Best smart speakers 2021

Introduction

There are numerous smart speakers to choose from with efforts from Apple, Amazon, Google and Sonos offering plenty of choice in the market.

Smart speakers offer the ability to quiz voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant about the weather, reminders for what you need to do, integration with other smart products and much more. They’re designed to be helpful, feeding you with relevant info to help you get on with what you need to do.

Each speaker generally belongs to its own ecosystem, and that’ll informs which products can work with it so it pays to know what speaker does what, and whether it fits into an existing set-up. With multi-room functionality, you can daisy chain multiple speakers within that ecosystem to create a whole house full of sound.

Here to make sure you make a smart decision, we’ve created this guide detailing the best smart speakers we’ve reviewed that are still on the market.



How we test

How we test smart speakers We play a lot of music, and we play it loud. We make sure that the smart features actually work, as why else would you buy it?We test functionality with all the listed smart speakers, which means we regularly have conversations with the likes of Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. How responsive are they? And are the features wide-ranging or limited in scope? We take all of this into account.Of course, it always comes back to the music. Speakers are tested by reviewers who have a love of music, a knowledge of sound quality, as well as a context of the market. We’ll listen to smart speakers alongside similarly priced rivals, so when we recommend a particular model, it’s among the best you can buy for the money.Obviously, we know not everyone has the same taste in music, so we won’t only test with the same perfectly mastered album, but with a variety of genres and file qualities, from MP3 to Hi-Res FLAC.








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Amazon Echo (4th Generation)



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Pros


Improved sound
Same price as the previous model
Zigbee hub
Looks fantastic




Cons


Zigbee hub not compatible with all devices







£89.99







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Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation)



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Pros


Looks fantastic
New controls are easier to reach
Forward-firing speaker is clearer




Cons


Low power mode has big restrictions
Not ideal for lots of music





£49.99







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Amazon Echo Studio



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Pros


Weighty bass and big sound
Alexa is terrific
Dolby Atmos 3D
Synergy with other Echo/Fire TV products
Good value for the price




Cons


Not as nuanced in the midrange or treble
Bass can be overpowering
Weighs a tonne






£190$199







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Apple HomePod



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Pros


Excellent audio quality
Well priced
Comparatively small




Cons


Apple-centric
No audio inputs
Captive power cable




£279$299







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B&O Beosound Balance



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Pros


Extravagant design
Big room-filling sound
Google Assistant smarts
Plenty of app customisation




Cons


Extravagant price
Compromised Tidal Masters performance with Chromecast
Not the most dynamic performance





£1750$2250







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Google Nest Audio



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Pros


Improved sound
Discrete design
Easy setup




Cons


Buggy






£90$99







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Marshall Uxbridge Voice



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Pros


Big, energetic sound
Distinctive looks
Plenty of connectivity options




Cons


Small soundstage
Not the most nuanced of performers





£170$199







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Netgear Orbi Voice



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Pros


Excellent combination of Wi-Fi and smart speaker
Great Wi-Fi performance
High-quality audio




Cons


Alexa has limitations on this system






£280













Amazon Echo (4th Generation)

Best-value smart speaker for music



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Pros

Improved soundSame price as the previous modelZigbee hubLooks fantastic

Cons

Zigbee hub not compatible with all devices

The 2020 Amazon Echo (4th Generation) isn’t just an iterative update. It features a new design, better audio and an integrated Zigbee smart home hub. Impressively, the new model costs the same as the old one.With a new, funky spherical design, this Echo finally looks as though it’s been designed to sit in your home. With a bit more room inside, Amazon has managed to squeeze in an extra tweeter for two 0.8in tweeters and a 3in woofer. It gives audio that little boost and makes the Echo (4th Generation) a decent choice for music: you have to spend considerably more to get better audio.This model also has the Zigbee hub, which used to command a £50 premium for the Plus model. It lets you connect some devices directly to the Echo without using a hub, such as Philips Hue bulbs. Not all Zigbee devices are compatible and you sometimes get fewer features, but this hub is there if you want it.Pound-for-pound, then, the Amazon Echo (4th Generation) is the best smart speaker that you can get.Reviewer: David LudlowFull Review: Amazon Echo (4th Gen)













