As our homes get smarter, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri have become our reliable digital helpers, living inside our devices and jumping at our spoken commands to set timers, play music, and teach kids how to spell those difficult homework words.
If you're considering a voice assistance platform, you'll have to pick a camp. The top choices don't work very well together, and if you want to equip multiple rooms, you should stick to a single platform. This guide will explain the various options and help you choose the one that best meets your needs, along with the right devices for your home.
Amazon Echo (2nd Gen, 2017)
3.5mm Physical Connections
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Amazon Alexa Voice Control
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen, 2018)
3.5mm Physical Connections
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Speakerphone
Amazon Alexa Voice Control
Google Home Max
3.5mm, USB-C Physical Connections
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Speakerphone
Google Assistant Voice Control
Google Home Mini
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Google Assistant Voice Control
Apple HomePod
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Speakerphone
Apple Siri Voice Control
JBL Link 10
3.5mm, USB-C Physical Connections
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Portable
Speakerphone
Google Assistant Voice Control
Sonos One
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Amazon Alexa Voice Control
Sonos Beam
Optical, HDMI Physical Connections
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room Support
Amazon Alexa Voice Control