10 Best Smart Speakers for 2021

“Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa?” is your biggest puzzle. Which one will be best for you? Well, with the Sonos One Second Generation, you don’t have to decide – both are built-in, so you get the best of both worlds.

You can pair it with other Sonos speakers for music throughout the house via Wi-Fi, or for stereo separation and more detailed sound in the same room. It can even be paired with your telly and soundbar for a better experience when watching movies.

You don’t just have to control it with your voice, either. App and touch commands are also present, and this makes it easy to skip songs and play music directly from your phone as opposed to through a service such as Spotify or Deezer.

The second generation has updated the original with increased memory and an updated processor. If your Wi-Fi is a bit lacklustre, there is an Ethernet port too, and the fact it uses both Alexa and Google means you can get the most accurate answers to your questions as well as something delivered to your door the next day, without even lifting a finger.

It is one of the best for sound, voice control, design and adding additional voice-connected speakers at a later date (no matter what assistant they use), so if you want the perfect balance of everything which will keep you happy for the next few years, it is a must-have. You can even pop it in the bathroom or kitchen as it is resistant to humidity.

Want a classic smart speaker with good voice control, a choice of add-ons and the ability to get accurate answers to questions?

The Amazon Echo was the original smart speaker. And, given that there have been dozens of variations since, it still reigns king. This new rounded version looks great, is available in various colours and has a built-in hub, so you can set up compatible Zigbee devices to voice control lights, locks and sensors.

Setting it up is simple, making it a great pick for anyone having their first foray into smart control. Just connect it to the app on your phone, and you’re done. If you have additional devices which it can connect to, just say “Alexa, discover my devices”.

3.0” woofer and dual 0.8″ tweeters mean music is pretty clear for a speaker which isn’t necessarily putting music at the forefront of what it does, although we will say that it isn’t going to be better than a Sonos or Bose.

You don’t just get a great quality smart speaker, but Amazon has also thought about the planet when crafting it. 50% of the plastics used is post-consumer recycled plastics, 100% of the fabric used is post-consumer recycled fabric, and 100% of the aluminium used is recycled die-cast aluminium.

It also comes in packaging made of wood fibre-based materials from responsibly managed forests or recycled sources.

Are you an Apple aficionado, with the iPhone, Mac, and TV in your home? If so, the HomePod is likely the best pick for you.

We say this because the Apple HomePod is best when paired with other Apple devices, and indeed is often not compatible with smart devices from other brands. The good news is that you can AirPlay other content from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV and Mac. AirPlay 2 also gives you the choice to connect other Apple speakers and create a music system.

And with Siri, your speaker is going to be doing more than simply playing music, instead, it’s your do-it-all intelligent assistant, helping with everyday tasks.

It acts as a hub for the HomeKit system, operable through your iPhone. Place them around your house and you can have an integrated sound system.

Smart speakers aren’t just speakers now. They are also little mini-tablet devices with screens, which gives you help at a glance.

There is a 7″ touch screen display so you can see everything in one view, whether it’s your doctor’s appointments, shopping list or reminders, and you can easily view video content too. Personalise it with Voice Match so you can say “good morning”, and it will recognise who you are and show you your schedule for the day, from meeting times to commute information.

In terms of the video content, you can see who is at your front door if you have a video doorbell, as well as videos from YouTube, Netflix or even your TV. it can also display pictures from your Google Photos account on loop.

As the Google Nest is a Hub, it is compatible with Nest, Philips Hue, Hive, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and TP-Link systems, and you also have great flexibility with connecting other subscription services like Spotify, Google Play, and TuneIn. Just download the Google Home app so everything can communicate.

If you want to extend the smart sound system, the Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Audio are also available for use in other rooms.

Amazon has their own video-enabled speaker, too. In fact, they have a few of them, but the Show 10 is their latest release with tons of new additions and improvements.

This one goes a step further than Google’s offering, allowing you to voice or video call friends and family with compatible Echo devices or the Alexa app. And, the 10.1″ HD screen follows you around the room automatically, so video calls, recipes and TV series are always in view. The speakers deliver premium, directional sound too, with two 1″ Tweeters and a 3″ Woofer.

You can call almost anyone hands-free, including UK mobile and residential numbers, as well as other Alexa devices and Skype accounts. Link Alexa with your EE or Vodafone UK mobile phone account to ask Alexa to make and answer your mobile calls – great if your mobile usually isn’t anywhere near you when you get home.

You can still watch videos as well as getting weather, traffic and news updates too. If you have Amazon Prime, it will easily connect to your account to give you access to movies, TV shows and music, as well as a screen to shop from (or just ask it nicely). Also, see what your video doorbell sees at any time.

It will also work as a security camera, allowing you to look around when you’re not at home through the app. As it is a hub, you can connect it to compatible Zigbee devices too – just ask Alexa to show you security cameras, control lights and adjust thermostats.

