How to choose the best smart speaker

Choosing the best smart speaker in 2022 will largely depend on your budget, what you intend to use it for and which voice assistant you think you’ll prefer.

An AI virtual assistant aids the ability to control a smart speaker with your voice. The two most common are Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, also Apple has its own series of smart speakers called HomePod that’s powered by Siri.

A speaker having a built-in voice assistant means that you can skip songs, turn up the volume and pause music with your voice hands-free. The other option is to buy one with the display – so you can also navigate using touch controls.

While most devices fulfil the same role, there will be additional features unique to one brand. Some speakers excel at setting reminders, alarms and routines, while others are dedicated to sound quality and more detailed music controls.

For example, Google prides itself on its voice match technology that allows Google Assistant to identify when different people are using the speaker. This allows the speaker to set reminders unique to an individual in the house, such as meetings or dentist appointments. Amazon has pioneered the automatic tracking technology that follows you as you move around the room, alongside the use of widgets.

It’s worth spending a bit of time thinking about these preferences as it will quickly narrow down your search. At the same time, consider your budget. These days it’s not a massive limiting factor as most of the brands have an affordable option.

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• Google Nest mini vs Echo Dot

How we test smart speakers and displays

Smart speakers are tested against four main categories during our time with the device; ease of set-up, sound quality, design and value for money. Depending on how it performs, the speaker is then awarded a final rating out of five.

Within these categories, our technology experts consider everything from the speaker’s size, weight, and portability to whether the voice assistant responds quickly and accurately to a range of commands and questions.

To test out each of the variables fully, the smart speakers were trialled in various settings, including with loud background noise, different room sizes and whether the response varied with different voices. Finally, the price is weighed up against the speaker’s performance to assess whether it is worth the money.

Within this, we compare its price to competitors’ devices to see if a better value for money is offered elsewhere or if a brand offers something unique. The final result? You get our list of the best smart speakers to buy this year, tried and tested.

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