This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
Shopping for a new speaker is no longer about music. Well, not entirely. Because finding a speaker with excellent sound is fairly straightforward. The top audio brands all produce high-end speakers. But you have to think beyond that. You have to think smart. Because this is the age of the smart home.
It might seem like a daunting task because smart speakers are everywhere. It’s hard to know which speaker is the smartest, or which models have the right kind of smarts to suit your home and lifestyle. You can spend all day combing over product descriptions and review sections to find the best fit for your smart home.
But you don’t need to go to all that hassle. We’ve done some of the hard work for you and compiled a list of some of the best smart speakers around. First off, here’s some helpful information to help you make that final decision.
What is a smart speaker?
Smart speakers usually come with built-in voice assistants and can be found in almost any home at this point. If you have a bunch of smart devices in your home — smart lights, a smart thermostat, smart home security, a smart robot vacuum, or even a smart toaster (yes, that’s a real thing) — a smart speaker can act as a hub that keeps them connected and controls your smart home overall. In short, a smart speaker is what makes your home truly smart. It’s the smart home nucleus.
Are smart speakers worth the money?
Although smart speakers aren’t always the best way to listen to your audio and aren’t usually prioritised for music, they’re absolutely worth having if you have the budget. (And you might not even notice the audio downgrade unless you have a finely-tuned audiophile ear.) Plus, smart speakers don’t always have to break the bank — there are plenty of budget options out there, including the fantastic Echo Dot.
Why do you need a smart speaker?
The real reason to get a smart speaker is convenience. Hands-free voice assistants are the name of the game when it comes to smart speakers. Being able to plan your day, catch up on news, play music, and control most of your smart tech just by talking to your a speaker is truly excellent. It’s a great way to maximise your day by doing less.
What’s the best voice assistant?
The three best-known voice assistants are Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri. Out of those three, most would put Siri at the bottom. That’s not to say that Siri is a bad voice assistant, but Apple is just way too exclusive about their propriety operating systems, and Siri is only available to Apple devices. Then we get to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It comes down to personal choice. Both Amazon and Google have their specialist skills. You can’t really lose with either choice here — just think about what features you want most, and go for the one that fits that vision best. It’s fair to say Alexa is more popular of the two, though.
What skills does Alexa have?
If you’re an online shopper and have an arsenal of smart devices throughout your home, Alexa will probably be your best bet. Amazon’s smart speakers recognise more devices than Google’s Assistant, so you’re more likely to have a better time with an Echo if you really want to go for a true smart home. Alexa’s direct connection to the Amazon store also makes online shopping easy, allowing you to add things to your cart and check out solely through voice commands. If you get lots of goods from Amazon, Amazon’s smart speakers are a no-brainer.
What can Google Assistant do?
Google Assistant tends to be better at things like general knowledge, location services, and other real-world information that you might need at a moment’s notice. Google Assistant is also great for those with Android phones, enabling easy exchanges of information between your smartphone and smart speaker when using Google-supported apps. Google speakers also tend to be better at networking, so if you’re looking to buy more than one smart speaker and connect them, Google is a good start.
What is the best smart speaker?
That’s something that only you can decide. But we’ve tried to make your life easier by lining up a selection of the best smart speakers from top brands. There’s something for everyone on this list, not to mention every budget — because these speakers don’t always come cheap. You just need to consider the options, and then pick the speaker that best matches up with your smart home and lifestyle needs.
These are the best smart speakers in 2025.
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