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When Amazon launched Echo in 2014, it created a new category of products: the smart speaker. At the time, it seemed a little weird to talk to a speaker, but we did not know that in a few years, other big tech companies would invest millions of dollars in their support of the speaker smart, including Google with Google Home, and now Apple with HomePod.
There are three main smart speakers, including Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod – and they all have a lot to do with it. In addition, other third parties have also appeared in recent years. & Nbsp;But which one is best for your situation?
Google Assistant vs Amazon Alexa vs Apple Siri
Before diving into the capabilities of each device, it is important to consider the software that it runs. Google Home is basically a brilliant case for Google Assistant, Google's digital assistant that is also found on its phones and, more recently, some of its smart devices. The same goes for the Amazon Echo, which houses Alexa, Amazon's assistant. Finally, Apple's Siri is the digital assistant of the new HomePod.
All the assistants are more than capable, but it is advantageous to choose one over the other. For starters, if you have an Android phone, Google Assistant is the same on all your devices. If you are logged into your account on your different devices, it means that he will remember your preferences and will be able to access the same music. and playlists, and control the same devices in the smart home. This can be very useful. The Google Assistant also benefits from Google's research expertise: it can answer questions on a wide variety of topics, thanks in large part to Google's knowledge graph.
Alexa has however a longer list of "skills" than Google Assistant. That is, it simply connects to more devices and services, which means you can do more things with it. The Google version of this action is called "Actions" and, although Google adds new actions every day, their number is still lower than the number available on Amazon Echo.
The Apple Siri was probably the first intelligent assistant of the block, but many consider that it lost quality. This does not mean that it is not a useful assistant & nbsp; it is. But considering that it's too late and that Apple is much more restrictive when it comes to third-party integrations with Siri, you will not find as much skill as on the other two devices. Siri can still control devices connected to HomeKit, order an Uber, etc. Siri will probably be much better in the near future, given the new emphasis given by tech companies to home helpers.
So, what is the best? In plain English, if you're using Android, you'd better stick to Google's ecosystem. Those who are firmly in the Apple camp with an iPhone, Apple TV and HomeKit compatible devices will be better used by the HomePod. Those with one foot in both camps, or who simply want the most compatible system and who are Amazon Prime members, should contact Alexa from Amazon.
Smart home compatibility
Perhaps the main reason to buy a smart speaker is for better smart home compatibility. There are a multitude of compatible devices for Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod, and most major companies develop compatibility for all three. However, not all devices are compatible with all & nbsp; – and those who are not could be important to you.
First, the devices compatible with the three ecosystems. Among these, let's note the main ones: you will get intelligent lighting with Philips Hue and LIFX, Belkin's range of switches and WeMo devices (though with the new WeMo bridge), the Smart Lock and August, extended support for smart home via Samsung SmartThings, etc. sure.
Then there are devices that are only supported by one or two systems, but not all three. The Nest product line, which includes thermostats, security cameras, etc., is particularly noteworthy. Nest is only compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. There is also Samsung SmartThings, which works with Google Assistant and Alexa, again.
There are also many devices and standards that are supported by only one system, but that largely depends on the company's own devices. For example, you can not use Amazon Fire TV with Google Home, you can not use Google Casting technology with Amazon Echo, and you can not use Apple's AirPlay with the other two.
Of course, if you want to use specific smart home devices with Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod, we recommend that you first look for compatibility. Chances are, it will work fine & nbsp; – but why take a chance in the first place?
Skills and actions
Smart speakers do not just let you control your smart home. They are also very effective for interacting with the rest of your digital life. For example, you can get information about events in your upcoming calendar, order an Uber or pizza, etc.
As mentioned, Alexa has more skills than Google Home, Actions or Apple HomePod, but they cover all the main points. With Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod, you can check the weather, set times and alarms, and more. The three speakers now also support voice calls, which can be very useful.
A feature offered by Google Home on Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod is the ability to function as an intercom. For example, if you have more than one Google Home, you can use Google to "serve" a message – and deliver it to any other Google Home in your home. This can be useful. In contrast, Amazon Echo has many skills not available on Google Home or Apple HomePod, such as the ability to integrate much more deeply with Amazon's purchasing services and track your packages. He can also read books from your Kindle library.
