In this world of battle royale, there is one that stands out from all the rest: the endless competition of Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomePod
Three smart assistants dominate the market, each claiming the best at what it does – and all three claim they are the right choice for your home. But which one really works the best and which one gives the most money?
We’re going to take a look at the functionality of all three devices, their different models, different prices, and more to help you make that decision.
Google House
Google Home is perhaps the smartest of the assistants, at least in terms of asking and answering questions. Google Home connects to over 5000 devices from over 150 brands.
There are four different models of the smart assistant.
| Model | Price |
| Google Home Mini. | $ 50 |
| Google Home | 129 USD |
| Google Home Max | $ 399 |
| Google Home Hub | $ 149 |
Google Home Mini.
The Google Home Mini. is the smallest and most affordable of Google’s smart assistants. In fact, it often goes on sale for $ 30. Whether you’re just getting started with smart home technology or just need a smart assistant in another room, the Google Home Mini. is well worth it.
The speaker is not as loud or high-quality as the more expensive models and makes a distinct metallic sound, but it’s loud enough to fill a room if you’re not picky about sound quality. There are also several color options, so you are sure to find a device that matches the look of your room.
Google Home
Google Home is the original smart home assistant created by Google. At $ 129, it has better sound quality and a sleeker look than the round, push-button Mini. It’s louder and overall has a much better baseline performance, but has the same features as the Mini.
Google Home comes in several colors, but it also has an air freshener aesthetic. Some people like the look, but it doesn’t suit everyone.
Google Home Max
Google Home Max is by far the most expensive option on the list, but for good reason. Google took all the features from other devices and put them in Max, but added speakers that any audiophile will love.
If you’re going to use Google Home primarily for music playback, Max might be the right option for you. It boasts dual 4.5-inch woofers and crisp speakers for reproducing high frequencies to keep high notes high and lows low.
Reviews say no other speaker on the market sounds as good as the Google Home Max. The device even looks like a speaker. For the average person who only wants to control a smart home, Max may be more than what you need, but for anyone with a deep love of music, Max will feel right at home.
Google Home Hub
Of all the devices available, Google Home Home Hub will be our top choice for a smart home. It boasts all the Mini, Home, and Max features, but adds something else: the screen. The Google Home Hub features a touchscreen display that provides visual access to Google Photos, Google Maps, and a host of smart home controls.
Home Hub can be used as a digital photo frame when someone is not using it at home. You can watch YouTube, search for recipes, and more. The Home Hub is the centerpiece of the home – especially in the kitchen, where step-by-step cooking instructions are most helpful.
At $ 149, that’s half the Max’s and only $ 20 more than the primary Google Home assistant. Its versatile functionality, clean looks, and integration with smart home devices like Nest Hello make it a solid choice for anyone looking to upgrade their home.
Amazon Echo
Amazon Echo rivals Google Home when it comes to smart home control, but best in one area: shopping. Since Echo is owned by Amazon, users can order products directly through a smart assistant. There are four different versions of Amazon Echo.
| Model | Price |
| Amazon Echo Dot | $ 49.99 |
| Amazon Echo | $ 99.99 |
| Amazon Echo Plus | $ 149.99 |
| Amazon Echo Show | $ 229 |
Amazon Echo Dot < / h4>
The Amazon Echo Dot is Amazon’s Google Home Mini. counterpart. The device is a smaller but fully functional version of the basic Amazon Echo. Like the Echo, it responds to Alexa (or Echo). Echo Dot can play music, play your favorite TV show, control lighting, and more.
Amazon sells Dot as an Alexa-enabled Bluetooth speaker. The device started out as the home of Alexa, but since then Amazon has focused more on the speaker aspect. You can connect the two points together for indoor stereo sound, or you can use a 3.5mm audio cable to connect your own speakers to the unit.
Amazon Echo
Echo is the original smart assistant. While other devices may have existed prior to this, none have achieved the same level of popularity as the Echo.
It has the same features as Dot, but with better hardware and a more aesthetic design. If this sounds familiar, it’s because the system is the same as Google Home, or perhaps Google Home is the same as Amazon Echo.