The movability will appeal to anyone who has their eye on Facebook’s Portal, and the 13MP camera is a huge jump from the 1MP still used in older models. Some people don’t like that it isn’t portable for taking around the house if you want to watch things in different rooms, but smart speakers aren’t designed to be.

Having a portable speaker with voice control is perhaps not a high priority combination. If you’re out having a picnic, for example, there isn’t much a voice-controlled speaker can do without internet.

But you can still control things like music with your voice, and this Sonos Move happens to be a great indoor speaker which you happen to be able to take outdoors, too. Stream music via Bluetooth when Wi-Fi isn’t available, and it will last for 11 hours when fully charged as well as having an IP56 rating to resist humidity, snow, light rain, sea spray and UV light.

Automatic Trueplay tuning balances the sound depending on where you are and what you’re listening to. The microphones detect what you’re playing and the environment, then automatically optimises the sound.

When at home, you can recharge the Move easily with the charging base, or a compatible USB-C charger. There is an ergonomic handle for easy carrying, and it uses both Alexa and Google Assistant for when you’re back at home and using it as part of a system.

With a 40% stronger bass than the original Mini, this Second Generation is a perfect update to the original and will work really well with speakers in the rest of the Google system.

You can hang it on the wall to keep your office desk or kitchen worktops free from clutter, or the speaker safe from curry sauce splashes. Talking of curry sauce, as it uses Google, it can easily talk you through recipes, conversions, timers and ingredient substitutions when you’re cooking, using the results you’d get from typing it into a browser.

It’s great for multi-person households too, as the Mini will eventually be able to recognise your voice and give you personalised results, such as music, commute information and alarms. You can also use your voice to control Philips Hue, Nest and Samsung SmartThings items, and control your TV if you have a Chromecast.

It is one of the cheapest smart speakers on the market, so a great pick if you just want one or two dotted around the house for convenience.

With over 20 hours of battery life, unrivalled sound and the ability to charge your phone while the music plays… the JBL portable speaker is nothing short of impressive.

JBL is known for their sound quality, and thanks to the optimized long-excursion driver, a separate tweeter, and dual JBL bass radiators, you can enjoy a rich, crisp sound that will fill up the area whether indoors or out.

But what about smart features? Well, it may not have Siri or Google assist, but the JBL portable speaker can create a sound system by pairing up with other JBL speakers and can it charge up your phone while you play music, so you never have to worry about battery life cutting your fun short.

What’s especially impressive about this speaker, however, is that it’s IP67 waterproof and dustproof making it ideal for outdoor fun as well. It’s drink spilling proof and British weatherproof making it ideal for entertaining both indoors and in your garden.

Bluetooth, a long-lasting rechargeable battery and water-resistant durability ensure that this speaker is as reliable outdoors as it is inside your home.

Music can be controlled however suits the situation; with your voice, with a tap on the top controls, or with the Bose Music app. When connected to Wi-Fi, Google and Alexa put thousands of songs and radio stations within reach, and no matter how loud the music is playing, the microphone will pick up your commands.

There’s a Mic-Disable button in case you don’t want it listening in on conversations, and because it uses both of the most popular assistants, you will get the best results possible from questions, recipe suggestions, and weather or traffic reports.

It has Apple Airplay 2 as well, so you can select music from iPhones, iPads, or Macs. To make it safe for outdoors, the IPX4 rating means it can withstand splashes and sprays, whether this is at the beach, in the park or even by your kitchen sink.

The battery will last 12 hours off a single charge. To charge it back up, use the included cable or purchase the charging cradle separately. A nice handle and a rounded design also finish it off.

But the big downside not talked about – you need to use the Bose app to connect to your Smart Home service, so you can’t connect to Alexa/Google speakers from other brands.

Often seen as one of the best brands when it comes to sound quality, speaker technology and audio. Bang & Olufsen are the brains behind many innovative sound products and this speaker definitely looks the part.

The price is a little eye-watering. But it is crafted from solid aluminium, has Airplay 2, Bluetooth and Chromecast built-in for control and compatibility, so you can stream Apple or Spotify, and BeoSound 2 also combines the sound of Bang & Olufsen with an easy app.

There are five integrated microphones for exceptional listening, and 360-degree sound dispersion means you can set it in the middle of the room as a focal point, and it will fill the room with music.

The top of the speaker is a multi-functional touch control system. Tap to play music, turn the wheel to adjust the volume and swipe to skip songs. The sound quality is exceptional, with clarity and natural yet powerful bass.

It can communicate with any speaker which also has Airplay, Bluetooth or Chromecast capabilities, meaning it can be used as the head of a sound system. There is only Deezer and TuneIn built-in, too.