There was a time when many of us weren't sure the "smart home" would really take off, but then smart speakers came along and everything changed.
Smart speakers are dominating the smart home market. According to the latest statistics, they now belong to one in six Americans, while in the UK, the number of homeowners has doubled in six months, a smart speaker occupying 10% of households. That's (kinda) official: Alexa, Siri, and the Google Assistant are just as important to most households as pets.
Valuable virtual assistants are invading our homes, and many now see smart speakers as the future of home automation, not just controlling their smart appliances (like your Philips Hue light bulbs or your smart locks), but everything from your refrigerator to your living room lights, sometimes without much help from you.
Whether it is exciting for you, the fear or just a little trick will depend on your vision of the new technology. But it's hard to say that these devices aren't incredibly practical. Imagine a world where you don't have to get up to change the thermostat or find the remote to change channels. Imagine turning off your patio security lights with your voice or with Alexa or Google Assistant to get a live feed from your outdoor cameras.
If you think you can live happily without these characteristics, you are probably right. But we find that once you've had them, even for a week or two, there is no going back.
All this and more is now possible. Apparently the only thing they can't do is help you choose the one that suits you best. So, if you don't know which smart speaker to buy, read on to pick the best one available now.
The Sonos One now supports Amazon's Alexa and Siri via AirPlay 2. Source: Sonos.
If you need help finding your next personal assistant, check out our guide below and find the smart speaker that fits your current setup, your budget, and the look of your home - each of these speakers is hand-picked by our editors. And while they all have advantages and disadvantages, they are all excellent in their own way.
Don't see the perfect speaker for you? Don't worry.Be sure to check back regularly, as we'll be updating this list with the best smart speakers, as well as the biggest buzz about new speakers expected in the end.
Top Smart Stakeholders FAQ: Answers to Quick Questions
What can smart speakers do? Smart speakers can do a lot of things. First, they are full speakers, from the fantastic sound of the Apple HomePod to the simplest Amazon Echo Dot.
But they also have many special features thanks to the integrated smart voice assistants. These smart assistants are voice activated, which means you can literally ask them to do a lot of things, like listening to music, answering questions, and controlling other smart home devices. And that is just the beginning.
Which voice assistant is the best? In general it is subjective. Some people have always liked the best Apple products and remain loyal to Siri. Others really love Alexa after catching an echo from the smart speaker launch.
In general opinion, the Google Assistant is by far the most accurate voice assistant. If you have a lot of Apple products Siri is of course the best and for general compatibility you are better off going for Alexa. But these are not hard and fast rules.
Is Alexa better than Google? For starters, the choice may depend on the speaker you prefer. Of course, Amazon's Echo line is very similar to the Google Home, but the Show, Spot, and Dot functions are very different.
As for the smart assistants in the speakers, both are extremely capable. Alexa has many skills that set her apart from others. But Google has long been a leader in the field of AI, long before the smart speaker market came along.
Is there a monthly fee for Alexa? No, you don't need anything other than the free Alexa app. However, you will enjoy many benefits if you are an Amazon Prime member.
Best Smart Speakers 2019
1. SonosOne
The most efficient smart speaker on the market.
Is rich
The best of Alexa and Sonos.
Play music while Alexa is muted.
Google MIA Assistant for the moment
Premium price
The first Sonos speaker on Alexa is a sleek, feature-rich, and exceptional-sounding device that combines the best of both worlds. Continuing to improve, on the one hand, Alexa, and Sonos on the other, with its own multi-room knack and unmatched sonic performance.
The mix also packs a promising new game-changing feature: AirPlay 2. With this, the Sonos One can talk to Siri and form a multi-room dock with the Apple HomePod, making it the most versatile speaker on the list.
If anything is preventing the Sonos One from returning to splendor, it is that Google Assistant is still MIA after postponing the update in November 2018 and that it is still not in the middle of 2019.
If Google Assistant support is needed (hopefully this year), the Sonos One promises to become the leader in the smart home market.
If you like the Sonos range but are feeling a bit disappointed by their creations so far, you will be delighted to discover that the brand has launched a new range of built-in, in-ceiling and outdoor speakers, the Sono architectural line.
2.Apple HomePod
Apple is said to be working on the Apple HomePod 2, or a cheaper and more compact HomePod Mini, would have launched in 2019; we're halfway there and we're still waiting Fingers crossed will be worth it.
3. Amazon Echo (2nd generation)