The smart speaker market is expected to reach $17.85 billion by 2025. And as such, more smart speaker companies will crop up. This creates a conducive environment for dubious companies that sell counterfeit speakers.
Luckily, in this article, we will feature some of the best brands you can trust. Let’s see how they stack up.
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Amazon
Amazon is arguably the most popular and preferred smart speaker brand in the market. In fact, in 2020, the company had a market share of 53.0%. The e-commerce giant not only produces smart devices but also is involved in cloud computing.
Their top-selling brands include:
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
The Amazon Echo speaker is an upgrade of its predecessor. With improved aesthetics, ergonomics, and sound quality, it’s no doubt that this is a must-have portable smart speaker. Whether you place it in your bedroom, kitchen, or living room, the speaker will afford you surround sound.
The speaker also comes with a new processor, ensuring Alexa’s response time is reduced significantly. You can call your friends, set alarms, and even control smart devices. There is also a button to turn off the microphone for improved privacy.
Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
This is the best smart speaker with a screen on our list. It comes with a 10.1-inch screen, which can tilt to follow your face. There’s improved sound and camera functionality for seamless conversations. This explains why it fetches for a higher price compared to others on the list. For its design, you can expect a portable and lightweight smart speaker that you take to any room.
That said, you’ll need to have ample space for optimum functionality. Not only do you make and receive calls, but also streaming movies, shows, and more. And, you can control all your smart devices with the click of a button. If you want weather, news, and traffic updates, Amazon Echo Show is your best bet.
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Google
Following closely is Google with its wide range of smart speakers. It had a market share of 30.9% in 2020, up from 23.9% in 2019. Google Home allows you to make calls, control smart devices, and more.
Google Nest Audio
Google claims that 70% of Nest Audio is made of recycled materials, which is a quantum leap towards achieving sustainability goals. It comes in a minimalistic and compact design allowing you to store it in tight spaces. This is unlike its predecessor, Google Home, which had a larger body frame.
It is wrapped with a fabric that conceals its functionality. The best part, its aesthetic element complements most décor in your house. The only tactile button on this smart speaker is the mute button. It mutes that microphone ensuring your conversations are private. With it, you’ll enjoy the deep sound with improved bass.
Issuing commands is also seamless. Whether you want to make a call or control your devices, Google Nest Audio will do it for you. All you need to do is set it up using the Google Home app, and you are set to go.
Google Nest Hub Max
This is yet another speaker that makes it to our best speaker with a screen list. It comes with an intuitive smart display that allows you to control settings, watch movies, and have video calls. There’s a front-facing camera so you can make convenient calls. Besides, if you place it on Google’s smart platform, you can turn it into a smart camera.
Like its Amazon counterpart, this speaker has an aesthetic design that fits even in tight spaces. Besides, it looks good on your kitchen top or dining table. the only downside is that the smart display does not follow you as you move around. With a 10-inch screen, you’ll enjoy streaming Netflix and watching YouTube videos as you go about your business.
Thanks to the 7-mic design, you can command it from any direction. This also ensures it works precisely as you want it to. The sound quality is above average. This is a perfect speaker if you are not into deep bass but rather balanced sound.
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Apple
It’s no doubt that Apple is one of the top producers of electronic consumer products such as smartphones. And their smart speakers are no different. However, their smart speakers are gradually gaining traction with more than 10 million pieces sold in 2020.
HomePod Mini
The HomePod Mini works efficiently with Apple Music and Siri giving you unmatched sound quality and smart device control. Besides, it is touted for its robust privacy and security. This means your conversations stay private since it does not record conversations.
Coming with a 3.3-inch design, it can fit in tight spaces allowing you to place it on your bedside table with ease. In fact, you can place as many HomePod minis as you want and synchronize them to play songs simultaneously.
HomePod
This is yet another stellar smart speaker from Apple. While bigger than the Mini, it also produces high-quality sound. What’s more, with Siri you can automate much of your everyday tasks. It comes with smart bass that adjusts to the room space. This ensures you get nothing but quality sound.
Thanks to the six integrated microphones, giving commands to the smart speaker is extremely easy. With noise cancellation technology, it will pick up your voice wherever you are. You’ll love its minimalistic and elegant design.
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Sonos
Sonos has also taken the market by storm. Coming third with a market share of 4.7%, the company has outshone behemoth companies such as Apple. Here are smart speakers you can buy from this brand.
Sonos One
The Sonos One is the largest portable speaker on this list. While it does not come with a smart display, it has a unique touch-top surface. Here, you can adjust volume, skip tracks, play, and pause the current playlist. The 6-mic design provides an intuitive voice control feature so you can give commands on the go.
The speaker also has one of the most stringent setup processes. You’ll need to login into your accounts such as Alexa and move around your house for sound testing. Furthermore, Sonos One recommends you give it a room where the app will identify it.
Its sound quality is quite impressive. The bass and treble are well-defined so you can enjoy rich sound. Besides, you can pair Sonos One with other speakers to that stereo sound.
Sonos Roam
The Sonos Roam is a favorite for most smart devices enthusiast thanks to its portable design. Unlike Sonos One, you can easily carry it with you as you go camping and other outdoor activities. You can connect it to Alexa and Google Assistant.
For connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With wireless charging, you don’t have to carry with you cables improving its portability. Other notable features include a protection degree of IP67 and up to 10 hours of runtime.
Final thoughts
These are some of the top brands that you can buy smart speakers from. Not only are they of high quality, but also provide value for your money. These speakers enable you to make calls, set reminders, and watch movies hands-free so you can concentrate on other crucial tasks.
So which should you buy? Well, the Amazon Echo 4th Gen is arguably the best smart speaker 2021. It is simple, minimalistic yet offers much-needed automation. And given its price, you get value for your money.
