Google Assistant vs Soundcore Model Zero+ vs Sony SRS-XB501G vs Onkyo Smart Speaker G3 VC-GX30 vs SoLIS Audio SO-2000 vs Cavalier Audio Maverick vs Harman Kardon Invoke vs Amazon Echo Plus 2nd Gen vs Netgear Orbi Voice vs Bose Home Speaker 500 vs Marshall Stanmore II Voice vs Klipsch The Three vs JBL Link 10 vs Polk Audio Command Soundbar vs Harman Kardon Allure vs Cowin DiDa vs Sony LF-S50G vs Panasonic SC-GA10 vs Google Home Mini vs Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen vs Bose S1 Pro vs Amazon Tap vs GGMM ES-201 E3 vs Slimme Speaker

Specs

Weight

88 oz

Height

6.8''

Speaker Channel Type

Stereo

Connectivity

-

Weight

16.82 oz

Height

5.6''

Speaker Channel Type

Stereo

Connectivity

-

Weight

37.6 oz

Height

9.3''

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Mono

Connectivity

-

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-

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Connectivity

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Weight

5.75 oz

Height

1.3''

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Mono

Connectivity

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Weight

16.6 oz

Height

6.3''

Speaker Channel Type

Stereo

Connectivity

-

Weight

-

Height

-

Speaker Channel Type

-

Connectivity

-

Weight

-

Height

-

Speaker Channel Type

-

Connectivity

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Pros + Cons

Con
 It's very expensive

Most popular smart speakers from Google and Amazon cost under $200, while the HomePod is considerably more expensive.
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Pro
 You can easily combine several HomePods into a setup

If you put two HomePods in the room, they will automatically synchronize and create an immersive sound. You could also get more and place them across the whole house. They will communicate through AirPlay 2 and let you listen to your music all around your home.
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Pro
 The sound quality will be great in any room

You can put the speaker in a large or a small room, in the corner or right in the center, the sound quality will be amazing nevertheless. The HomePod analyzes the layout of the room and adjusts the playback automatically to give you a great listening experience.
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Pro
 The voice recognition works very well

Siri recognizes commands that you give from across the room, with music blasting at top volumes.
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Pro
 It can suggest music based on your preferences

You can teach the HomePod about the music you like and don't like, and it will try to give you recommendations. You can just say “Hey Siri, I like this song,” or "Hey Siri, play something different."
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Pro
 It can do a wide variety of tasks

You can give the speaker commands to control your lights, the thermostat, the AC, etc. You can also ask Siri about the weather, traffic, news, and much more.
Comment

Con
 It has to be plugged in at all times

The HomePod doesn't have a battery, it needs to be plugged into a power outlet to work.
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Pro
 It fully integrates with all Google services

For people who rely on Google services such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Keep, Maps, and so on, this speaker will make life very convenient. It will manage your inbox, schedule, notes, get you the news, check the traffic, and much more.
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Pro
 Voice command recognition works extremely well

This speaker is really good when it comes to understanding commands, and it doesn’t feel too robotic. You won’t have to repeat the same question over and over to make it understand what you're asking. It especially excels with contextual questions. You can ask ‘’What’s the capital of Sweden?’’ and then follow it up it with ‘’What’s the weather there?’’ and the speaker will give the right answer.
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Pro
 The sound quality is very good

This speaker offers good sound for its price range: it has decent bass, so you can use it when a powerful sound is needed, like for parties. It also works very well as an everyday speaker.
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Pro
 It's easy to set up

You only need to plug in the speaker, install the Google Home app on your phone, and follow a simple setup guide.
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Pro
 Design is customizable

The bottom half of Google Home can be replaced by a different shell, with a different texture or different color. This allows the Google Home to be personalized to an extent and fit better design-wise with specific interiors.
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Con
 Third-party support isn't established yet

As Google Assistant and Google Home are new systems, there isn't much support for third-party apps yet. We'd imagine this will only get better when Home is released, but competitors currently have an advantage here.
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Con
 Doesn't offer support for Amazon Prime Music

As Google Home will be the number one competitor to Amazon Echo, the music streaming service from Amazon Prime will not be available on Google Home. However, support could be included in a future update.
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Pro
 Doubles as a great portable speaker system

Google has implemented a quality speaker system that should make Google Home a powerful speaker for music with reportedly strong bass and clear highs. You can also connect your own speaker or stereo system via Bluetooth or an audiojack: the choice is entirely up to you.
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Pro
 Also streams music from Google Play Music

As Home is a Google product, integration with Play Music isn't that surprising. However, it makes Home the only home-assistant to offer support for the online streaming service which is definitely a plus. However, other smart home devices could possibly add Google Play Music in an update.
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Pro
 Far-field microphones can hear you from a far distance

According to Google, Home will feature far-field microphones that will allow you to be heard from a far distance.
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Pro
 Controls other smart home devices

Google Home will offer native support with smart home system Nest, but will also support other third party products that have yet to be announced. It is unclear so far how easy it is for developers to integrate Google Home into their apps, but Google has announced support for it.
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Pro
 Offers support for multi-room audio

Google Home works well with extra devices or any speaker that is connected via Google Cast. Home syncs the audio between all devices for a smooth, multi-room audio experience. This essentially allows Google Home to play music from any speaker you'd like.
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Pro
 Always listens to your voice with "OK Google" service