Speech Recognition
The interest of these devices is that you can interact with them with your voice – so it makes sense that voice recognition is effective. Fortunately, this suits & nbsp; all these smart speakers. Most of the time, & nbsp; they all go & nbsp; understand what you are saying and understand what they need to do & nbsp; – provided you know how to interact with them.
Of course, Google has an advantage here because of its focus on research. With its huge knowledge graph, which aims to collect and disseminate information without having to click, Google can answer all kinds of questions on all types of topics. Because of the years of work that Google spends on voice recognition and voice search, we think Google is slightly better in this category.
That's not to say that Amazon or Apple are not doing well in the category. Most of the time, the Echo understands what people are saying and provides the appropriate information. Apple is lagging behind with Siri, but we expect Siri to improve significantly in the near future.
Available devices
When you choose between Google Home, Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod, you choose between three ecosystems – not just three devices. Amazon took a long time on Google, which in turn took a long time on Apple – and as such, there are more official Amazon Echo devices than Google Home or Apple HomePod. However, Google and Amazon are working hard with their partners. So there are many third-party devices compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
The main devices are Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod. These are the original devices, and those are the ones you should buy if you're looking for one and you do not need the highest quality audio – although all previous reviews indicate that the Apple HomePod offers a great deal of very good audio quality. The & nbsp;Google Home& nbsp; costs $ 130 (currently on sale for $ 99), while the & nbsp;Amazon Echo& nbsp; costs $ 99 (currently $ 84.99) – although the audio is slightly better for that extra $ 30. Then there is the & nbsp;Apple HomePodwhich increases the price to $ 349.
There is also a third option, which involves using a third party such as Sonos One. Sonos One works with Alexa and Google Assistant, which saves you from choosing a single ecosystem. The Sonos One is also one of the best smart speakers. It comes to $ 199.
But what if you want to fit our house with a fixture in each room? Only Amazon and Google offer less expensive devices that work just like larger siblings, but only with a slightly quieter, lower quality sound. The & nbsp;Google Home Mini& nbsp; and & nbsp;Amazon Echo Dot& nbsp; both come in at $ 49.
Then there are the more powerful and powerful devices & nbsp; – although they serve slightly different purposes. The & nbsp;Google Home Max& nbsp; costs $ 399 and is basically designed to deliver a powerful, bass-rich audio experience. It is however a bit expensive. The 149 & nbsp;Amazon Echo Pluson the other hand, is designed to provide enhanced control of the smart home, allowing you to control Zigbee and Z-Wave devices, which are otherwise not supported on Amazon Echo or Google Home without a smart hub.
Google and Amazon also have some additional devices. The first step is Google, which recently launched Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max. These devices are smart screens that can display information such as weather and upcoming appointments. Google's Nest Hub is priced at $ 149, while Google Max's Nest Hub is priced at $ 229.99.
Google Nest Hub
Buy the Google Nest Hub Max here
On the Amazonian side, there is the& nbsp;Amazon Echo Tap, which costs $ 129 and has a built-in battery – so you can take it anywhere with you and use it when it's not plugged. There is also the& nbsp;Amazon Echo Show, which has a display for video calling, displaying weather information, etc. It is available for $ 229.99. Last but not least is the& nbsp;Amazon Echo Spot, which also has a screen, but it's smaller and cheaper. You can get it for $ 129.99.
As mentioned earlier, many third-party devices are in preparation, at least from Google and Amazon. Recently, for example, Google has announced a partnership with Lenovo for a so-called "smart screen". This device is not yet available, but it will cost $ 199 for an 8-inch version and $ 249 for a 10-inch model. version.
conclusions
As mentioned earlier, this is a decision made between ecosystems and not necessarily devices. We recommend that users of Android phones using Google Assistant connect to devices with Google Assistant, such as Google Home, Google Home Mini, or Google Home Max. On the other hand, those who have an active Amazon Prime account may prefer the Echo speaker line, while iPhone users may like the proposed integration with the Apple HomePod.
