In the event you’re new to sensible dwelling tech and don’t know the place to start, begin with a sensible speaker. There are a number of high sensible audio system available on the market at the moment, however which one is best for you: the Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Nest?
A sensible speaker is a house for a voice assistant, like Siri in your iPhone or Google Assistant on Android. You possibly can ask assistants to play a music, discover data, set an alarm or perform duties by ‘speaking’ to different sensible dwelling merchandise.
Most sensible audio system available on the market at the moment are inexpensive, enjoyable to play with and work properly as Bluetooth audio system when you get sick of the voice assistant that’s constructed into them.
These are the three sensible speaker ranges from the highest names in sensible dwelling tech: Amazon, Apple and Google. Different sensible audio system available on the market should not made by these three tech giants, however almost all of them incorporate their voice assistants into their merchandise. Have a look at our Sonos One evaluation for a sensible speaker choice made by Sonos, which has Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration built-in, that’s Amazon’s AI voice assistant.
We’ll solely be taking a look at Amazon, Apple, and Google sensible audio system for this information. However it’s price making an allowance for that when you don’t discover what you’re searching for right here, check out our information to the greatest sensible audio system, which incorporates different manufacturers. Or the greatest Bluetooth audio system when you’re extra inquisitive about sound than a sensible assistant.
Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Nest: worth and availability
Let’s clear a number of issues up first. Amazon, Apple and Google are the manufacturers that create the highest sensible audio system, and every model has its personal voice-based sensible assistant. Amazon has Alexa, Apple has Siri and Google has Google Assistant.
Every model then has a variety of sensible audio system with these assistants built-in. There’s Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod and Google Nest. The forms of merchandise and costs differ throughout every of those ranges.
For instance, the Amazon Echo vary has essentially the most in depth number of sensible audio system. You possibly can learn our greatest Alexa audio system for a extra detailed rundown of our favorites. The costs of Amazon Echo sensible audio system begin at $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79 for the Amazon Echo Dot.
Apple is at present solely providing one sensible speaker after discontinuing its unique HomePod in 2021. Now the Apple HomePod Mini is out there for $99 / £99 / AU$149.
The Google Nest vary was referred to as Google Dwelling. You would possibly nonetheless discover older fashions, just like the Google Dwelling Mini, accessible. However for essentially the most half, merchandise from Google now embody the Nest label, with costs beginning at $49.99 / £49 / AU$79 for the Google Nest Mini and leaping as much as $99 / £89 / AU$149 for the bigger Google Nest Audio. These are the one two merchandise within the Google Nest vary proper now.
Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Nest: {hardware}
Sensible audio system have been accessible for years now, so that you would possibly discover older and discontinued fashions in gross sales or by way of second hand retailers. However for the aim of this information, we’ll be wanting on the present high sensible speaker merchandise available on the market from every main model.
In the event you’re searching for a small speaker, you’ve now obtained extra alternative than ever. All three manufacturers now create compact, puck-shaped sensible audio system which might be inexpensive, match into any dwelling and supply good (however not all the time nice) sound, too.
Amazon provides the Echo Dot. This product has been round for a very long time and continues to get upgrades. Learn concerning the newest model in our Amazon Echo Dot (4th technology) evaluation, which is ($49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79) with a small, spherical design.
Check out our Apple HomePod Mini evaluation ($99 / £99 / AU$149) to see what Apple now provides within the smaller sensible speaker class – it is a related ball-shaped speaker.
And try our Google Nest Mini evaluation for Google’s model, which at $49.99 / £49 / AU$79 is similar worth as the most recent Amazon Echo Dot and is a flatter disc-shaped gadget.
If you would like a much bigger and bolder-sounding sensible speaker there’s a lot extra accessible. For instance, check out our Google Nest Audio evaluation. That is at present the perfect Google-manufactured sensible speaker you should purchase, for the reason that model discontinued its Google Dwelling Max speaker. That is bigger than the Mini with rounded edges and a material grille overlaying.
However there are a number of different bigger choices from Amazon. It’s price studying our Amazon Echo (2020) evaluation, which is a critical step up from its predecessors with a futuristic, sphere-shaped design. Or check out our Amazon Echo Studio evaluation, the perfect sensible speaker for dwelling cinema set-ups, with a squat cylindrical design.
There are additionally a number of screen-based units from each Google and Amazon, too. Take a look at our Google Nest Hub Mas evaluation, our favorite sensible show, or our Amazon Echo Present 10 evaluation. Alternatively, learn our information to all the greatest sensible show units, which have sensible assistants and a display to search out out extra.
Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Nest: sound high quality
Sensible audio system might do much more than play music, however sound high quality continues to be a high precedence.
Amazon’s vary of sensible audio system have all the time been thought-about the neatest, however by no means sounded the perfect. Because of quite a few upgrades, even the small Echo Dot is now decently loud. That doesn’t imply it’s an excellent speaker, nonetheless, and audiophiles will discover it missing.
As a substitute, the Amazon Echo (2020) is a greater wager, however for the perfect sound from Amazon’s audio system, decide the Amazon Echo Studio as a substitute. It is a sensible speaker and Dolby Atmos immersive sound dwelling cinema unit, multi functional tidy bundle with actually gigantic sound.
