The popularity and demand for Smart Speakers with voice assistants continue to grow. As we speak, the smart speakers revenue has already surpassed $22 billion globally. Just 5 to 10 years ago, these were known for being luxury products used for specific purposes, but today, managing your entire home system is possible by just uttering a few words.
Control Anything With Your Voice
A Smart speaker is a loudspeaker-like device that communicates with you through voice commands. They are integrated with virtual assistants that help you anytime you want. Want to try out a new recipe or want to forecast the weather without even lifting a finger? Just call out the voice assistant’s name and ask what you want to get your answer. But the use for Smart Speakers has gone beyond casual information exchange, and has made its way into controlling your home network through a virtual assistant. This means that your assistant is not just online but is also a part of the entire home.
Before diving in further, let’s clear a common confusion: Amazon Echo is the physical device, and Alexa is the assistant.
Top Affordable Smart Speakers and Assistants for Every Home
Amazon Echo Pop
Amazon Echo Pop is one of the most budget-friendly options for a regular or family home. It features an Alexa voice assistant with Bluetooth. Due to its compact size, it is also a great fit for smaller homes. If it’s your first time buying a smart speaker for your home, then the Amazon Echo Pop is a great choice for you. It is available in Black, White, Green, and Purple. The Amazon Echo Pop is more affordable.
Amazon Echo Pop is one of the best affordable fits for you for the following reasons:
- Beginner-Friendly for first-time users
- Amazon is one of the most affordable smart speaker options
- Control your smart home devices
- Sturdy and durable
- A great value for money
- Balanced bass and crisp vocals
- Great fit for small spaces and smaller homes
- Easily control and monitor your home appliances and lights when you are away.
High-end smart speakers often come with a hefty price tag, particularly models with extra functionalities. Planning and checking for special deals or limited-time offers can help you enjoy top-quality tech without overspending.
Amazon Echo
This is the standard version of Amazon’s smart speaker lineup. You can pair it with your phone or use it as a standalone speaker. If you’re into having a good home theatre experience, then we recommend connecting your Amazon Echo(4th Gen) to these select Fire TV devices: Fire TV Stick(3rd Gen) and Fire TV Stick 4K through the Alexa app.
The following are the reasons to choose the standard Amazon Echo:
- You can control smart appliances like TVs, lights
- With the help of its motion detection, turn the lights on as soon as you walk into the room.
- Great for music lovers
- Ask Alexa to play your favourite music from Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music
- Easily set up Zigbee and Matter devices.
- Extra privacy controls with the 4th Gen Amazon Echo, including a mic off button.
- Powered by Dolby and Alexa
Google Nest Mini
Integrated with the Google Assistant, Google Nest Mini is another great choice if you’re used to your Google Assistant and are looking for an affordable Google smart speaker. For WiFi, it requires an 802.11a/b/g/n/ac access point (router) and a Google Home app running on a compatible device. Another thing to note is that it is compatible with Smart TVs that have built-in Chromecast.
The following are the reasons to get the Google Nest Mini for your home:
- Bigger and richer sound
- Manage your home network
- Has 2x stronger bass than the original Mini
- Compatible with smart home devices such as lights, fans, etc. (device compatibility required)
- Made with durable fabric to last longer
- 360-degree sound with 40 mm driver
- Smart home compatibility
- Stream any music with your voice
- Has a 15W power adapter and a DC power jack
Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon Echo Dot, which is slightly bigger than the Amazon Echo Pop, is also a great option for homes. However, it costs a bit more than the Echo Pop. The Amazon Echo Dot will need a dedicated place to be in, as it is more rounded than the Echo Pop. They’re available in white, blue, and grey. With a bigger sound than the Echo Pop, the Echo Dot is a perfect choice for music lovers if you spend a bit more.
The following are the reasons to get the Amazon Echo Dot:
- Louder and better sound quality than the Echo Pop
- Built-in motion detection
- Pair it with your phone to use it as a Bluetooth speaker
- Powered by the Alexa assistant to interact with you
- Use as a standalone speaker and play/pause music
- Set timers and snooze alarms easily
- Change your heater and AC settings with the temperature sensors
Mi Smart Speaker
The Mi smart speaker is another great, affordable option for homes. The major difference for Mi Smart is that it uses Google Assistant and is only compatible with Google Assistant-compatible devices. So say “Hey, Google” and get started!
The following are the reasons to get the Mi Smart Speaker:
- Best affordable option for devices compatible with Google Assistant
- Powerful 12W and 63.5mm massive driver
- Uses HARMAN AudioEFX Post Processing Software Technology
- Affordable alternative to Google smart speakers
- WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in Chromecast to stream your favourite TV shows
The market for smart gadgets continues to grow, from smart speakers tosmart glasses. People may be finding ways to monitor their homes, health, and other things through their smart wearable technologies as well.
Apple HomePod Mini
Apple is big on promoting its Apple ecosystem. All Apple products integrate well with other Apple products. If you’re a loyal Apple customer and want to control your home network better through the Apple ecosystem, then the Apple HomePod Mini will be a good start. You can easily control your smart devices at home. This is great for people who are already deep into Apple’s ecosystem.
The following are the reasons to get the Apple HomePod Mini:
- It is available in midnight, white, orange, yellow, and blue
- Good sound quality considering its price
- Get 3 months of free Apple Music with the HomePod Mini
- Siri assistant for voice control
- Becomes a hub for the ecosystem
- Humidity and temperature sensor
- Multi-room audio and stereo pair capable
- Strong privacy and security layers
- It can fit in a small space due to its compact size
Conclusion
Before you choose a smart speaker, make sure to think about which assistants you are comfortable using. Some people are used to Siri, while some are more familiar with the Google Assistant. Other things to keep in mind are the budget, your home size and smart speaker needs, checking compatibility with your home appliances and devices.