Best 10 Smart Speakers 2021 – The Best Smart Speakers for 2021
Best 10 Smart Speakers 2021 a smart home system should have the best speakers. But which one should you pick? We rank and review the top 10 choices right now. The number of smart speakers on the market has fallen somewhat after the initial boom. They are still instrumental pieces of tech that can really make your life easier. There are many great models available. Here are our top picks for smart speakers.
Amazon Echo and Google Nest/Home speaker are obvious choices, as these are the companies behind Alexa (and the Google Assistant) – two of the most popular digital assistants that ‘live’ in speakers and are ready to assist you with a voice command. There are many third-party brands, like Marshall, Pure, and Sonos, that offer great options. Apple fans will likely want a HomePod which runs on Siri.
Below is a list of the top 10 smart speakers that we tested, along with a buying guide.
The best smart speakers for 2021
1:- Google Nest Mini – Best Overall
Price: $49
The Nest Mini, despite its big-name change, is not a complete overhaul of the Home Mini. However, you can think of it as the Home Mini 2 that is now wall-mountable. While existing owners don’t have to upgrade, it’s a good place to start if your first smart speaker. The Nest Mini is small and cute and can be placed almost anywhere in your home. It’s very affordable and often on sale. And it sounds great with more punch than one would expect.
2:- Amazon Echo Studio – Best for HD Audio
Price: $199.99
If you are concerned about sound quality, this is the Amazon Echo to get. It is still necessary to subscribe to a music streaming platform that provides ‘HD’ music. Amazon’s music streaming service is currently the best. The Studio can not only produce hi-res audio, but it also supports 3D audio. It can currently play Dolby Atmos or Sony 360 Reality Audio. These can be music or video soundtracks. It’s also much cheaper than Google and Apple competitors.
3:- Google Nest Audio – Best Value
Price: $99.99
Although the design can be a little divisive, it is a great option and will fit better in most homes than Google Home. If you are not in the US, there will only be two colors available. Google has also found the perfect price for the Home, which is lower than the original launch. You can also save money by purchasing pairs. You can put them in different rooms or create stereo pairs.
Nest Audio is a great product. It has a solid build quality and, more importantly, a sound quality that is impressively rich and warm. The Nest Audio also packs more power than you would expect, given its small size. The main problem is the sound quality deteriorating at high volumes, but that shouldn’t be a problem.
4:- Amazon Echo 4 – Best Alexa All-rounder
Price: $99.99
The Echo 4 is now a more orb-like device. It looks nothing like previous models, but it’s the best-seller in Amazon’s smart speaker line. The Nest Audio has better sound quality, but it is still inferior to the Nest Audio. If you are already enrolled in the Alexa ecosystem, then you should consider the Echo Studio.
The integrated smart hub is an important upgrade, which means you don’t need the Echo Plus anymore. The Echo 4 is a great value for money, despite a few minor issues.
5:- Sonos One – Best Multi-room
Price: $199
The Sonos One smart speaker is top-quality and a Play:1 with Alexa voice control. We would have preferred some Sonos-related voice commands, as most people expect. Although it is more expensive than other smart speakers, it may be worth it – it has a better build quality and superior sound quality than non-Sonos competitors.
It is elegant with touch-sensitive buttons at the top and yet compact for all that sound. Another reason to choose Sonos is the ease of use in multiple rooms. Multi-room audio is still a market leader for Sonos.
6:- Apple HomePod mini – The Best Apple Products
Price: $99
The HomePod Mini measures at just above 84mm high. It is a smart speaker that deserves its branding. But don’t let the small size fool you. Like its larger sibling, the HomePod Mini’s audio performance is impressive, even though it can’t match its full-size counterpart.
Siri is getting smarter with new features such as Announce, which allows you to send voice messages directly to other HomePods or iPhones. It’s also better at answering general knowledge questions but still far behind Alexa and Google Assistant.
To set up Siri, you will need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. You also need to subscribe to Apple Music or Pandora. Siri does not support Android or Windows devices.
7:- Amazon Echo Dot 4 – Best for Bedsides
Price: $49.99
The Dot, like the Echo 4, has undergone a complete redesign. It is now a sphere that has light around its base. It’s worth paying a bit more to get the model with integrated clocks for kitchens and bedsides. You will enjoy better sound quality than the 3rd-generation and a faster processor. This is still the best way to fill your home with Alexa speakers. You can also create stereo pairs with just two.
8:- Sonos Roam – Best Portability
Price: $169
The Sonos Roam Bluetooth speaker, Wi-Fi multi-room speaker, and smart speaker are all in one. This Sonos speaker is the smallest and most affordable to date. It packs incredible sound quality in a small package that will be barely noticeable in your bag. It can be used in many orientations and is waterproofed to IP68.
There are many clever tech features available, including the ability to switch seamlessly between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. You will need Wi-Fi to access it. It supports Google and Alexa.
9:- Marshall Uxbridge – Best Style
Price: £199
Marshall’s latest and most affordable smart speaker, the Uxbridge, packs powerful bass and Alexa connectivity in a compact frame inspired by Marshall’s amps. Alexa may sometimes be slow to respond and unreliable at times. It will be necessary to speak slowly but clearly.
The Uxbridge’s bass is great, but the mid-range and upper ranges don’t sound too muddy. Even though the speaker is small, the audio is rich and clear, filling the room. This bookcase will look great and make a statement.
10:- Pure DiscovR – Best for Privacy
Price: £229.99
Pure’s first smart speaker, the Pure X1, is an outstanding speaker that sounds great and has a few special tricks. Its main advantage is its flexibility. You can choose from three different modes depending on your situation.
You can also physically disable it if you prefer privacy. The discovery is expensive and has a limited number of microphones. But, if you don’t mind spending a lot, you won’t regret it.
What’s a smart speaker?
A smart speaker, in simple terms, is an audio speaker you can use to talk and interact with, like your smartphone. These virtual assistants are internet-connected and can answer your questions, give you the most recent news and weather, play music, and control smart home devices such as lights, heating, and air conditioning.
What should I be looking for?
Smart speakers come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and prices, just like regular speakers. It is important to consider where and how much you will spend on it. For example, a smaller device, such as the Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini, will fit more places.
It is also important to consider whether the design will fit in with your decor. Some are available in a limited range of colors, while others can be customized with interchangeable covers. The size of the device will impact audio quality. If you plan to listen to a lot of music, it is worth paying a little more for a larger model. There are two options: the Sonos One or Apple HomePod.
Which smart speaker you choose should also come down to the AI assistant you prefer – essentially Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant at the moment, with Siri only in the HomePod. Sonos and others will let you make your choice.
Both do the same thing, so it’s almost like choosing between two operating systems. It is important to know if you have used various Amazon or Google services, including shopping on Amazon. This is especially true for music streaming. You need to sign up to listen to any music you like.
It would help if you also considered whether your products would work with the smart speaker. It makes sense to purchase a device that supports Google Assistant if you already own a Google Chromecast.
Smart speakers can control smart home products such as lightbulbs, so make sure you check compatibility before you buy. You can find the Amazon, and Google lists here. Smart speakers are starting to come with screens. There are fewer options, and Google and Amazon make the best smart speakers. See our best smart displays chart to see what’s available.