In the event you’re searching for the perfect sound from a smaller sensible dwelling speaker, then the Apple HomePod Mini is your greatest wager. Throughout our testing, we have been extraordinarily impressed with its 360-degree sound. It’s guided from the interior driver right down to the bottom of the HomePod, the place it is fired outwards to create a extra immersive expertise.
What’s extra, contained in the HomePod mini is the brand new S5 chipset, which permits ‘computational audio’ based on Apple – in different phrases, the HomePod will analyze the music that’s enjoying and alter the response of the speaker accordingly.
The Google Nest Mini provides first rate sound too. Throughout our testing we discovered that music from the speaker is pretty middling. It has good readability within the mid-range that’s good for speech copy, however it’s not very musical, particularly within the excessive or bass ranges. It’s going to completely shock you by how loud it could possibly get however the fatiguing treble and anemic bass don’t make for the perfect expertise when listening to your favourite songs.
The Google Nest Audio offers an upgraded listening expertise in comparison with the Mini. However we nonetheless suppose it’s solely good for informal listening and background music relatively than a high speaker in its personal proper.
Though the HomePod Mini might value greater than its small sensible speaker rivals, it’s positively price the additional cash when you’re after the neatest expertise and the perfect audio.
Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Nest: options
Every of those sensible speaker ranges are full of the perfect options. What’s extra, lots of the units inside these ranges have been upgraded many occasions through the years, so when you select the latest technology sensible speaker from any one in every of them, you’re going to have an excellent expertise.
With that in thoughts, there aren’t many issues that set the ranges other than one another – all of them supply related experiences and options for a motive.
Nevertheless, it’s price mentioning that the Google Nest merchandise are, as you would possibly anticipate, wonderful at search. Meaning when you ask Google Assistant for one thing, particularly trivia, it’ll discover an excellent reply immediately. Equally, Amazon nonetheless has the perfect voice assistant with Alexa.
You’ll usually discover the perfect options with the ranges you’re already plugged into. For instance, the Apple HomePod Mini provides a bunch of helpful options, however how helpful they’re is determined by how built-in you’re with onboard Apple apps. You’ll should be utilizing the default calendar app to ask what appointments are arising, and having Apple Maps set as much as study site visitors in your commute.
Relating to sensible dwelling integration, we discovered Apple’s HomePod Mini to be extremely simple to set-up, however typically units merely didn’t reply. Amazon’s Echo Dot is an effective starter gadget, however not the perfect when you’re eager to get into sensible dwelling integration from the phrase go. That’s as a result of it’s missing a Zigbee hub, you’ll discover that within the bigger and pricier Amazon Echo (2020) as a substitute.
Amazon Echo vs Apple HomePod vs Google Nest: privateness
All of those sensible audio system are designed to be on 24/7. So how do every of the key manufacturers fare by way of privateness?
With out diving deep into the complicated privateness insurance policies of every, information is saved by all three firms and there’s all the time an opportunity that it could be heard by an actual individual. Nevertheless, the businesses say that, if that ever does occur, it’s solely to enhance the sensible assistant.
All of them now offer you a good quantity of management over how a lot data is saved on their servers. Google offers you essentially the most freedom, not storing information within the cloud. Apple is the perfect for not utilizing this information to additional inform any advertising and marketing or personalization.
Whereas Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant will, to some extent, use your requests or phrases you’ve stated to construct a advertising and marketing profile. Though you’ll be able to flip this off.
You possibly can management settings greater than ever and most information is used to easily enhance the service. However we all know that’s not comforting for everybody to listen to. So when you’re involved about privateness somewhat, Apple could be a greater wager. In the event you’re involved about privateness lots, seize an everyday speaker and not using a voice assistant inside.
Verdict
The most effective sensible speaker vary for you is determined by your preferences, your finances and which units you personal and use already.
If you wish to check out a sensible speaker with out spending a lot, the Amazon Echo Dot (4th technology) and Google Nest Mini are your two selections. There was a time that we wouldn’t suggest the Echo Dot as a result of its sound wasn’t nice, however now these two present first rate sound high quality.
In the event you can’t resolve, go along with whichever ecosystem you’re already utilizing essentially the most – Amazon or Google – in any other case, they’re very related.
Apple’s HomePod Mini can also be a small, compact answer, however it’s almost double the value of the Echo Dot and Nest Mini. In case your finances can stretch and also you’re a fan of Apple units and use Apple Music already, go for the HomePod Mini. It sounds sensible, seems nice and has that easy-to-use high quality that makes Apple particular.
Those that need extra oomph and a sensible speaker to behave as a approach to get essentially the most out of their music, ought to strive the Amazon Echo (2020), which is our favourite Alexa sensible speaker with an upgraded design, improved audio, a built-in Zigbee sensible dwelling hub, and a brand new AZ1 neural edge processor that can cut back the time it takes for Alexa to reply to instructions.
Once more, when you favor Google merchandise you would possibly wish to strive the Google Nest Audio. We have been impressed with this sensible speaker throughout testing. It picked up our instructions with ease, and Google Assistant is fast to reply loudly and clearly.
