Daniel Bader is a source.
The best speakers of the year.
Whether you want to check the weather, control smart home devices, stream music, or any other number of things, the way to go is with a Google Assistant speaker. They come in many shapes, sizes, and prices, but you get the same core experience no matter which one you buy. If you're in the market for your first Assistant device or need another for your growing collection, here's a list of our current favorites, including the top choice, the Google Nest Audio.
Daniel Bader is a source.
One of the newest speakers on the market is the Nest Audio, and it is one of the best you can buy. This is the spiritual successor to the original Google Home, with the same core experience along with plenty of welcome upgrades.
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The main focus of the Nest Audio is sound quality. It costs less than the Bose Home Speaker 500 and the Sonos One, but it's not on the same level. The Nest Audio sounds amazing for the price. You're in for a great experience if you listen to a single Audio or have two pair together.
When you're not listening to music, the Assistant works just as it should. It's helpful for a lot of things, and the microphones of the Nest Audio work great for hearing your voice. We end up with one of the best smart speakers of the year because of all of this and a gorgeous fabric design that's available in many colors.
The fabric design is gorgeous.
Good sound quality.
Can be used in stereo mode.
A great microphone performance.
Competitive price.
If you want amazing audio, the Sonos One is better.
Best for most.
The best speaker out there is the Nest Audio. It does everything well, from the design to the sound quality.
The source of the information is the Android Central.
If you prefer using the Assistant as a tool rather than having great audio quality, then you should consider the Google Nest Hub.
The thing looks great right off the bat. The fabric base is available in a bunch of fun colors, and the way it is positioned gives off the impression that it is floating in the air. The 7-inch screen is very good. It's a bright, colorful, and automatically changing its color temperature based on the lighting in the room it's in.
All of your favorite commands work on the Nest Hub. You can see your favorite images on Google Photos, watch videos on YouTube, and follow step-by-step recipes if you have a display.
The new sleep tracking feature is promising, but we're not sure if it's because of the lack of a camera for video calls. You get a lot for your money with the Nest Hub.
It is on any desk.
The fabric design is lovely.
The display is colorful.
The feature is called Ambient EQ.
Good value.
A subscription is required for Sleep Sensing.
There is no camera for video calls.
A great display.
If you'd rather have a helpful display instead of booming audio, the Google Nest Hub is a great alternative.
Nirave Gondhia is a source.
If you're looking for a speaker that's easier on your wallet, the Google Nest Mini is a better choice. No, it doesn't have a display, but this tiny speaker could pack a big punch.
The design of the Nest Mini is what we love the most. The Mini is easy to mount to a wall thanks to the built-in mount on its underside, and the donut-like form factor means you can put the Mini virtually anywhere in your home. The fabric covering gives off a nice homey sense, and the array of colors it's offered in are all fantastic.
We don't recommend this speaker for jamming out to your favorite tunes. The Nest Mini is better than you might think for casual music listening and catching up on your favorite shows. It's loud and crisp, making it an enjoyable experience at the expense of some bass.
The Nest Mini is the best value pick in this environment because of its low price and well-implemented touch controls.
It's small.
There is a built-in wall mount.
Very loud.
Great touch controls.
Cheap.
It's not ideal for high end people.
There was no display.
Unmatched value.
You can't top the value of the Google Nest Mini. This thing is really good.
The source of the information is the Android Central.
We have a non-Google-made smart speaker called the Sonos One. The first version of the Sonos One was one of the best in the market. It's hard to ignore if you live in the Google Assistant area.
The Sonos One looks and sounds amazing. The sleek aesthetic that's available in black and white fades nicely into any room of your home. The speakers kick out a lot of oomph for a small form factor, with the One delivering a well-balanced soundstage you're bound to love.
When you learn about everything the Sonos One is capable of, things get really exciting. Did you know that you can swap out the speaker for another? If you have other speakers from the same company, the One works with them via the top-notch Sonos mobile app.
If you want one of the most functional speakers money can buy, the Sonos One is the way to go.
Excellent audio quality.
The design is sleek.
It works with both the internet assistant and the speaker of the house.
It supports AirPlay 2.
It ties in with other speakers.
There are many features in the speaker.
The Sonos One is one of the most versatile speakers on the market. It works with Apple's AirPlay 2 and other devices.
Daniel Bader is a source.
When you think of smart speakers, you probably think of gadgets that are not connected to the internet. The shape most of them take is the same as the one the Sonos Beam uses. This is a great package that includes a powerful soundbar and a speaker.
The hardware of the Sonos Beam is excellent. It's a good fit for smaller entertainment stands because it takes up less room than expected. It requires a power cord and an HDMI cable to connect it to your television. It's all over.
The Beam delivers great sound once everything's connected and ready to go. The Beam is just as good as any other audio system, it has a powerful bass, channel separation, and sounds just as good as any other audio system. It also has support for Amazon's voice assistant, as well as Apple's AirPlay 2.
We have noticed that the Beam's microphones can be sensitive at times, but without that one grip and the steep price, this is a nearly perfect offering.
The audio quality for movies and music is outstanding.
Impressive channel separation.
Doesn't take up a lot of space.
It connects to your TV with one cable.
Both the Google Assistant and the Amazon device are on board.
The microphones are too sensitive.
Not the most expensive.
The Assistant should be on your TV.
You can put the Google Assistant in the center of your living room with the help of the Sonos Beam.
