Smart Speakers
Voice control, timers and the cheapest smart home hub you can buy.
A smart speaker is two products in one box: a voice assistant you talk to, and often a smart home hub with a Thread radio inside. That second job is the reason to care, even if you rarely use voice commands.
Choosing a speaker is mostly choosing an ecosystem, because the assistant you buy is the app you will live in for the next several years.
You are choosing an ecosystem, not a speaker
Amazon's Alexa has the widest device support and the most integrations. Google Assistant is strongest at answering questions and works best if you already live in Google's apps. Apple's HomePod and Siri make the most sense if your household is already all-in on iPhone and Apple Home.
Pick based on the phone in your pocket and the devices you already own. Switching assistants later means re-creating every routine and re-adding every device, and almost nobody enjoys that enough to do it twice.
The hidden hub inside
Many current smart speakers and displays include a Thread border router, which lets Thread devices — the growing group of Matter sensors, locks and plugs — join your home network. If you are planning to buy Thread-based devices, check whether the speaker you are considering includes a border router before you spend money on a separate one.
Displays do more: many can show camera feeds, act as a control panel, and serve as a kitchen timer and intercom. If the speaker will sit somewhere you walk past, a display usually earns its extra cost.
Microphone and privacy controls to set up
Every major assistant has a physical microphone mute switch — use it, and check that everyone in the house knows where it is. Also review voice recordings in the assistant's privacy settings, delete what you do not want stored, and turn off voice purchasing unless you genuinely want it. Guests are often surprised to learn that a speaker in a bedroom can hear them.
Products mentioned in this guide
Products referenced in this guide, shown with the manufacturer's own photography. We do not publish prices or star ratings — both change faster than any article can be kept accurate.
Smart Speakers
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
- Voice control for compatible smart home devices through Alexa
- Acts as a Matter controller so Matter devices can be added without extra hardware
- Temperature sensor and a physical microphone mute button
Works with
- Alexa
- Matter
- Wi-Fi
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a smart speaker to have a smart home?
No. Voice control is convenient but optional. A phone app, a smart display or a dedicated hub can run everything. Plenty of households with a dozen smart devices have no speaker at all.
Can a smart speaker control devices from another brand?
Usually yes, through cloud integrations or Matter. A device that supports Matter can be added to Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings, which reduces the brand-lock problem that used to define this category.
Are smart speakers always listening?
They listen for a wake word locally and only send audio to the cloud after they detect it. All major models have a hardware mute switch that physically disconnects the microphones. If that still is not acceptable, a smart display with a mute switch or an app-only setup is the alternative.