The Best Smart Speakers of 2021

The smart speaker world is expected to continue its brisk growth in the coming years, the latest Business Insider research predicts in the UK alone, the number of installed devices will quadruple by 2024. Devices powered by Amazon’s Alexa AI voice assistant are the undisputed leaders in the smart speaker world but Apple and Google are catching up quickly. As a consumer in the market for a smart speaker, you have more options than ever. We’re here to make your life easy, so here’s a list of the top Smart speakers you can purchase this year.

Amazon sells a wide range of smart speakers but the most popular and now on the latest generation, Echo Dot is the smallest and least expensive of the bunch. The Echo Dot fourth generation is Amazon’s latest entry-level smart speaker with a new design and improvements over the last model. If you’re going to take the first step towards smart home technology, Echo Dot is the most suitable choice because It renders a space for Alexa to endure inside your home and the sound quality is enough to fill your room. The only drawback we have noticed is the absence of a Zigbee hub inside and it is not the best-sounding smart speaker in the world.

Sonos is a small player in the smart speaker universe but the recently launched Sonos One (gen-two) with a faster processor, more memory, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support is the most versatile device you can invest in this season. The most impressive features include excellent sound quality, support for multi-room audio, and an option to select either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice control. This device lives up to the tagline “smart speaker for music lovers” with its premium, solid design and segment-best sound quality.

3. Apple HomePod mini

If you’re an Apple aficionado and looking forward to entering the Apple smart home ecosystem, the Apple HomePod mini is the device for you. It’s hard to believe Apple is offering mighty sounds and an elegant design for under £100. The audio performance is incredible and that combined with Siri voice assistant makes the Apple HomePod mini one of the best smart speakers available in the market. We recommend this only if you and your family use iPhones and are good friends with Siri.

4. Google Nest Audio

The Nest Audio is launched with a 75% louder speaker and 50% stronger bass than its predecessor. As the name suggests, it’s all about sound for this compact, feature-rich smart speaker. Apart from the music playing skills Nest Audio allows you to connect with some of the largest platforms now available including Nest, Philips, and Samsung’s Smart things. The Nest Audio is equipped with the same Google Assistant and Google Cast features as the Google Home Max and Nest Mini. The Subtle and unassuming design adds value to the top-notch features and this smart speaker is one of the best buys for this season.

5. Apple HomePod

Apple HomePod pushes the boundaries of what you expect of a smart speaker with it’s nice, minimal design and impeccable features. The HomePodfunctions well as a premium speaker and as an even better smart home hub. We were pleased with the sound quality and responsiveness of this futuristic device and it is by far the easiest smart speaker to set up. Apple always offered high quality at a high price and the HomePod is no exception. We’ve noticed Siri is limited in its implementation when this smart speaker is used as a smart home hub and you can’t Bluetooth stream audio to them.

Amazon’s flagship smart speaker with improved audio, a built-in Zigbee smart home hub, and a new AZ1 neural edge processor is our winner in the battle of smart speakers as of now. The futuristic look and a complete overhaul of features make this the best Echo yet. If you’re looking to upgrade from an Echo Dot, or simply want a new affordable smart speaker to begin your smart home journey, this is the model to get. The only real issue we had with this device is that its max volume level is a bit soft compared to larger smart speakers like the Google Home Max and Apple HomePod.

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