It's great for most living rooms and larger bedrooms. Google Nest Audio (about $100): The Google Nest Audio has great sound quality compared to its tiny counterpart.It comes with better sound quality and a wall-mounting option to save space on shelves and tables. Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) (about $50): This is an upgraded version of the Google Home Mini.These speakers hold their own in terms of audio quality but overall aren't as good as Echo speakers. Google has a smaller selection of smart speakers than Amazon. Echo Link for controlling stereo systems (about $200).Echo Buds (2nd gen)(about $120) and Echo Frames (2nd gen) (about $150) for personal audio.On top of a full range of traditional smart speakers and smart displays, Amazon's playful experimentation results in some nontraditional Echo devices: It even has Dolby Atmos surround sound, which pairs great with blockbuster movies on a Fire TV streaming device. Echo Studio (about $200): The Echo Studio is Amazon's thunderous reply to folks that want the loud, vibrant music you might find in a stereo system.This powerful feature is ideal for smart homes with tons of sensors. Plus, it can control Zigbee smart devices without a hub. But it's still a worthwhile addition to the smart home with better music quality than most competitors in this price range. Echo (4th gen) (about $100): As the smart speaker market grows, the Amazon Echo doesn't feel as groundbreaking as the original 2014 version.Read our Echo Dot 4th gen review for more info.Echo Dot (4th gen) (about $50): While the Flex adds a basic smart speaker to most rooms, the Echo Dot is your starting place for better music quality.Echo Flex (about $25): The Echo Flex plugs directly into a wall outlet and is a cheap option to add Alexa in hallways or small rooms.Google perfects a few devices for specific scenarios, while Amazon seems content to experiment with as many Echo smart speakers as possible: They deliver big in terms of audio quality but at a price that's more affordable than the industry-topping Sonos wireless speakers. It even links to other Echo smart speakers for a better TV experience than Google offers.Īmazon's Echo smart speakers created the pattern that most online reviewers use to judge all other smart speakers. It doesn't have a built-in screen, but this smart speaker connects directly to your TV for stunning 4K movies and TV shows. Fire TV Cube (about $120): Currently unavailable.The Show 15 has a strong focus on helping organize your schedule and is the only model built for wall mounting in both landscape and portrait modes. Echo Show 15 (about $250): This massive 15.6-inch beast is Amazon's biggest smart display.As a bonus, the screen can follow you around a room for optimal audio and video. Echo Show 10 (about $250): The Echo Show 10 doesn't hold up as well to Google as other Amazon Echo smart displays but is a solid option thanks to built-in Zigbee device compatibility.It's great for offices and kitchens because it doesn't take up much space. Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) (about $130): This device competes directly with the Google Nest Hub but narrowly wins because it has a built-in camera.Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) (about $85): The smallest Amazon Echo Show targets a lower price than Google's cheapest smart display, and the minuscule 5-inch screen makes a better alarm clock.But they do have one advantage over Google smart displays: every model includes a camera for video calls. While Alexa has competent devices, we ultimately preferred Google's approach (and more massive video service selection) as an easier product to use. The large size is perfect for recipes in the kitchen but works just as well for watching TV shows in the background of most medium and large rooms.ĭuring our research, it was surprising that Alexa's dominance with music services didn't translate into similar performance for video services on smart displays. It also has bigger speakers and a built-in Nest security camera, making it great for video calls over Google Duo. Google Nest Hub Max (about $230): The Google Nest Hub Max has a large 10-inch screen-about the size of an iPad.We think it works great as an alarm clock for adults or a tiny TV alternative for the kids' playroom. Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) (about $100): This smart display is Google's more affordable model due to a smaller 7-inch screen and no built-in camera.This is in addition to drawing from your Google Photos collection. It's not a perfect feature but is more capable than what we experienced with Alexa.Īnother feature we like is the option to show curated photos from Google Earth and artwork when the screen's not in use. Google's smart displays are pleasant to use, particularly with how many video streaming services they support.
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