Smart Speakers, or intelligent speakers, if you like, are still a controversial but rapidly spreading tool. In our guide, in addition to the purchase advice, you will find more information on this new and exciting technology.
It will be useful to understand how to choose an excellent smart speaker among those currently available on the market, with a particular eye to the offers and models sold online.
These useful voice assistants represent the future of home automation, not only because they can control numerous household appliances (such as Philips Hue bulbs or food processors), but also because of thanks to the smart plugs they can control any electrical device connected to the Wi-Fi network -Fi of a house. Here we will be listing top 14 best smart speakers.
- ECHO POP – This compact smart speaker with Alexa features full sound that's great for bedrooms and small spaces. Small enough to blend in and mighty enough to stand out.
- CONTROL MUSIC WITH YOUR VOICE – Ask Alexa to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from your favorite providers like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM and more. Connect via Bluetooth to stream throughout your space.
- MAKE ANY SPACE A SMART SPACE – Easily control compatible smart home devices like smart plugs or smart lights with your voice or the Alexa App.
- ENJOY AN IMMERSIVE AUDIO EXPERIENCE - Echo Studio now features spatial audio processing technology for a wider and more immersive audio experience. For stereo formats, Spatial audio processing technology creates a wider and more enveloping sound stage. Its 5 speakers produce powerful bass with improved clarity, dynamic midrange, and crisp highs. Dolby Atmos technology adds space, clarity, and depth.
- VOICE CONTROL YOUR MUSIC – Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Tidal, and more. With Amazon Music HD, enjoy access to 90 million songs in lossless audio formats, like HD or Ultra HD, and select songs in spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos.
- ADAPTS TO ANY ROOM – Automatically senses the acoustics of your space, fine-tuning playback for optimal sound.
- OUR BEST SOUNDING ECHO DOT YET – Enjoy an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass, and vibrant sound in any room.
- ENHANCED LED DISPLAY – Stay on track with an improved LED display that shows the time, weather, alarms, and song titles at a glance.
- ALEXA IS YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT – Ask Alexa for news, weather, timers, smart home controls, and more to make your day easier and more productive.
- OUR BEST SOUNDING ECHO DOT YET – Enjoy an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room.
- YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC AND CONTENT – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- ALEXA IS HAPPY TO HELP – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- TALK TO ALEXA – With the Alexa app running on your iPhone or Smartphone with the Android operating system, simply push a button on your OontZ Angle 3 Shower to talk to Alexa. With Alexa, you can ask to play music, hear the news, check the weather, control smart home devices, and more. Note: Alexa app must be installed on your phone
- THE NEXT GENERATION PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER - OontZ Angle 3 Shower – PLUS Edition has the superior quality sound and features that make the perfect shower speaker, home speaker, and outdoor speaker - TOTALLY WATERPROOF IPX7 can be submerged in water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes; Crystal clear sound, Richer bass. The perfect gift for any occasion for both men and women.
- HIGH-QUALITY SOUND, RICH BASS, and SURPRISINGLY LOUD VOLUME - Our advanced digital audio processor, dual precision stereo drivers, and proprietary bass radiator deliver crystal clear mids and highs with rich bass; Powerful 10 Watt AMP plays surprisingly loud with the volume to fill a room with high-quality sound; the SUPERIOR SOUND of the OontZ Angle 3 Shower – PLUS Edition plays distortion-free stereo sound even at max volume.
- VALUE BUNDLE INCLUDES: Google Nest Mini 2nd Generation Bluetooth Speaker with English, Spanish, French and Portuguese Global Language Compatibility so it works everywhere, Universal Power Adapter and Quick Start Guide English Quick Start Guide with International Manual for Global Users
- IT WORKS EVERYWHERE Easy to use and will automatically start up in English when connecting to your device for the first time. This speaker works globally with support for most languages and places internationally. And its language settings can always be changed back and forth to your preferred language anytime for international use or travel at your convenience
- BLENDS RIGHT INTO YOUR HOME Looks great on a nightstand, shelf, countertop - or the wall. This Nest Mini Speaker is small and mighty with bright sound that kicks! It plugs into the wall and is powered by the global ac adapter that works internationally so it works in outlets everywhere
- PREMIUM SOUND – Rich, detailed sound that automatically adapts to any room. Supports lossless HD audio available on select streaming services such as Amazon Music HD.
- VOICE CONTROL YOUR MUSIC – Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and more. HD requires a compatible music streaming service.
- SMART HOME HUB – Built-in hub to voice control compatible lights, locks, and sensors. Easily set up compatible Zigbee and Matter devices or select Ring Smart Lighting solar lights and bulbs.
- ALEXA CAN SHOW YOU MORE – Set alarms and timers, sleep soundly with a relaxing playlist, start your morning with a smart home routine, see your calendar or weather clearly - all with your voice.
- SMALL SIZE, BIGGER SOUND – Stream your favorite music, shows, podcasts, and more from providers like Amazon Music, Spotify, and Prime Video—now with deeper bass and clearer vocals. Includes a 5.5" display so you can view shows, song titles, and more at a glance.
- KEEP YOUR HOME COMFORTABLE – Control compatible smart devices like lights and thermostats, even while you're away.