Amazon Echo uses Dolby technology to power its speakers and distribute sound evenly over a 360-degree area. Seven built-in microphones mean the Echo can hear you from anywhere, even when music is playing.
Amazon Echo Plus
The Echo Plus is Amazon’s Google Home Max counterpart. Composed of a 3-inch woofer and a 0.8-inch tweeter, the Echo Plus has the most sonic capabilities of any Echo device, but not as powerful as the Google Home Max. However, at just $ 119, the Echo Plus delivers mid-range audio for a fraction of the cost.
You can also connect a 3.5mm audio cable to your Echo Plus and use it as a speaker to play music from another device – a feature that none of the other Echo devices have. Echo Plus only has three color options: Charcoal, Sandstone and Heather Gray.
Amazon Echo Show
The Amazon Echo Show is the newest addition to the Echo lineup. The Echo Show has a 10.1-inch touchscreen that lets you stream live TV, Hulu, check recipes, and view album art from its Amazon Music collection. However, you should note that it does not have YouTube due to the rivalry between Amazon and Google.
You can connect an echo show to your smart doorbell and see who is behind the door, as well as broadcast two-way audio. The Echo Show also has video and speakerphone calls, which Google Home lacks.
Apple HomePod
The Apple HomePod is Apple’s attempt to enter the smart assistant market, but it doesn’t hold up. There is currently only one model available for the HomePod.
| Apple HomePod | $ 349 |
HomePod comes in two colors: black and white. While the HomePod does work like a smart assistant, it’s primarily a speaker. It has six built-in microphones for voice recognition, which means Siri needs to hear you no matter how loud you play your music.
It also features seven horn tweeters and a long-throw woofer. When it comes to audio quality, it’s hard to beat the HomePod. It even enables Google Home Max for its money.
Siri doesn’t have the same features as Alexa or Google. While it may search for answers to questions, it usually only provides a website with search results.
Smart home compatibility is also limited. While most of the big name brands will work with Siri (after you’ve set up the apps), some of the lesser known brands can be problematic.
Apple HomeKit provides interesting scheduling features, but you don’t need a HomePod for that. If you’re not looking for a smart home assistant with truly amazing sound quality, your iPhone or iPad offers the same smart home control as the HomePod.
Compare helpers
To begin with, if you want great sound quality and don’t worry about smart home technology, go for the HomePod. It does a great job with sound, but it doesn’t fit anywhere else. If you want to mix both, then it all comes down to Amazon Echo and Google Home devices.
Echo functionality
All Amazon Echo devices are Alexa powered. Alexa currently has over 50,000 skills and the number is increasing every day. You can even create your own Alexa skills with Skill Drawings, easy-to-use templates that allow you to customize a series of commands tied to a specific phrase.
The downside is communication with Alex. Numerous updates have improved both the overall quality of her voice and the range of questions she can answer, but Alexa still sounds distinctly robotic. If you ask a question, she will not remember the previous question. For example, if you ask, “Alexa, what’s the number one movie in 2018?” she will give you the correct answer (by the way, it’s Black Panther). But if you follow along and ask, “Who was the main actor?” she will be confused.
Google functionality
Google Home is easy to set up and install, but you get the skills you need. Google doesn’t have the same Skills Blueprints as Alexa, which means you can’t create your own teams.
On the other hand, talking to Google sounds a lot more natural. Google Voice has a more natural intonation. Google will also remember the questions you asked earlier. Using the example above, if you ask, “Who was the lead actor?” Google would answer “Chadwick Boseman.”
Screens or no screens?
Unless otherwise, choose one of the devices with a screen. It expands the overall functionality of the Smart Assistant to levels never seen before, making it a part of your daily life.
The audio quality of the Amazon Echo Show and Google Home Hub may not be up to par with the HomePod, but more than enough to hear what devices are saying and listen to background music.
recommendation
When all is said and done, Amazon Echo Show is your best deal. While it is more expensive than the Google Home Hub, it also has a much broader set of features.
Both can show recipes, both can play music, but Echo Show lets you shop, access your calendar, and even create your own commands to suit your needs.
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