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When Amazon launched Echo in 2014, it created a new product category: Smart Speakers. At the time, it seemed a bit odd to talk to a speaker, but we did not know that in a few years, other big tech companies would invest millions of dollars in their support from the top Smartphone – including Google with Google Home, and now Apple with HomePod.
There are three main smart speakers, including Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod – and they all have a lot to do with it. In addition, other third parties have also appeared in recent years. But which one is best for your situation?
Google Assistant vs Amazon Alexa vs Apple Siri
Before diving into the capabilities of each device, it is important to consider the software that it runs. Google Home is basically a brilliant case for Google Assistant, Google's digital assistant that is also found on its phones and, more recently, some of its smart devices. The same goes for the Amazon Echo, which houses Alexa, Amazon's assistant. Finally, Apple's Siri is the digital assistant of the new HomePod.
All the assistants are more than capable, but it is advantageous to choose one over the other. For starters, if you have an Android phone, Google Assistant is the same on all your devices. If you are logged into your account on your different devices, it means that he will remember your preferences, will be able to access the same music and playlists and control the same smart devices. This can be very useful. The Google Assistant also relies on Google's expertise in research: it can answer questions on all kinds of topics, including the knowledge graph Google.
Alexa has however a longer list of "skills" than Google Assistant. That is, it simply connects to more devices and services, which means you can do more things with it. The Google version of this action is called "Actions" and, although Google adds new actions every day, their number is still lower than the number available on Amazon Echo.
The Apple Siri was probably the first intelligent assistant of the block, but many consider that it lost quality. This does not mean that it is not a useful assistant, it's true. But considering that it's too late and that Apple is much more restrictive when it comes to third-party integrations with Siri, you will not find as much skill as on the other two devices. Siri can still control devices connected to HomeKit, order an Uber, etc. Siri will probably be much better in the near future, given the new emphasis given by tech companies to home helpers.
So, what is the best? In plain English, if you're using Android, you'd better stick to Google's ecosystem. Those who are firmly in the Apple camp with an iPhone, Apple TV and HomeKit compatible devices will be better used by the HomePod. Those with one foot in both camps, or who simply want the most compatible system and who are Amazon Prime members, should contact Alexa from Amazon.
Smart home compatibility
Perhaps the main reason to buy a smart speaker is for better smart home compatibility. There are a multitude of compatible devices for Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod, and most major companies develop compatibility for all three. Nevertheless, not all devices are compatible with all – and those that are not can be important to you.
First, the devices compatible with the three ecosystems. Among these are the main ones – you will get intelligent lighting with Philips Hue and LIFX, Belkin's range of switches and WeMo devices (though with the new WeMo bridge), the Smart Lock of August, extended support for smart home via Samsung SmartThings, etc. .
Then there are devices that are only supported by one or two systems, but not all three. The Nest product line, which includes thermostats, security cameras, etc., is particularly noteworthy. Nest is only compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. There is also Samsung SmartThings, which works with Google Assistant and Alexa, again.
There are also many devices and standards that are supported by only one system, but that largely depends on the company's own devices. For example, you can not use Amazon Fire TV with Google Home, you can not use Google Casting technology with Amazon Echo, and you can not use Apple's AirPlay with the other two.
Of course, if you want to use specific smart home devices with Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod, we recommend that you first look for compatibility. Chances are good, everything will be fine, but why try his luck?
Skills and actions
Smart speakers are not just useful for controlling your smart home. They are also very effective for interacting with the rest of your digital life. For example, you can get information about events in your upcoming calendar, order an Uber or pizza, etc.
As mentioned, Alexa has more skills than Google Home and Actions or Apple HomePod does not have the same capabilities, but they cover all the main points. With Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomePod, you can check the weather, set times and alarms, and more. The three speakers now also support voice calls, which can be very useful.
A feature offered by Google Home on Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod is the ability to function as an intercom. For example, if you have more than one Google Home, you can use Google to "broadcast" a message. It will broadcast this message in any Google Home in your home. This can be useful. In contrast, Amazon Echo has many skills not available on Google Home or Apple HomePod, such as the ability to integrate much more deeply with Amazon's purchasing services and track your packages. He can also read books from your Kindle library.
