Smart speakers aren’t just playing music these days. Many speaker models are becoming smarter. A great smart speaker can bring voice-activated internet search and connection to all devices. Some smart speakers do a better job than others when it comes to understanding voice commands – whether you’re talking across the noisy kitchen or whispering out of bed.
We’ve tested the most popular smart speakers, including the Echo, Nest, HomePod and Sonos eras that run through Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or the Apple ecosystem. This is our favorite.
What is the best smart speaker?
The Amazon Echo speaker is one of the most affordable and easy to set up smart speakers. That’s the reason 4th generation Amazon Echo Overall, it’s a top smart speaker choice. It may best meet the needs of most households. A few years ago, the device has improved sound quality over the previous generation, so it is compatible with a variety of smart devices, and is relatively affordable for $100 (it can be sold under $80). ).
A fourth generation echo may not be the best choice for your particular home. largely All Smart Speakers You can control the lights, play music, ask questions, set reminders, and use simple voice commands. This decision could simply be made to a brand you are already investing in. If you have an affinity for a particular company’s product, choosing a speaker is easy, whether you’re focusing on Amazon, Apple or Google.
For platform-neutral people (or those trying to switch things up), the top picks outside the fourth-generation Amazon Echo are the two-generation Google Nest Mini, Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), Apple HomePod Mini, and The Apple HomePod Mini, and the new Sonos Era 100. Please see the following reasons.
Best Smart Speakers of 2025
Hide expert take
Photo Gallery 1/1
Thanks to Alexa and the $100 fourth-generation Amazon Echo, we bring Amazon the smart home edge in the best smart speaker category.
The latest echo (not to be confused with 5th generation Echo Dot or Echo Pop) combines the regular Alexa Smart with speakers with great sound and built-in Zigbee radio. This is a great inclusion that allows you to connect Zigbee Light, Locks, Sensors and other devices to your setup without the need for another hub device.
Echo is useful as Alexa can send an alert if the smart speaker’s microphone detects broken glass or smoke alarm sounds.
What helps in the first place of Echo Clinch is its sound quality. This speaker provides a loud room filled sound with plenty of clarity and bass controls. There are speakers that sound better, like the Sonos Era 100 and the Echo Studio, but they can’t even go below the price of the Echo.
Hide expert take
Show me the expert take
Photo Gallery 1/1
If you’re in the market for budget smart speakers, they’re less feature-packed than the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen). It offers a wealth of features, including a temperature sensor, Eero mesh extender, and the ability to tap like an alarm clock.
The Echo Dot (5th Gen) sounds better than other speakers, such as the Echo Pop and Google’s Nest Mini. That microphone is sensitive enough to hear you from across the room, even if another speaker is playing.
While Google’s Nest Mini is a little more refined in terms of its response, the Amazon Echo Dot is great in all other ways, and is the best smart speaker for under $50.
Show me the expert take
Show me the expert take
Photo Gallery 1/1
Google did a fantastic job of catching up to Amazon with smart speaker races. At this point, choosing the lowest-priced smart speaker devices from both companies will be splitting your hair.
Google Assistant has roughly the same number of features as Alexa, and if Google Assistant is your preference, it makes the $50 Google Nest Mini a solid alternative to the Amazon Echo Dot. Furthermore, according to tests, Google Assistant is slightly smarter than Alexa.
If you can’t remember the exact name of your smart home device, it’s flexible to voice commands and Google’s grouped commands called routines work with more types of smart devices than Amazon’s similar routines.
Google Assistant can recognize multiple voices, so when each asks about your calendar, you and your spouse will provide a different answer (although Alexa can do this too).
Overall, Google still has an edge of intelligence, and the Google Nest Mini is a great, low-cost way to take advantage of these smarts.
Show me the expert take
Show me the expert take
Photo Gallery 1/1
Apple’s small, compatible smart speakers are price tags of $100 like Google’s Nest Audio and Amazon Echo, and cheap speakers that come in small packages like the Nest Mini and Echo Dot, which are both competitors. It bridges strange gaps.
With features such as intercom, audio handoff, and stereo pairing, this small smart speaker is extremely practical. It looks good and sounds great.
When it comes to smart homes, Siri and HomePod Mini are limited to devices that run on Homekit, Apple’s smart home platform.
There are fewer devices that are HomeKit compatible with less devices than those that run with Alexa or Google Assistant.
If you like Apple (and Siri is the smart assistant of your choice), or if HomeKit is the preferred smart home platform, you love Apple’s smart speakers.
For those who already use an iPhone, Apple TV or the original HomePod, it makes sense to add this smart speaker to your collection.
Show me the expert take
Show me the expert take
Photo Gallery 1/1
It would be a tough job to replace the Sonos One, but the company is now able to not only make the ERA 100 better, but also give it a little more functionality.
In addition to the Apple Airplay 2 and Sonos’s own Multiroom System, the ERA 100 features Bluetooth.
The only downside of the ERA 100 is that the speaker no longer chooses between Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Adding the Nest Mini might seem to beat the purpose of such speakers, but it should solve this problem for people in the Google ecosystem. This issue is reportedly changed Google’s rules, so there may be hopes that assistants can add them in the future.
Either way, the ERA 100 sounds great, and Alexa fans in particular should love it.
Show me the expert take
The above smart speakers are my current favorites, but if you’re looking for something specific in audio performance, there are plenty of other options too. Please read the breakdown of Alexa vs Google Assistant vs Siri If you want to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each and decide on your smart home device based on its platform.
Over the past year or so, I’ve seen some new smart speakers (i.e. Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo Pop, The Sonos Era 100, The Era 300), but most of the models there are available for much longer . The ERA 100 is the pick for these new speakers, and while the $40 pop is interesting in its way, the DOT (5th generation) offers more features for just $10.
If you like ideas about technology that can be ready and want something more visual, check out our list The best smart display. A smart display essentially combines a smart speaker with a touchscreen to watch videos, make video calls, scroll and control photos on YouTube. Smart Home Gadgets with touch. Amazon and Google have some options that are worth considering in the category.
read more: The best smart display
Knowing what platforms and features you need will help you quickly narrow down your options and find the best smart speaker for you and your family.
Do you have a stereo smart speaker?
What is the smartest voice assistant?
Which smart speaker is the loudest?
Which smart speaker is best for free music?
