Too Many Smart Speakers? Here’s How to Choose the Right One

Typical price i
57.– to 120.–

Standard smart speakers rely on voice interaction to play music, answer questions, and control smart home devices.

Best for hands-free use in spaces like living rooms or bedrooms, offering compact design and clear audio without a screen.

Typical price i
94.– to 220.–

Smart displays combine speaker functionality with a built-in touchscreen for visual content, video calls, and interactive controls.

Ideal for kitchens or offices where you want to see information, follow video recipes, or join calls, providing more versatile interaction than audio-only models.

Typical price i
68.– to 170.–

Works with a broad range of smart home brands and devices, including lights, plugs, thermostats, and security cameras.

Ideal for users seeking maximum compatibility and flexibility, making it easy to expand or customize their smart home over time.

Typical price i
300.– to 370.–

Integrates well with Google services and supports many smart devices, offering strong voice recognition and context-aware responses.

Best for those who use Google apps or want easy voice control across Android phones, Chromecasts, and Nest products.

Typical price i
100.– to 130.–

Uses the Apple HomeKit platform, focusing on privacy and secure integration with Apple devices and accessories.

Recommended for users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, as it offers a private, unified, and reliable smart home experience.

Typical price i
72.– to 170.–

Connects to your home network for high-quality, stable audio streaming and smart home integration.

Ideal for multi-room setups and users who want uninterrupted playback and advanced voice assistant features.

Typical price i
76.– to 210.–

Pairs directly with smartphones, tablets, or laptops for quick, flexible audio streaming without a network.

Best for portable use and simple, one-on-one connections, such as playing music from a phone while traveling.

Typical price i
110.– to 270.–

Uses Apple's wireless protocol to stream audio from iOS devices and Macs to compatible speakers over Wi-Fi.

Perfect for Apple users seeking seamless multi-room playback and easy control from their devices.

Typical price i
72.– to 150.–

Supports a vast music library, curated playlists, and personalized recommendations through integration with most smart speakers.

Ideal for users who want access to a global catalog and popular playlists, making it easy to listen to trending or favorite songs.

Typical price i
85.– to 150.–

Offers high-quality audio, exclusive releases, and seamless integration with Apple devices and HomeKit-enabled speakers.

Best for those in the Apple ecosystem or seeking curated content, enabling smooth control across iPhones, iPads, and HomePods.

Typical price i
76.– to 150.–

Provides a wide range of tracks, podcasts, and high-fidelity streaming options supported on select smart speakers.

Great for listeners who value audio quality and music discovery, including unique features like Flow for personalized playlists.

Typical price i
320.– to 440.–

Specializes in custom radio stations and music discovery, with simple voice controls on compatible smart speakers.

Recommended for users who enjoy effortless music discovery or prefer hands-off listening with automatically generated stations.

Offers the HomePod range, centered around Siri and seamless integration with Apple devices.

Ideal for those in the Apple ecosystem seeking privacy and high-quality sound in a smart home setup.

Dominates the market with Alexa-powered Echo speakers, known for broad smart home compatibility.

Best suited for users who want affordable options, flexible voice control, and large third-party support.

Features Nest Audio and Google Home speakers with Google Assistant at the core.

Excels at voice search, routine automation, and is ideal for those using Google services daily.

Focuses on audio quality and radio integration, offering both smart and traditional speaker models.

Appeals to listeners seeking superior sound for music and radio, with straightforward controls.

Supports Home Assistant integration for privacy-focused, open-source smart home control.

Recommended for users wanting full customization and local control without reliance on major tech brands.