- Sonos One - The powerful smart speaker with voice control built-in
- Brilliant sound - Get rich, room-filling sound with Sonos One, and control it with your voice, the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay2, and more
- Voice control - Amazon Alexa is built right in so you can play music, check news, set alarms, get your questions answered, and more, completely hands free
- ASTONISHINGLY LOUD. SURPRISINGLY SMALL: This small, portable wireless speaker is engineered to deliver true 360° sound for consistent, uniform coverage
- IMPROVED BATTERY LIFE: With up to 13 hours from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, you get more play time than the original SoundLink Revolve speaker. Charging is easy via the Micro-B USB port
- DURABLE PORTABLE SPEAKER: SoundLink Revolve II is dust and water resistant (IP55 rating), so it will stand up to splashes by the pool
- The speaker must be plugged into a wall outlet to function, Sound performance: Room-rocking bass and 360-degree, lifelike sound in a compact size
- Built-in Alexa: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are built into this smart speaker for hands-free voice control. And a noise-rejecting mic system listens in every direction for your voice
- Connectivity: Pair your device to this home speaker to stream your favorite music and more via a Bluetooth connection, your home Wi-Fi network, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect
- Add cinematic sound to your Roku TV or immersive surround sound to your Roku audio system (Requires Roku TV, Roku Streambar or Roku Streambar Pro – sold separately) Only works with Roku TV or Roku Audio
- Powerful, premium audio: With high frequencies and dynamic bass, Roku Wireless Speakers are meticulously engineered to deliver full, clear sound and crisp dialogue with seamless audio/video sync to your Roku TV or Roku audio system
- Be immersed in your TV: Experience room-filling audio that moves with the action, conversations like you’re in the room, and soundscapes that transport you to another world—it's cinematic sound for your entertainment
- CUSTOMIZABLE DESIGN: Pump up the volume on your personality; Swap a different color bezel¹ to match your space and showcase your personal artwork, photos and more with this innovative photo frame speaker²
- DOLBY ATMOS: Get multi-dimensional surround sound from one simple speaker with Dolby Atmos Music and Sound; Experience audio that fills the room and enhance your favorite songs and movies with rich, deep sound
- Q-SYMPHONY: Get more robust audio when you sync your Samsung TV speakers and Music Frame; With Q-Symphony, all audio channels are optimized so speakers work together to operate as one³; Add a Samsung Soundbar to unlock a new level of powerful audio
- Amp up your audio - Fire TV Soundbar enhances TV audio with dual speakers for fuller sound, clearer dialogue, and deeper bass—all in a compact design.
- Immersive sound - Enjoy a three-dimensional virtual surround sound experience with DTS Virtual:X and more detail with Dolby Audio.
- Easy setup - Just plug in the included HDMI cable to the HDMI eARC/ARC port on your TV to instantly enjoy audio that's always in sync.
What to Look for Before Buying Best Smart Speakers
On the other hand, our comparison table will help you identify quickly and efficiently which smart speaker to buy because it compares prices, strengths, and weaknesses of the products at the top of the ranking for the best smart speaker.
Smart Speakers and Privacy
Smart speakers are the result of a technology that combines the use of networks and the latest discoveries in artificial intelligence. They are at the center of a somewhat controversial debate, especially regarding the aspect of personal privacy.
It is undeniable that these devices offer a series of significant advantages. However, they are still being perfected, and that their potential in bringing improvements to the quality of our lives are decidedly vast.
Their use is strictly connected to digital assistance software, such as Cortana, Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa, developed by Amazon and in rapid diffusion.
Wide Range of Uses
The intelligent speaker is not only a sophisticated alarm clock to be programmed naturally, with the only aid of voice commands.
It is a real electronic butler that will allow you to search the internet quickly and immediately, to shop online, order food, create lists of objects or events, and then program subsequent notifications, or compile playlists of songs to listen to.
How to choose best smart speakers?
Furthermore, these devices play a crucial role in the field of home automation since, by connecting the appliances to Smart Plug, through the smart speakers, it will be possible to control them with your voice.
Here’s a short video to choose the best smart speakers.
You can then ask the speaker to turn on the best smart lights as soon as you return home, for example, to start washing the laundry or to turn on the heating system, even when you are away from home, thanks to the related apps downloadable on smartphones.
The Different Options
The range of uses of smart speakers is destined to grow more and more, therefore, and this is one of the reasons why, despite conflicting opinions, their use spreads and is perfected with each passing day.
The models currently available on the market are all more or less valid, at least as regards the characteristics regarding the use and control of the connected devices. So the choice of the model to buy is subordinated exclusively to your personal needs and the available budget.
Amazon is considered the best brand of the moment, the Echo smart speakers, are enjoying enormous success thanks to the excellence of their value for money.
The Incoming Devices
What should we expect from the smart speaker market? All the smart speakers on the market are enjoying tremendous success and we’re just getting started.
At this moment, numerous companies, including the big names in technology, are working to create audio devices that can be controlled with their voice. It remains to be seen which company will win it, even if Amazon has created a series of inexpensive products with a set of not bad features, making them the best sellers in this niche market.
In the meantime, there are many products that we are waiting for, especially in Italy:
Smart Speaker Spotify
Some smart speakers allow you to enable music playback from a Spotify account, but this does not mean that the popular streaming service cannot create a device of its own and compete with the big names in technology.
According to some rumors, Spotify is working intensely on voice search, even if it has not managed to create a real assistant like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri.
Samsung Galaxy Home Smart Speaker
Although the technical characteristics are unknown, Samsung has made the Galaxy Home official: its smart speaker competes with the Apple HomePod. The features announced at the Unpacked 2018 event are very high audio quality, the integration of various artificial intelligence, and compatibility with the Bixby assistant.
At the moment, we don’t know a price or release date, even if we imagine it works with Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem.
What Are Smart Speakers For?
Mostly, what are smart speakers for? what are their applications in daily life?
By interacting vocally with a voice assistant, you can ask to listen to your favorite music. It’s simple, ask: ” Hey Siri, let me listen to Pink Floyd. ” In the kitchen, it can be useful, for example, to set timers or to activate a reminder.
There are many applications for smart speakers: it is possible to control the switching on and off of an appliance or to control the lighting and temperature of a specific room.