Speech Recognition
The interest of these devices is that you can interact with them with your voice. It is therefore logical that voice recognition is effective. Fortunately, this suits all these smart speakers. Most of the time, they will understand what you are saying and understand what they need to do – provided you know how to interact with them.
Of course, Google has an advantage here because of its focus on research. With its huge knowledge graph, which aims to collect and disseminate information without having to click, Google can answer all kinds of questions on all types of topics. Because of the years of work that Google spends on voice recognition and voice search, we think Google is slightly better in this category.
That's not to say that Amazon or Apple are not doing well in the category. Most of the time, the Echo understands what people are saying and provides the appropriate information. Apple is lagging behind with Siri, but we expect Siri to improve significantly in the near future.
Available devices
When you choose between Google Home, Amazon Echo or Apple HomePod, you choose between three ecosystems – not just three devices. Amazon took a step ahead of Google, which in turn had a lengthy run on Apple – and as such, there are more official Amazon Echo devices than Google Home or Apple HomePod devices . However, Google and Amazon are working hard with their partners. So there are many third-party devices compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
The main devices are Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod. These are the original devices and those you should get if you're looking for one and you do not need very high quality audio – although all early evaluations indicate that Apple HomePod offers very good audio quality. Google Home costs $ 130 (currently $ 99 for sale), while Amazon Echo costs $ 99 (currently $ 84.99), although you get slightly better audio for that extra $ 30. . Then there's the Apple HomePod, which goes to $ 349.
There is also a third option, which involves using a third party such as Sonos One. Sonos One works with Alexa and Google Assistant, which saves you from choosing a single ecosystem. The Sonos One is also one of the best smart speakers. It comes to $ 199.
Buy the Google homepage here
buy now
Buy the Amazon Echo here
buy now
Buy the Apple HomePod here
buy now
Buy the Sonos One here
buy now
But what if you want to fit our house with a fixture in each room? Only Amazon and Google offer less expensive devices that work just like their larger siblings – only with slightly quieter and lower audio quality. The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot both cost $ 49.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot here
buy now
Buy the Google Home Mini here
buy now
Then come the more powerful and powerful devices, although they serve slightly different purposes. Google Home Max is priced at 399 USD. It is designed to deliver a powerful, bass-rich audio experience. It is however a bit expensive. Amazon Echo Plus, on the other hand, is designed to provide enhanced control of the smart home, allowing you to control Zigbee and Z-Wave devices, which are otherwise not supported on Amazon Echo or Google Home without a hub. clever.
Buy the Google Home Max here
buy now
Buy the Amazon Echo Plus here
buy now
Google and Amazon also have some additional devices. The first step is Google, which recently launched Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max. These devices are smart screens that can display information such as weather and upcoming appointments. Google's Nest Hub is priced at $ 149, while Google Max's Nest Hub is priced at $ 229.99.
Buy the Google Nest Hub here
buy now
Buy the Google Nest Hub Max here
buy now
On the Amazonian side, there is the Amazon Echo Tap, offered at 129 € and featuring a built-in battery, allows you to take it anywhere with you and use it when it's not plugged. There is also the Amazon Echo Show, which displays information such as video calls, weather information display, etc. It is available for $ 229.99. Last but not least is the Amazon Echo Spot, which also has a screen, but it is smaller and cheaper. You can get it for $ 129.99.
Buy the Amazon Echo Tap here
buy now
Buy the Amazon Echo show here
buy now
Buy the Amazon Echo Spot here
buy now
As mentioned earlier, many third-party devices are in preparation, at least from Google and Amazon. Recently, for example, Google has announced a partnership with Lenovo for a so-called "smart screen". This device is not yet available, but it will cost $ 199 for an 8-inch version and $ 249 for a 10-inch model. version.
conclusions
As mentioned, it is a decision between ecosystems – not necessarily devices. We recommend that users of Android phones using Google Assistant connect to devices with Google Assistant, such as Google Home, Google Home Mini, or Google Home Max. On the other hand, those who have an active Amazon Prime account may prefer the Echo speaker line, while iPhone users may like the proposed integration with the Apple HomePod.