Smart speaker roundup

Before you can even get started getting your home connected to all your smart devices, it is critical to have a smart speaker to control and automate it all.

However, it’s not always about WHAT speaker you choose, but rather WHO do you choose.

The Who being which voice assistant do you go with, Siri, Google, Alexa or Bixby?

Apple HomeKit - Siri - AirPlay2

Apple seems to have let it’s HomeKit platform fall by the wayside and sadly for connected home users, the only choice for an Apple-made smart speaker is the HomePod in either Space Grey or White.

Starting at $469, the HomePod does boast a fantastic soundstage with inbuilt spatial awareness that assists in tuning audio output depending on its location and surroundings.

Through the HomePod, users can automate their smart home accessories with the help of Siri, with the bonus of seamless streaming of Apple Music.

Google Home/ Nest - Goole Assistant - Google Home

Google, on the other hand, has a much more robust and varied selection of smart speakers, from older legacy models like the original Google Home speaker or its latest Goole Nest, which also doubles as a mesh Wi-Fi receiver for extra functionality.

Those who enjoy the flexibility of a voice assistant that can search on Google will take solace in the speaker range Google has, which includes the Google

Home, the Google Home Mini and the Google Home Max.

The Google Home Mini has been recently refreshed as the Nest Mini, though at the same price and with added functionality and features, its the perfect option.

For those after smart speaker with a combined display can look to the Google Nest Hub or the Nest Hub Max.

The Google Home Mini has been recently refreshed as the Nest Mini.

Amazon Echo - Alexa

Amazon has been accelerating its smart speaker lineup following the recent refresh of its Echo range which gave way to their first high-end speaker, the Echo Studio for $329.

Thanks to Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, pretty much every product released by the marketplace retailer can be voiceactivated in one way or another.

Starting at the affordable end of things we find the Echo Dot, now into its third generation, at the cost of $79, which offers users the fundamental basics of smart speakers with easy to use controls, plus you can get an LED clock version for just $20 more.

Then we move onto its bigger brothers, the Amazon Echo and former Echo Plus, which cost $149 and $229 respectively.

Just like Google, Amazon also offers a combined speaker display unit called the Echo Show and the previous Echo Show 5 for $349 and $129 respectively.

Amazon has been accelerating its smart speaker lineup following the recent refresh of its Echo range.

Bowers & Wilkins - Formation

Bowers & Wilkins have stepped up their wireless audio game with its latest range of Formation Speakers and Audio Hub.

Featuring 24-bit audio and 96kHz sample-rate streaming and a brandnew mesh networking system, codeveloped by EVA Automation, the Formation Bar contains three 25mm tweeters and six 65mm woofers for bass and mid-range sound.

A pair of striking bookshelf speakers called the Duo each contain an isolated tweeter on top and a more substantial bass and mid-range woofer in the centre, which features the Continuum-branded cone design.

The Formation Wedge, considered the second-coming of the fabled oval-shaped Zeppelin speaker, boasts two 25mm tweeters, two 90mm woofers and one 150mm subwoofer inside its 120-degree shell housing.

A subwoofer is also in the mix, with the Formation Bass, which is able to wirelessly pair for improved low-end sound and frequency.

Bringing it all together is the Formation Audio, a hub for older analogue audio devices such as CD Players and turntables.

The entire Formation series is compatible with Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and Apple’s AirPlay 2.

The Formation Wedge boasts two 25mm tweeters, two 90mm woofers and one 150mm subwoofer inside its 120-degree shell housing.

Bose

Much like Sonos, Bose holds a podium position at the premium end of the speaker market, and now thanks to Alexa, Google and Apple, those speakers are much smarter.

For household use, there is the Bose Home Speaker 300 for $299, which features a compact design, six preset buttons and omnidirectional sound output that makes you feel like you’re right in the middle the song.

For on the go, you can take the Bose Portable Home Speaker, with the same functionality as the 300 but with added durability and 15 hours of audio playback on a single charge.

Moving to home theatre smart audio, Sony has the 500 and the 700 Bose Soundbar, both offering terrific sound quality and a microphone array for superior voice pickup, so you don’t have to lower the volume to tell your voice assistant what to do.

Sony

Sony offers a modest selection of two smart speakers with an in-built Chromecast for Google Home compatibility.

The Sony LFS50G Wireless Speaker with Google Assistant produces 360° audio with touch-free gesture controls, at just $99.

For $300 more you can grab the Sony SRSXB501G Extra Bass Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Google Assistant with RGB lights for extra fun at the house party.

Grab the Sony SRSXB501G Extra Bass Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Google Assistant with RGB lights.

JBL

JBL offers a vast range of speakers for all manner of use cases from on-thego travelling, standalone speaker units and speaker displays and soundbars, all with Google Assistant functionality.

The speaker series starts with the JBL Link 10, a voiceactivated portable speaker with iPX7 waterproof rating, with its bigger brother, the Link 20, offering a little extra oomph in terms of audio playback.

For those after a standalone unit, JBL brings the Link 300 to the table with roomfilling sound that still fits into a compact design.

The Link Bar is JBL’s soundbar, though only available with the Google Home Assistant.

For those after a display unit, the JBL Link View Smart Display has you covered, and it’s even splash-proof with an IPX4 rating, meaning its also easy to keep clean.

For those after a standalone unit, JBL brings the Link 300 to the table with roomfilling sound.

Lenovo

Lenovo, the inventor of the acclaimed Thinkpad, has also got its horse in the connected home race, though focusing entirely on speaker display units with the Google Assistant.

Lenovo has two units, the Lenovo Smart Display in 8-inch and 10-inch variants, as well as the Lenovo Smart Clock.

The Smart Display will cost you $149 and $249 respectively, while the Smart Clock is considerably less at $79.

Both come with native Google Assistant controls and customisable display settings for added functionality.

Panasonic

With only a few smart speakers you’d be forgiven for not realising Panasonic was in the connected home game.

Still, with the SC-GA10 Smart Speaker with Google Assistant, you’re missing out on some serious sound performance.

For just $99, its high-class design and expansive sound, you can’t go wrong with the GA10 winning praise from audio experts all over.

Plus Panasonic smart speakers can be combined, with the Chromecast included SC-HC2020 Slim Compact Micro System for just $399, which offers an all in one sound system.

This smart speaker can last almost the whole day away from your connected home.

Ultimate Ears

Boasting a similar design to that of the JBL portable speaker lineup, Ultimate Ears offers its BLAST and MEGABLAST wireless portable speakers in a variety of different colours, all with Amazon Alexa.

Both models are available for $297 and $379 respectively, promising to deliver ultimate sound with ultimate voice control functionality.

Plus with its waterproof design and 16-hour battery life, this smart speaker can last almost the whole day away from your connected home.