The finest Alexa-enabled smart speakers not only provide seamless integration with the voice assistant but also deliver impressive audio quality, boast appealing aesthetics, and offer excellent value for your home. They frequently act as the central hub for a connected smart home, allowing you to effortlessly control other Alexa-compatible devices simply by speaking to your smart speaker.
The premier Alexa smart speakers not only provide voice assistant support but also excel in audio quality, aesthetics, and value addition to your home. They often function as the central hub for a connected smart home, enabling you to effortlessly control other Alexa-compatible devices through voice commands.
In 2023, with a plethora of Alexa smart speakers available, it can be a daunting task to narrow down your choices. While options from reputable brands like Amazon, Bose, Sonos, and others are generally reliable, determining the ideal model for your needs can be a challenge.
In this compilation, our focus is on the top-notch smart speakers featuring built-in Alexa capabilities. These speakers empower you to place calls to your contacts, stream music from your preferred service, establish smart home routines, and even utilize Alexa for home security. Explore the options below!
Sonos Era 100
Best Alexa speaker for the smart home
The premier Alexa smart speakers not only provide voice assistant support but also excel in audio quality, aesthetics, and value addition to your home. They often function as the central hub for a connected smart home, enabling you to effortlessly control other Alexa-compatible devices through voice commands.
In 2023, with a plethora of Alexa smart speakers available, it can be a daunting task to narrow down your choices. While options from reputable brands like Amazon, Bose, Sonos, and others are generally reliable, determining the ideal model for your needs can be a challenge.
In this compilation, our focus is on the top-notch smart speakers featuring built-in Alexa capabilities. These speakers empower you to place calls to your contacts, stream music from your preferred service, establish smart home routines, and even utilize Alexa for home security. Explore the options below!
Sonos One (Gen 2)
The Sonos One is a versatile and impressive smart speaker, designed for placement on a shelf or counter to fill a room with high-quality audio. With the integration of Alexa, you gain access to the voice assistant’s extensive range of functions, such as providing answers to questions or setting reminders and timers. Additionally, the speaker is compatible with Google Assistant, so you don’t have to choose between them unless you have a preference.
Similar to most smart speakers, the Sonos One relies on a Wi-Fi connection for the voice assistants to function. However, it also supports technologies like Airplay 2 and offers convenient app controls as an alternative to voice commands. Furthermore, it seamlessly pairs with another Sonos speaker or speaker system, enabling creative setups, from contributing to a home theater system to creating a stereo-like audio experience by linking two speakers together.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
mazon’s flagship Echo device impresses with its sleek orb-like design, still delivering impressive 360-degree sound given its compact size. This speaker operates exclusively through the Alexa app, eliminating the need to juggle multiple apps to achieve what you want.
The rounded form factor is a notable advantage, allowing for versatile placement and featuring elegant indicators like the LED base for notifications and other functions. Additionally, Amazon offers both a battery base accessory for those who prefer not to keep the speaker near an outlet and a wall mount for those who opt not to place the Echo on a counter—options that are seldom found as native features in smart speakers.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Individuals primarily focused on audio quality may have already invested in a high-end audio system or begun exploring spatial audio tracks. In this context, the Echo Studio proves to be an excellent complement with its emphasis on music and a larger form factor equipped with five internal speakers to deliver a more comprehensive range of bass, midrange, and highs. Additionally, the speaker incorporates sensors that can adapt the audio output to suit the specific acoustics of its surroundings, regardless of where it is placed.
For those who own an array of smart devices, the Studio stands out as one of the few remaining Alexa speakers that can accommodate the older Zigbee smart protocol. This could be particularly important for managing specific devices within your home. It’s worth noting that Alexa also grants you the ability to select a default music service, be it Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, and others, simplifying the process of issuing music-related commands.