Sonos One (Gen 2)

Smarts and great sound



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Pros

Great sound Small and convenient Proper Alexa integration Supports Google Assistant

Cons

Alexa not fully compatible with Spotify at launch

The One slots neatly into an existing Sonos set up, offering multi-room capabilities and support for voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant.Diminutive in size but big in sound, the One generates a full-range sound without missing a beat. If you’re after a discreet unit that will fit easily into any room, one that offers all the smarts without scrimping on audio quality, then the Sonos One is the full package.Reviewer: Ced YuenFull review: Sonos One













Amazon Echo Studio

The best-sounding Echo speaker



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Pros

Weighty bass and big soundAlexa is terrificDolby Atmos 3DSynergy with other Echo/Fire TV productsGood value for the price

Cons

Not as nuanced in the midrange or trebleBass can be overpoweringWeighs a tonne

The Echo Studio can play Dolby Atmos music and Hi-Res Audio. The focus on a premium sound experience at an affordable price makes it the best-sounding Echo speaker yet – but it isn’t flawless.For one, there isn’t a huge amount of 3D audio for the Echo Studio to take advantage of, nor does all of it work well in 3D. Factor in its bassy sound and the Echo Studio can sound overcooked. But the Dolby Atmos 3D does work, and the number of features and versatility it offers (you can use it as a TV speaker) make for a good speaker.Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Amazon Echo Studio













Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation)

A cooler, better-sounding speaker



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Pros

Looks fantasticNew controls are easier to reachForward-firing speaker is clearer

Cons

Low power mode has big restrictionsNot ideal for lots of music

Amazon has gone all spherical on us, with the new Echo Dot (4th Gen) like a smaller version of the big Echo. The new design is lovely and a step up from the old hockey-puck design of the previous model.The new design puts the controls on the top, where they’re both easier to reach for but blend better into the smart speaker’s design.Thanks to extra space inside, Amazon has managed to point the 1.6-inch speaker forwards, rather than upwards. Although this speaker is the same size as the prior model, the 4th gen Echo Dot is clearer and louder. It’s great for voice responses or podcasts, and you can listen to the occasional music track, but it’s still not as good as a traditional music speaker.Spend £10 more and you can get the Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (4th Generation), which sticks an LCD screen into the front to show you the time, making it a great bedside companion. Otherwise, the Clock and Dot models are the same.If you want a well-priced smart speaker predominantly for smart home control, this is the one to buy.Reviewer: David LudlowFull Review: Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen)













B&O Beosound Balance

An extravagant speaker



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Pros

Extravagant designBig room-filling soundGoogle Assistant smartsPlenty of app customisation

Cons

Extravagant priceCompromised Tidal Masters performance with ChromecastNot the most dynamic performance

The Beosound Balance is another ode to Scandinavian design; minimalist, attractive and quietly extravagant.The look has been laid on by the gurus of London-based Layer design, meaning it not only looks good but feels nice to touch. It offers a big room-filling sound that can go pretty loud, as well as plenty of clarity and definition to render your music library in a convincing manner.It’s expensive – affordable doesn’t appear to be in B&O’s dictionary – but if you can afford this marriage of design and sound, there’s much to like with the Beosound Balance.Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: B&O Beosound Balance













Apple HomePod

An Apple-focused speaker to a fault



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Pros

Excellent audio qualityWell pricedComparatively small

Cons

Apple-centricNo audio inputsCaptive power cable

If you’re fully immersed in the iOS ecosystem and value great audio then the HomePod is second to none. It’s less expensive than it was before, but it’s Apple-centric approach is a stumbling block. To add to that, Siri is relatively un-smart and while HomeKit is pretty good, it suffers from a lack of support.Nevertheless, it’s the best-sounding smart speaker out there, with a warm, expansive sound that’s clear as well as revealing plenty of detail. This is one for Apple lovers.Reviewer: David LudlowFull Review: Apple HomePod













