When it comes to smart speakers, there are two names that consistently rise to the top: Amazon and Google. In 2023, both companies released new iterations of their smart speakers, and they quickly became the best options on the market. The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and the Google Nest Audio offer powerful voice assistants, impressive sound quality, and a range of features that make them stand out from the competition.
The best smart speakers of 2023 at a glance
Before diving into the details of each speaker, let’s take a look at the best smart speakers of 2023 at a glance:
- Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
- Google Nest Audio
- Apple HomePod mini
- Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)
- Sonos One SL
These speakers were chosen based on their overall performance, value for money, and user experience. While there are other smart speakers on the market, these five stood out as the top contenders in 2023.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: Price and competition
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is the flagship smart speaker from Amazon, and it comes with a price tag of $99.99. While it may not be the cheapest option on the market, it offers great value for money considering its features and performance. Its main competition comes from the Google Nest Audio, which is priced similarly.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: Design and build
The design of the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is sleek and modern, with a fabric-covered exterior that fits well into any home decor. The speaker is cylindrical in shape, with a cloth grille covering the majority of its surface. It comes in various color options, including Charcoal, Glacier White, and Twilight Blue.
The build quality of the Echo (4th Gen) is solid, and it feels well-made and durable. The buttons on the top of the speaker are responsive and easy to use, and there is a physical mute button for added privacy. The speaker also has an LED light ring that illuminates when Alexa is activated or when there are notifications.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: Features and performance
The Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is powered by Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. Alexa is known for its wide range of skills and capabilities, and the Echo (4th Gen) takes full advantage of them. You can use Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, set reminders and alarms, answer questions, and much more. The voice recognition technology is highly accurate, and Alexa is always ready to help.
The performance of the Echo (4th Gen) is impressive, with clear and powerful sound. The speaker has a 3-inch neodymium woofer and two 0.8-inch tweeters, which deliver balanced and dynamic audio. Whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks, the Echo (4th Gen) provides an immersive audio experience.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: Sound quality
In terms of sound quality, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) excels. The speaker delivers clear vocals, well-defined midrange, and deep bass. It can fill a room with rich and balanced sound, and it performs well across various genres of music. The Echo (4th Gen) also has adaptive sound technology, which automatically adjusts the audio based on the acoustics of the room.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review: Verdict
Overall, the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) is a fantastic smart speaker that offers great value for money. With its powerful voice assistant, impressive sound quality, and sleek design, it’s hard to find any major flaws with this device. If you’re looking for a high-quality smart speaker, the Echo (4th Gen) is definitely worth considering.
Google Nest Audio review: Price and competition
The Google Nest Audio is Google’s answer to the Amazon Echo (4th Gen), and it comes with a similar price tag of $99.99. Like the Echo (4th Gen), the Nest Audio offers a range of features and a powerful voice assistant, making it a strong competitor in the smart speaker market.
Google Nest Audio review: Design and build
The design of the Google Nest Audio is minimalist and elegant, with a fabric-covered exterior that gives it a premium look and feel. The speaker is oblong in shape, with rounded edges and a sloping top surface. It comes in various color options, including Chalk, Charcoal, Sand, and Sky.
The build quality of the Nest Audio is excellent, and it feels sturdy and well-constructed. The touch controls on the top surface of the speaker are responsive and intuitive, and there is a physical switch to mute the microphone for added privacy. The Nest Audio also has four LED lights on the front that light up when the Google Assistant is activated.
Google Nest Audio review: Features and performance
The Google Nest Audio is powered by the Google Assistant, which is known for its intelligence and accuracy. The Google Assistant can perform a wide range of tasks, from playing music and answering questions to controlling smart home devices and providing personalized recommendations. It can also integrate seamlessly with other Google services, such as Google Photos and Google Calendar.
In terms of performance, the Nest Audio delivers impressive sound quality. The speaker has a 2.95-inch woofer and a 0.75-inch tweeter, which produce clear and detailed audio. The Nest Audio also has a built-in machine learning algorithm that adapts the audio based on the content being played and the acoustics of the room.
Google Nest Audio review: Sound quality
The sound quality of the Google Nest Audio is excellent, with balanced and accurate audio reproduction. The speaker offers clear vocals, well-defined midrange, and tight bass. It performs well across different genres of music, and it can fill a room with immersive sound. The Nest Audio also has the ability to create a stereo pair with another Nest Audio speaker for an even more enhanced audio experience.
Google Nest Audio review: Verdict
The Google Nest Audio is a top-notch smart speaker that offers a great user experience. With its powerful voice assistant, elegant design, and impressive sound quality, it’s a strong contender in the smart speaker market. If you’re invested in the Google ecosystem and prefer the Google Assistant, the Nest Audio is definitely worth considering.
Apple HomePod mini review: Price and competition
The Apple HomePod mini is a compact smart speaker that offers a seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. It comes with a price tag of $99, making it a more affordable option compared to its larger counterpart, the HomePod.
