How to Choose a Smart Speaker

Easy 10 min read

A smart speaker is often the heart of a smart home—the device you talk to most and use to control everything else. Choosing the right one comes down to which voice assistant fits your life and what audio quality you need.

Choose Your Voice Assistant First

This is really a choice between ecosystems. Each has strengths:

Amazon Alexa

  • Strengths: Widest smart home compatibility, most third-party skills, excellent for shopping
  • Best for: Smart home enthusiasts, Amazon Prime members, those who want maximum device compatibility
  • Speakers: Echo Dot, Echo, Echo Studio, Echo Show (with screen)

Google Assistant

  • Strengths: Best at answering questions, natural conversation, excellent with Google services (Calendar, Gmail, Maps)
  • Best for: Android users, those who rely on Google services, households that ask lots of questions
  • Speakers: Nest Mini, Nest Audio, Nest Hub (with screen)

Apple Siri (HomePod)

  • Strengths: Best audio quality, tight Apple ecosystem integration, strong privacy focus
  • Best for: iPhone users, Apple Music subscribers, those who prioritize sound quality
  • Speakers: HomePod Mini, HomePod (2nd gen)

Speaker vs. Smart Display

Smart displays add a touchscreen to the speaker:

Audio-Only Speakers

  • Blend into rooms more easily
  • Generally better audio for the price
  • No visual distractions
  • Better for bedrooms, offices, bathrooms

Smart Displays

  • Show video doorbell feeds, security cameras
  • Display recipes, weather, calendars
  • Video calling capability
  • Better for kitchens, living rooms, entryways

Audio Quality Considerations

If music matters to you, pay attention to speaker specs:

Budget Speakers ($30-60)

Echo Dot, Nest Mini, HomePod Mini. Good for voice commands and casual listening. Limited bass, not room-filling.

Mid-Range ($80-150)

Echo (4th gen), Nest Audio. Noticeably better sound, decent bass, can fill a room. Good balance of price and quality.

Premium ($200+)

Echo Studio, HomePod (2nd gen). Audiophile-quality sound, spatial audio, room-filling bass. Worth it if music is a priority.

Multi-Room Audio

All three ecosystems support playing music across multiple speakers:

  • Alexa: Create speaker groups, play in sync throughout your home
  • Google: Speaker groups, can cast from any app
  • Apple: AirPlay 2 supports multi-room, stereo pairing

If you plan to have speakers in multiple rooms, stick to one ecosystem for seamless multi-room audio.

Smart Home Control

As a smart home hub, consider:

Built-In Hub

Some speakers include Zigbee or Thread radios:

  • Echo (4th gen): Built-in Zigbee hub
  • HomePod Mini: Thread border router
  • Nest Hub (2nd gen): Thread border router

This lets them connect directly to Zigbee/Thread devices without a separate hub.

Budget Guidance

  • $30-50: Echo Dot, Nest Mini, HomePod Mini—great for getting started
  • $80-150: Echo, Nest Audio—better sound, still affordable
  • $150-250: Smart displays (Echo Show, Nest Hub Max)
  • $200-350: Premium audio (Echo Studio, HomePod)

Our Recommendations

Best for most people: Echo (4th gen) or Nest Audio—great balance of sound quality, smart features, and price.

Best budget option: Echo Dot or Nest Mini—start here to try out voice assistants cheaply.

Best for Apple users: HomePod Mini—affordable, great sound for size, seamless with iPhone.

Best sound quality: HomePod (2nd gen) or Echo Studio—serious audio performance.

Best smart display: Echo Show 8 or Nest Hub—useful screens without being too large.