For me, smart speakers have been the best innovation in terms of smart home devices. Simply because these devices add a futuristic flair to every house. Imagine ordering a pizza, making a phone call, or listening to your favorite song without lifting a finger. Well, a tiny smart speaker can do all these tasks and more seamlessly.
If you’re on a mission to make your house smart, trust me, a reliable smart speaker is a must. Simply because it works like a control hub and helps you manage all the other smart gadgets. But, with so many quality options, choosing the right one can be daunting
To help with such a dilemma, I have compiled all the necessary details you’d want to know about the best smart speakers in the market. So, let’s start:
Sonos Era 100:
Features:
- With touch-and-go controls, you can adjust volume, change, play, or pause songs.
- The smart speaker is energy-efficient as it automatically goes into idle mode when it’s not being used.
- With Sonos’s app, you can control the smart speakers from anywhere in your house.
- Besides in-built integration with Alexa, you can integrate the smart speakers with numerous other apps, such as Spotify, Tidal, and more.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Sonos Era 100 offers Bluetooth connectivity whereas other smart speakers in the same price bracket offer only WiFi connectivity. | The smart speakers support external audio sources with a Sonos Line-In Adapter. However, you need to pay for it separately. |
| Sonos Trueplay automatically adjusts its Equalization (EQ) according to your space and preferences so everything sounds as it should. | You may need to add a pair of smart speakers for a clear sound in larger rooms.
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Reason to Buy Sonos Era 100:
People who are familiar with Sonos One should definitely upgrade to Sonos Era 100. Besides the aesthetically pleasing design that dons every countertop, users will get a rich experience with Sonos Era 100’s enhanced features, specifically the Sonos Trueplay.
Reason to Avoid:
If you’re using a Google Ecosystem, then you may want to avoid Sonos Era 100 as the smart speakers are not compatible with Google Assistant.
Price Range:
Pro Tip: Note that even Bluetooth-enabled smart speakers require solid internet WiFi for seamless integration with other smart home gadgets. For recommendation, you can look into Cox Internet plans as they’re offering affordable internet with ample bandwidth to support multiple smart home gadgets simultaneously.
You can buy Sonos Era 100 in a price range of $190-$200.
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen:
Features:
- Amazon Echo Dot 5thGen offers mesh networking and tap gestures which are unavailable in the Dot’s previous versions.
- Smart home devices and sensors can be integrated and controlled via Amazon Echo Dot 5th
- Amazon Echo Dot 5thGen is really smart as you can set routines for temperature, lights, and music, or simply ask Echo Dot 5th Gen to remind you about pending tasks at a certain time.
- Unlike other smart home speakers, Amazon Echo Dot 5thGen has built-in motion and temperature sensors.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Considering its features, Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is cheaper and offers good value for money. | Amazon Echo Dot 5th does not support a 3.5mm audio jack for external devices. |
| Echo Dot 5th Gen offers a lot of accessibility features, for instance, adaptive listening, Notify When Nearby”, and more. | This smart speaker is neither portable nor water resistant. |
Reason to Buy Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen:
If you don’t want to spend extravagantly on a smart speaker, yet want all the features that advanced smart speakers have, then Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is what you should choose.
Reason to Avoid:
If you’re looking for a smart speaker that would offer a wall-shaking experience, then you may want to explore other options.
Price Range:
Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is available in the price range of $45-$55.
Google Nest Audio:
Features:
- Google Nest Audio supports more than 100 apps from different categories.
- This smart speaker offers a guest mode and does not save any recordings or data. However, you may not be able to access your personal information such as reminders on calendars or contact lists.
- Google Nest Audio is really smart as it can detect unusual sounds. For instance, if a glass breaks, this smart speaker can detect the sound and inform you promptly.
- Google Nest Audio is compatible with Chromecast so you can cast screen and stream movies via this speaker.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| As Google Nest Audio is integrated with Google, you can ask for weather forecasts, matchday results, or anything you want to check about current world events. | This smart speaker does not offer any active sound tuning. |
| Google Nest Audio offers three microphones to understand voice commands without any mistakes. | The three invisible touch controls on receptive areas may not be practical for new users. |
Reason to Buy Google Nest Audio:
Google Nest Audio is the best smart speaker to seamlessly cast audio from movies, podcasts, and more from different platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more.
Reason to Avoid Google Nest Audio:
Google Nest Audio is not designed for the outdoors as it cannot work without connecting to a power outlet. Also, the sound quality may deteriorate outside even if you arrange a power backup for Google Nest Audio.
Price Range:
Google Nest Audio is available in a price range of $90-$100.
Bonus Section: Tips to Choose the Best Smart Home Speaker:
Now that you know all about some of the best smart home speakers, it’s time to share some tips to keep in mind before you buy a smart home speaker:
- Consider Your Ecosystem:If you’re already using several smart home devices, choose a smart home speaker that fits well into your home’s ecosystem. This way, you may integrate it with other devices without any hassle.
- Look Out for Bonus Features: Some smart home speakers offer hands-free controls while some offer touch-and-go features. Some may offer portability while others have more mics or more accessibility features. In short, look out for bonus features of smart home speakers that work for you before buying one.
- Consider the AI Assistant You Want: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant, and more smart-home assistants have different abilities and features. So, before you buy a smart home speaker, consider which AI assistant it uses and how it can benefit you.