Google Home doesn't require a button to be pressed in order to use it, it always listens to your voice. Just say the words "OK Google" to get started. It is possible that Google will add more of these 'action words' in the future. OK Google can also be found on mobile Google Devices and integrates well with Google Now. Users of the Google Now will find the Google Home ecosystem very familiar.
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Con
 It relies on a power outlet

Since the speaker has no battery, it has to be plugged into the outlet at all times.
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Con
 Hasn't been released yet

Google Home will be released sometime in 2016, but is currently not available. As the product has not yet hit the shelves, reviewers and users haven't had the chance to take an in-depth look at the product itself and its features. The sound system and Google Assistant currently haven't been tested by the public.
Comment

Con
 It only works with one Google account at a time

You can't access personal information - calendar, contacts, etc., from more than one account. This is extremely inconvenient if you have two accounts, one personal and one for work, for example. The same goes if you want a digital assistant for the whole family.
Comment

Con
 Ther's no Bluetooth pairing capabilities

You can’t pair a Bluetooth device with the speaker, which is a little limiting. For example, you can't import music from your phone to the speaker. This is a little frustrating because the majority of smart speakers can be paired with other devices.
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Pro
 It's very good at understanding commands

Alexa, Amazon's personal assistant, is very good at interpreting voice commands. It can detect and process what you're saying from up to 26 feet away.
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Pro
 It can perform a large variety of tasks

Besides Amazon, Echo integrates with Uber, Spotify, Audible, Bing, and the list of services continues to grow. You can also use it to get the news, check the weather, order some food; it can control, lights, TVs, garage doors, and more.
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Pro
 It's easy to set up

All you need to do is get the Amazon Echo app and an Amazon account. Fill in your personal info and pair your phone with the speaker. After that, you won’t even really need the app anymore.
Comment

Con
 It relies on a power outlet

Echo doesn't have a battery, so it has to be plugged into an outlet at all times.
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Pro
 Good quality omnidirectional speaker

The Amazon Echo features a 360* omnidirectional speaker. Users have reported great sound quality and speaker sounds, which make the Echo a perfect fit as a music player.
Comment

Pro
 Also streams music from Amazon Prime

Echo is an Amazon product and offers great integration with the rest of Amazon's services, especially Amazon Prime. The Echo family is currently the only virtual assistant that is compatible with Amazon Prime Music. You can also stream music via Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn. The ecosystem is fairly open, as developers can easily integrate Alexa's voice commands into their apps.
Comment

Pro
 It makes shopping on Amazon even more convenient

After connecting your Amazon account to Echo, you will be able to make an order on Amazon, check the status of your order, and find out the delivery time without turning on your laptop.
Comment

Con
 Mediocre sound quality

As a speaker, Echo doesn't perform its best playing music at high volumes or with low bass. It will provide you with some background music, but it 's not the best choice to keep a lively atmosphere at a party.
Comment

Con
 It's easy to mix up the commands

Since there are so many services and types of commands it's easy to mix up the commands. For example, instead of playing a song, Alexa may start searching for an audiobook.
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Pro
 Alexa support

Comment

Pro
 Great option for people who want to try out smart speakers

The Echo Dot is a great option if you're still unsure if you'll have any use for a smart speaker. It has a lot of the same functions as other Amazon smart speakers but it comes at a fraction of the price.
Comment

Con
 It has a hard time picking up commands from a distance

If the distance between you and the speaker is more than 20 feet, you should speak louder to make sure that Alexa understands you correctly.
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Pro
 It doesn't take up much space

The Dot is smaller than the average smart speaker, and there shouldn't be any problem with finding a place for it.
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Pro
 You can connect it to another speaker

You can upgrade the sound by connecting an external speaker (or headphones) via the 3.5 mm jack.
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Con
 You can't switch between the external speaker and the Echo Dot

If you plug in an external speaker, it will be used by default, with no possibility to switch between the two.
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Con
 The sound output is underwhelming in a large room

The Dot is a comparatively small device, it doesn't have as much power as bigger speakers. It can handle playing some background music in a quiet setting, but it's not the best choice for a party.
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Con
 It relies on a power outlet

The Echo Dot has to be plugged into a power outlet to work.
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Pro
 It works on the go

This speaker doesn't have to be plugged into a power outlet at all times to work, it only needs a Wi-Fi connection. You can take it along to a getaway with friends, for example. Though you should keep in mind that the battery life is 9 hours.
Comment

Con
 It's not entirely hands-free

To activate the Tap, you have to tap on it with your hand. This is a small task, but for many people, it can ruin the very purpose of having a smart speaker in the first place.
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Pro
 Charging is convenient

You just need to place the Tap on the charging cradle that's plugged into a power outlet.
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Pro
 It can perform a large variety of tasks

The Tap comes equipped with Alexa, Amazon's voice-controlled assistant; it can play your music, make notes, find some information online, get the weather forecast, and check your calendar among other things.
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Con
 The sound quality is underwhelming for the price

The audio quality is average at best. It lacks the bass and volume that other speakers in the same price category have.
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Con
 It requires you to charge it daily

Although having a cordless speaker is very convenient, the downside is that you will have to charge it regularly. And with 9-hour battery life, this means daily.
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