First published: 16 January 2021 @ 3:29 pm
Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple Homepod? All three are great smart speakers, but they each cater to different types of users.
Google Home works best if you’re a Google user and already use other Google products like Gmail and Docs. Being able to directly ask about your schedule or view your flight information is very convenient.
It also has some of the best music-streaming features, as well as easy access to YouTube videos. Plus, if you have a Chromecast or Android TV device around, you can stream shows from those devices onto your TV with Google Home through Chromecast.
Amazon Echo’s primary advantage is its sheer selection of third-party integration options — and it will be hard for any other company to catch up anytime soon in that regard — but it’s not just about quantity here; many of these integrations are very helpful additions indeed. You can order an Uber and control a number of smart-home devices directly from your Echo.
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Apple Homepod is the one you want if sound quality is most important to you, or if you’re an Apple diehard looking for ways to tie all of your gadgets together in one place.
The lack of third-party integration options is disappointing, but there’s no denying that the speaker itself sounds amazing — as long as you’re willing to pay the premium price.
All three are great options for smart speakers, but they each cater to different types of users:
Google Home
Google users (and Chromecast owners) will love this speaker because it aligns perfectly with their tech ecosystem. It offers tons of functionality via Google Assistant and ties into lots of other products like Nest thermostats and Chromecasts.
Plus, its audio quality isn’t half bad, especially when connected to a larger speaker system through its auxiliary port or Bluetooth connection. At $129, it’s also quite affordable.
Amazon Echo
If you already have a Prime membership or lots of Amazon-related products in your house, the $99 Echo is the obvious choice. It’s also the most affordable option by $20.
However, if you don’t have any other Amazon gadgets around, it may be more of an investment than its worth. If you’re only interested in smart home features — and don’t care about the sound quality — check out the Dot instead.
If you already have a Prime membership or lots of Amazon-related products in your house, the $99 Echo is the obvious choice. It’s also the most affordable option by $20.
However, if you don’t have any other Amazon gadgets around, it may be more of an investment than its worth. If you’re only interested in smart home features — and don’t care about the sound quality — check out the Dot instead.
Apple Homepod
This is easily one of the best sounding speakers on this list: The audio quality is fantastic thanks to its seven tweeters and four woofers (with direct and indirect radii), but it’s not exactly portable since there’s no battery inside for wireless functionality.
The Siri integration will be great for Apple users, but it doesn’t do much else that the Echo or Google Home can’t already do. It’s also Apple’s most expensive speaker at $350.
We think Google Home is the best choice for most people because it works with so many other products and services, and its sound quality is quite good. However, we also like Amazon’s Echo because it has the most third-party integrations, which will make your smart home even smarter.
Apple HomePod is a more niche option since it only works with Apple services. But if you’re an Apple diehard who wants one device to connect everything in your life together, you’ll love it. Just know that you’ll need to plug this baby into a wall outlet, so it’s not meant for taking around from room to room.
If you don’t care about sound quality at all, we suggest getting the Amazon Echo Dot instead. It has most of the same features as the full-size Echo, but it costs $50 less.
And with Amazon’s voice calling feature rolling out to all Echo devices soon, the Dot is a great option for anyone who wants a simple way to connect with other Alexa users.