Google Nest Audio

The best Google Assistant speaker yet



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Pros

Improved soundDiscrete designEasy setup

Cons

Buggy

The Nest Audio takes over from Google Home sitting between the dinky Nest Mini and enormous Home Max.As smart speakers go it’s one of the more discrete looking, featuring an unassuming woven body that’s made out of 70% recycled plastic. It has the same smarts as the Nest Mini, and the tech makes it quick and easy to create multi-room setups with other Google speakers. It’s also compatible with third party products from big-name brands including Philips Hue and TP-Link.For those that want an actual speaker, then the Nest Audio is fairly decent sounding with its sizable 75mm woofer and 19 mm tweeter. The combo makes it one of the loudest smart speakers at its size, and an ideal choice for people locked into Google ecosystem.













Marshall Uxbridge Voice

Compact size, big sound



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Pros

Big, energetic soundDistinctive looksPlenty of connectivity options

Cons

Small soundstageNot the most nuanced of performers

The Uxbridge is another laudable speaker from the iconic audio brand, that like other entries in Marshall’s speaker range, produces a prodigious sound from its small frame.There are better-sounding alternatives around (just look higher up on this list), but if energy and bass is what you’re looking for in a speaker that doesn’t take up much space, the Uxbridge ought to be considered for the shopping list. More nuanced audio and features can be had from other speakers, but like the rest of Marshall speaker lineage, it offers plenty of fun.Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Marshall Uxbridge Voice













Netgear Orbi Voice

Wi-Fi extender, Alexa and speaker in one



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Pros

Excellent combination of Wi-Fi and smart speakerGreat Wi-Fi performanceHigh-quality audio

Cons

Alexa has limitations on this system

The Netgear Orbi Voice is likely to be the unfamiliar unit in this list. It serves a dual purposes, with it mesh Wi-Fi technology extending Wi-Fi in the home, it also bundles Alexa voice control and a sound system by Harman Kardon.All this works out to be a potent combination. The Orbi Voice is a speaker that’s easy to listen to, offers plenty of bass, and can fill a good-sized room with ease. The main issue with the Orbi Voice is one that’s out of its control: Amazon’s treatment of third-party devices means you can’t use Alexa to voice-call nor set up the unit within a group of speakers.Reviewer: David LudlowFull Review: Netgear Orbi Voice







FAQs

Which voice assistants are supported by smart speakers? You’ll find that Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are the most commonly supported digital assistants on speakers. If you’re within the Apple ecosystem then Siri is the assistant of choice. Can I turn digital assistants off? You could disable digital assistants through the speaker’s companion app if that’s supported. Many allow for the microphone to be turned off to disable the assistant.




We also considered…







Bose Home Speaker 500

The self-consciously grown-up choice for smart speakers










Cleer Crescent

The shape of things to come?








We’ve reviewed
621
Hi-Fi & Wireless Audio
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Specs compared


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UK RRP


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EU RRP


CA RRP


AUD RRP


Manufacturer


IP rating


Size (Dimensions)


Weight


ASIN


Release Date


First Reviewed Date


Model Number


Model Variants


Audio Resolution


Driver (s)


Ports


Audio (Power output)


Connectivity


Colours


Frequency Range


Voice Assistant


Audio Formats


Power consumption


Speaker Type


Smart assistants


Special features


App Control


Controls


Power source


Number of speakers


Output


Microphones






Amazon Echo (4th Generation)


£89.99


–


–


–


–


Amazon


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144 x 133 x 144 MM


970 G


–


2020


23/10/2020


–


–


–


–


–


–


–


–


–


Alexa


–


–


–


Yes


–


Yes


–


–


–


–


–




Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation)


£49.99


–


–


–


–


Amazon


–


100 x 89 x 100 MM


328 G


–


2020


26/10/2020


–


–


–


–


–


–


–


–


–


Alexa


–


–


–


Yes


–


Yes


Action, Volume, Microphone Mute


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