Apple HomePod mini review: Design and build
The design of the HomePod mini is sleek and minimalist, with a fabric-covered spherical shape. It comes in two color options: White and Space Gray. The build quality of the HomePod mini is excellent, and it feels solid and well-made. The touch controls on the top surface of the speaker are responsive and intuitive, and there is a physical switch to disable the voice assistant for added privacy.
Apple HomePod mini review: Features and performance
The HomePod mini is powered by Siri, Apple’s voice assistant. Siri is known for its integration with Apple devices and services, allowing you to control your music, answer questions, set reminders, and more using your voice. The HomePod mini also supports features such as multi-room audio and stereo pairing with another HomePod mini.
In terms of performance, the HomePod mini delivers surprisingly powerful sound for its size. The speaker has a full-range driver and two passive radiators, which produce clear and balanced audio. The HomePod mini also has an acoustic waveguide that directs the sound in multiple directions, creating a wide soundstage.
Apple HomePod mini review: Sound quality
The sound quality of the HomePod mini is impressive, with rich and detailed audio. The speaker offers clear vocals, well-defined midrange, and surprisingly deep bass. It performs well across different genres of music, and it can fill a small to medium-sized room with immersive sound. The HomePod mini also has the ability to analyze the acoustics of the room and adjust the audio accordingly.
Apple HomePod mini review: Verdict
If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem and want a smart speaker that seamlessly integrates with your Apple devices, the HomePod mini is a great choice. It offers powerful sound, a compact design, and the convenience of Siri. While it may not have the same range of features as some of its competitors, it excels in its integration with the Apple ecosystem.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) review: Price and competition
The Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) is a compact and affordable smart speaker that offers a range of features and capabilities. It comes with a price tag of $49.99, making it one of the most affordable options on the market.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) review: Design and build
The design of the Echo Dot (4th Gen) is spherical with a fabric-covered exterior, similar to the larger Echo (4th Gen). It comes in various color options, including Charcoal, Glacier White, and Twilight Blue. The build quality of the Echo Dot (4th Gen) is good, and it feels sturdy and well-made. The buttons on the top of the speaker are responsive, and there is a physical mute button for added privacy.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) review: Features and performance
The Echo Dot (4th Gen) is powered by Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant. Despite its compact size, it offers the same range of features as its larger counterpart, the Echo (4th Gen). You can use Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, set reminders and alarms, answer questions, and more. The voice recognition technology is accurate, and Alexa responds quickly to commands.
In terms of performance, the Echo Dot (4th Gen) delivers surprisingly good sound quality for its size. The speaker has a 1.6-inch front-firing speaker, which produces clear vocals and decent bass. While it may not fill a room with sound like its larger counterparts, it’s more than sufficient for small to medium-sized spaces.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) review: Sound quality
Considering its size, the sound quality of the Echo Dot (4th Gen) is impressive. The speaker offers clear vocals, well-defined midrange, and decent bass. It performs well across various genres of music, and it can fill a small to medium-sized room with sound. If you’re looking for a compact smart speaker that offers good sound quality at an affordable price, the Echo Dot (4th Gen) is a solid option.
Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) review: Verdict
The Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable and compact smart speaker. It offers the same range of features as its larger counterparts, with the added benefit of a smaller footprint. While it may not have the same level of sound quality as some of the larger speakers, it performs well for its size and price.
Sonos One SL review: Price and competition
The Sonos One SL is a smart speaker that offers high-quality sound and seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem. It comes with a price tag of $179, positioning it as a mid-range option in the market.
Sonos One SL review: Design and build
The design of the Sonos One SL is sleek and minimalist, with a rectangular shape and a matte black or white finish. The speaker has touch controls on the top surface, which allow you to play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume. The build quality of the Sonos One SL is excellent, and it feels solid and well-constructed.
Sonos One SL review: Features and performance
The Sonos One SL is designed to be a high-quality speaker that delivers impressive sound. While it doesn’t have a built-in voice assistant like some of its competitors, it can be paired with other Sonos speakers or used as part of a multi-room audio setup. The Sonos app allows you to control the speaker and stream music from various services.
In terms of performance, the Sonos One SL delivers exceptional sound quality. The speaker has two Class-D amplifiers and a custom-tuned driver, which produce detailed and balanced audio. The Sonos One SL also supports Trueplay, a feature that analyzes the acoustics of the room and adjusts the audio accordingly.
Sonos One SL review: Sound quality
The sound quality of the Sonos One SL is outstanding, with clear vocals, well-defined midrange, and impressive bass. The speaker performs well across different genres of music, and it can fill a room with immersive sound. If you’re a music enthusiast and value sound quality above all else, the Sonos One SL is a top choice.
Sonos One SL review: Verdict
The Sonos One SL is a high-quality smart speaker that offers exceptional sound quality. While it may not have a built-in voice assistant like some of its competitors, it excels in its audio performance and seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem. If you’re looking for a speaker that delivers outstanding sound and can be part of a multi-room audio setup, the Sonos One SL is a great option.
In conclusion, the best smart speakers of 2023 are the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) and the Google Nest Audio. These speakers offer powerful voice assistants, impressive sound quality