Amazon Echo Show 15
The Echo Show series enhances the Echo speaker with the addition of a touchscreen, offering an array of versatile features. This includes watching shows, viewing photo slideshows, engaging in video chats, and much more. While the Echo Show 10 had a rotating display that didn’t suit everyone, the Echo Show 15 represents a significant improvement. With its expansive 15-inch screen and adaptable design, it can be hung on a wall or placed on a counter.
These attributes position the Echo Show 15 as one of the most impressive smart displays we’ve encountered thus far, especially when used for activities like watching shows or serving as an interactive wall calendar, among other functions. It’s well-suited for various settings in a home, such as the kitchen, office, hallway, and more. Just ensure it’s conveniently within reach, and consider acquiring the stand if needed.
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
The Echo Dot 4 marked a significant advancement in the Echo Dot series, offering substantial sound quality for its size while remaining budget-friendly. However, the 5th-generation Echo Dot brought further enhancements to the model, making it an even better fit for a smart home.
Firstly, in terms of model options, there’s an LED version suitable for use as an alarm clock, especially in places like the bedroom. Additionally, there’s a kids’ version with vibrant skins and access to Amazon’s children’s content through a subscription. This updated speaker also boasts additional sensors to detect room entry, enabling seamless integration with smart lighting or thermostat adjustments upon arrival.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting the compatibility with Eero’s mesh Wi-Fi network system (now also under Amazon’s ownership), allowing the speaker to function as a Wi-Fi extender, rectifying any coverage gaps in the house. All in all, it’s remarkable what this speaker can achieve given its price point.
Bose Home Speaker 500
For those seeking a comprehensive solution, this Bose model might just be the answer. Boasting a generous size, it delivers exceptionally impressive sound quality and offers compatibility with both Alexa and Google Assistant. What sets it apart is the abundance of sound customization options, including touch panel presets for your favorite music selections and adjustments accessible through the Bose Music app.
Additionally, the speaker features a handy mini display that showcases the current song and even some album artwork, making it a standout addition to parties and gatherings. However, it’s important to note that these extensive features do come at a cost, and it’s no surprise that this comes with a substantial price tag.
Sonos Roam
For those seeking a portable smart speaker, the Sonos Roam is the ultimate choice. With its waterproof construction, impressive audio quality, and comprehensive support for Amazon Alexa, it outshines many competitors in terms of features. What’s more, it comes with a relatively affordable price tag, falling below $200.
As a product from Sonos, you can expect exceptional sound output despite its compact size. This is largely attributed to its accompanying smartphone app, which allows for real-time adjustments, and the Automatic Trueplay feature that optimizes performance based on the acoustic environment.
Add in the variety of available colors, a battery that provides up to ten hours of usage on a single charge, and a straightforward setup process, and you have one of the finest portable Amazon Alexa-enabled smart speakers available on the market.
Echo Pop
Priced at a modest $40, the Echo Pop offers a surprising array of features beyond its economical cost. While its primary allure lies in access to the Alexa voice assistant, its audio performance is commendable, although it may exhibit some distortion at higher volumes. Additionally, it comes equipped with built-in Eero functionality, ensuring improved wireless connectivity.
With a range of color options available, the Echo Pop provides an affordable means of integrating Alexa capabilities into your home. While it may not cater to audiophiles seeking premium audio quality, it excels at providing pleasant background music for tasks like work or other activities.
Sonos Era 300
The Sonos Era 300 is a recent introduction to the Sonos lineup. Expanding upon the success of the Sonos One, the Era 300 stands out with its remarkable ability to deliver immersive, room-filling sound, making it an excellent choice for both a smart speaker and an enhancement to your home theater setup. While its design might be a touch more unconventional compared to others on this list, featuring a distinctive hourglass shape, its larger size allows for the inclusion of high-quality drivers that produce sharp and clear audio. Moreover, it comes with integrated support for Alexa. Therefore, if you’re in the market for a top-tier smart speaker and don’t mind its substantial footprint, this model represents an unmatched option.