The smart speaker has become an integral part of the necessary home appliances list. It may not be as important as a refrigerator, but a smart speaker has become a must in your living room to entertain, educate and engage with different services.
Whether you want to play music, control devices like TV, lights, appliances, etc, or ask questions to your voice assistant, the smart speaker can do all of the above and more for you. Essentially it is a speaker combined with a voice assistant that provides interactive and hands-free actions and services.
The global smart speaker market is estimated to reach USD 35.93 billion by 2028. This means you can expect to see a smart speaker in almost every household. But with the market flooded with a variety of smart speakers, how do you choose the best?
Here’s a list of the Top 5 Smart Speakers of 2022. Please note that this list is not based on ranking but focuses more on features and usage. With this list, we are sure you can find a speaker that suits your taste and budget.
Sonos One – Best For Music Aficionado
Table of Contents
Price: $220
If you are a music aficionado then you must have heard about the Sonos One (Gen 2). Designed and built specifically for music lovers, Sonos One tops the list of best smart speakers, because of its rich and detailed sound quality, powerful audio, multiple voice services, and compact and user-friendly design.
The smart speaker comes with advanced Trueplay tuning that evaluates the sound reflections of your surroundings like walls, furnishings, etc, and fine-tunes your speaker based on the measurements, to ensure that you get the best sound quality, no matter where your speaker is placed.
No one can beat this smart speaker when it comes to sound quality, ease of use, and flexibility. Whether you are an Alexa Fan, a Google user, or a die-hard devotee of Siri, Sonos One supports all of these and more.
If price is not an issue, then we recommend you Sonos One as the best smart speaker available in the market.
Key Features:
- Dual amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 1 mid-woofer
- Rich and detailed sound
- Powerful bass
- Trueplay tuning
- Voice-enabled
- Supports Alexa, Google Assistant
- Supports Apple AirPlay 2
- WiFi – 2.4 /5 GHz
- Toch controls
- Humidity resistant
Pros:
- High-quality audio perfect for music lovers
- Alexa, Google assistant, AirPlay 2
- Stylish and compact design
Cons:
- Alexa drop-in is not supported
- No Bluetooth
- Expensive
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen with clock) – BEST OVERALL
Price: $ 49.99
Unless you are living under a rock, you must have heard the phrase Alexa Play my favorite song. The Amazon Echo brand and Alexa voice assistant have become a synonym for smart speakers across the globe. The Echo product line has different types of devices ranging from budget speakers to premium smart hubs.
However, the best among the lineup is undoubtedly the Amazon Echo Dot – 4th Gen Smart Speaker. This speaker is a true value-for-money product that gives you almost all the features and functions of a smart speaker including impressive sound quality, making calls, voice assistant, playing music, answering general questions, controlling smart home devices, Amazon shopping, etc. Basically, this device gives you all the features of Alexa at a budget price.
If you look at performance alone then, Google Assistant is a little smarter and better at responding. But Alexa is more versatile and works with more smart home devices than any other voice assistant available in the market.
Key Features:
- Alexa Voice assistant
- Bluetooth
- Music over Wi-Fi
- Clock at glance
- Alexa Smart Home – control electronic devices like lights, AC, etc
- Multiple privacy settings
- Make calls, control music set schedules and appointments
- Alexa shopping
Pros:
- Premium design
- Broad and expansive sound range
- Value for money
- Multifunctional and packed with features
Cons:
- Weak bass
- Not for serious audiophiles
Google Nest Mini (2 Gen) – Best Speaker with Google Assistant
Price: $18
Google Nest Mini is perfect for ardent fans of Google Assistant. Honestly speaking, it is difficult to choose between Alexa and Google Assistant when it comes to budget smart speakers. Even though the technology giant made a late entry into the smart speaker market, it has surpassed its peers and caught up to the top. If you judge purely on the basis of performance and response time, then Google Assistant wins the race. However, we wish there was more device compatibility, as Alexa still has the hold on a relatively stronger ecosystem.
Key Features:
- Google Assistant
- 40-millimeter driver
- Bluetooth
- Music over Wi-Fi
- Control electronic devices like lights, AC, etc
- Make calls, control music set schedules and appointments
Pros:
- Fun design with funky color options
- Affordable
- Multifunctional
Cons:
- No 3.5mm port
- Limited device compatibility
Apple Home Pod Mini – For Apple Fanatics
Price: $99
For loyal Apple devotees, the Home Pod Mini is the answer to their prayer for a budget smart speaker. The device is a Siri-enabled smart speaker, which is better than Alexa at discovering new music and delivers a powerful sound despite its compact form factor. When it comes to privacy and safety, no one can beat Apple, and this applies to the smart speaker as well. The speaker easily integrates with your iPhone and other devices in the Apple ecosystem and controls HomeKit devices.
Design-wise, the Home Pod Mini features a classy look with a colorful glowing ring and a non-staining base panel.
Key Features:
- Siri Assistant
- 802.11n Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- Thread
- Control devices within Apple Ecosystem
Pros:
- Classy design
- Affordable pricing
- Better privacy
Cons:
- No mute button
- Very limited device compatibility
Sonos Roam – For travel and party
Price: $179
Another Sonos Smart speaker on the list is the Sonos Roam. A smaller and portable version of the famous Sonos Move, this smart speaker is made to please audiophiles without breaking the bank. Being one of the cheapest Sonos speakers, it not only provides high-quality full-body audio and deep bass but is also feature-rich. Some of its interesting features include automatic switching between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Sonos Swap ( swapping your music to another Sonos device), Auto TruePlay, Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.
Key Features:
- Portable and Compact smart speaker
- Auto TurePlay
- Voice-enabled
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- Button Controls
- Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple AirPlay 2
- IP67 – waterproof, Drop-resistant
- 10-hour battery life
Pros:
- Portable, Compact, and Rugged design
- Battery operated
- Multifunctional and feature-rich
- Multiple connectivities
- Wireless + USB C charging
Cons:
- No Bluetooth stereo pairing
- Relatively Pricey
For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.
* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