Bose is the source.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is one of the best speakers on the list, but if you want your device to sound better, you should check it out. The price tag is high, but it's still very good.
Bose is one of the most recognized brands in the audio industry, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Home Speaker 500 sounds amazing. Everything you listen to on the speaker is amazing, kicking out room-filling, stereo sound from just a single speaker. There are touch controls on the top for quickly managing your music, and a small display on the front that shows the current song you're listening to. There's not much you can do with that screen, but it's fun to have.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 has microphones that pick up your voice when you're playing music. You can quickly cycle between different music services with the Bose Music companion app. If you have other Bose speakers in your home, you can pair them with the Home Speaker 500.
There is a display of plays.
A room-filling sound.
Great microphones.
A companion app is used to control it.
Can work with other Bose speakers.
Listen to your music in a different way.
The Bose Home Speaker 500 is the best-sounding assistant speaker and it's not for everyone.
The idea behind the Nest Hub Max is simple, take what made the smaller Nest Hub great, add a bigger display, better speakers, and a camera. The Max is more expensive than the smaller sibling, but if you want the ultimate experience with the Assistant, it's the speaker to beat.
The display of the Nest Hub Max is amazing. The HD resolution ensures that everything is as sharp as can be, and the 10-inch size makes it easy to watch. The screen can look its best no matter what room it is in. The speakers have been upgraded, with the Nest Hub Max kicking out an impressive sound that's enjoyable to listen to for hours on end.
The addition of the camera is a notable upgrade. This allows for a number of things, including video calls with Duo, hand gestures, facial recognition, and the ability to use it as a security camera to keep an eye on your home when you're away.
It isn't the most accessible Assistant speaker, but it is one of the most functional, so you will need to pay a price for all of the goodness.
A 10-inch HD display.
Powerful speakers.
The camera is used for video calls and facial recognition.
Useful hand gestures.
The camera is double as a security camera.
The smaller Nest Hub was more elegant.
It's more expensive.
Going all out.
The Nest Hub Max is a force to be reckoned with. It has a huge display, big sound, and a powerful camera.
Daniel Bader is a source.
We'd like to discuss the Sonos Move. This is the first wireless speaker that Sonos has created, and it's something special.
The audio quality of the Move is excellent. It's big, loud, filled with bass, and makes all types of music ring with joy. The Move is on the larger side of things, but if you ask us, it's a well-deserving trade-off.
The bigger footprint of the Move allowed the company to cram in a huge battery, removing any battery- anxiety you may have when using other wireless speakers. When you need to charge up, you can drop the Move on its included docking station.
Water and dust resistance, the Google Assistant, and support for both AirPlay 2 are all included in the bundle.
The sound is wonderful with deep bass.
Completely wireless.
The built-in handle feels great.
Dust and water resistance.
The battery life is strong.
It could be too big for some users.
The average microphone performance.
It's expensive!
Life without wires.
The Move was nearly perfect. It has great battery life, is easy to transport, and sounds great.
The source is Belkin.
We mean it when we say there's no other speaker like the Soundform Elite. The Soundform Elite is an assistant speaker and a wireless charging station. Really?
If your phone battery is low at any time, just throw the charging pad on the top of the Soundform Elite and it will start refilling. 10W charge speeds are good for a fast charge. The speaker side of the Soundform Elite has a dual-subwoofer design that kicks out a lot of bass.
The Soundform Elite can be used with other Assistant speakers, which is something you can't do with options like the Sonos One and the Sonos Beam.
Includes a wireless charging point.
10 watt charge.
The big bass has dual subs for it.
Can be grouped with other speakers.
The price was steep.
Audio is not as balanced as speakers.
Charge and listen at the same time.
The Soundform Elite is perfect if you want a speaker and wireless charging in one device.
Chris Wedel is a source for theAndroid Central.
We want to shine a light on the Lenovo Smart Clock 2. This speaker is similar to the many display-equipped speakers out there, but it's not the same as the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. Why? The Smart Clock is small.
The size of the Smart Clock 2 doesn't translate well in pictures, but when you see it in person, you'll know why we're so impressed with it. If you have a small nightstand or end table, the Lenovo Smart Clock 2 can fit on it. The fabric design helps it fit into any home.
The "Smart Clock" has a few handy alarm features. When an alarm goes off, you can snooze it by pressing the top of the Smart Clock 2 with your hand, and the screen will gradually increase in brightness to help you wake up. The new dock has a night light and a wireless charging pad.
All of the smart features found on the Nest Hub don't make their way to the Smart Clock 2's small form factor, most notably the ability to watch YouTube videos. You may be more than willing to live without those things.
Unbelievably small.
The design of fabric.
The dock has a wireless charging pad.
The audio is good for the size.
The price is low.
Not as advanced as other displays.
The bedside alarm of the future.
The small size and unique alarm features of the Lenovo Smart Clock make it the perfect addition to any nightstand.
Since the launch of the platform a few years ago, there has been a lot of growth, and the one that stands out the most is the Google Nest Audio.
The speakers on this list are all good for certain groups of people, but the Nest Audio is the only one that can cater to everyone. Excellent audio quality? Check. A clean design? Yes. Is the price affordable? Yes. It was worth the four-year wait after the original release of the Google Home, because it was so good.
No matter what you choose, you'll get a capable speaker that's ready to help make your life a little bit easier.
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