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  • 10 Best Smart Speakers in 2022 (Amazon, Apple, and More) 1
  • 10 Best Smart Speakers in 2022 (Amazon, Apple, and More) 2
  • 10 Best Smart Speakers in 2022 (Amazon, Apple, and More) 3
  • 10 Best Smart Speakers in 2022 (Amazon, Apple, and More) 4
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10 Best Smart Speakers in 2022 (Amazon, Apple, and More)

The smart speaker market is overcrowded. With all of the different companies vying for our cash, you can begin to feel overwhelmed with a barrage of questions.


  • Which voice assistant is best to handle my daily needs? 
  • Am I looking for a smart speaker with a screen or one that simply gives me good audio? 
  • Which smart speaker is going to help me create my dream smart home?

You may feel that picking a smart speaker for your home is too much of a hassle. Luckily for you, our team here at mybest created a list of the top 10 best smart speakers to buy in 2020. Start the new year right with a smart speaker that will upgrade your home and your life!

Last updated 09/26/2023
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Table of Contents

How to Pick the Right Smart Speaker - Buying Guide

Now that you know which smart speakers are the best available options to choose from, the next step is learning about how to go about choosing the right smart speaker for you. The four factors below will help you make the right decision.

Consider Which Voice Assistant Will Fit Your Needs

Consider Which Voice Assistant Will Fit Your Needs

If you want to equip multiple rooms with smart speakers, you have to stick to one manufacturer and one voice assistant. Luckily, the hardware you already own (phones and computers) will help you determine which company will be the best


Voice assistants respond to relatively the same tasks, but each voice assistant has a set of unique strengths. The major players to choose from are Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant, and Microsoft’s Cortana.

Amazon Alexa is Perfect for Shopping and Managing Your Smart Home

Amazon Alexa is Perfect for Shopping and Managing Your Smart Home

Alexa is the best equipped voice assistant for managing smart home devices such as your television, thermostat, lights, and microwave. It is the most accessible voice assistant because it is available on the widest variety of smart speakers (manufactured by both Amazon and third party vendors). 


Alexa is also the perfect smart speaker to have when making commands for buying everyday products like toilet paper or groceries. However, it can stumble when asked more complicated questions (i.e. purchasing flight tickets). We recommend studying the user guide before setting up your smart speaker to understand its limitations in regards to natural language.

Google Assistant Can Answer Anything

Google Assistant Can Answer Anything

Google Assistant is the best voice assistant when it comes to answering general questions and searching for music. It’s the best for asking directions for your commute and Google Assistant can control more than one thousand smart-home products from over one hundred available brands.

Siri is the Best Choice if you Already Own Apple Products

Siri is the Best Choice if you Already Own Apple Products

Phone-related commands such as setting reminders, replying to texts, and calling are easy to execute via Siri. Yet, Siri doesn’t pair with as many home entertainment products as the other available options because it’s limited to the Apple ecosystem. One unique feature that Siri has is that it's currently the only voice assistant that can successfully locate and reserve a restaurant

Microsoft's Cortana: Not Quite a Contender Yet

Microsoft's Cortana: Not Quite a Contender Yet

Microsoft’s Cortana is the hardest voice assistant to setup and there aren't many notable smart speakers that include it. Unlike the other three voice assistants, Cortana requires an account login with an acceptable email account before use.


Cortana also struggles with basic voice recognition. Simple commands such as, “please set a reminder, can you help me find a restaurant, and cancel this task,” have to be repeated multiple times. Customers report that Cortana has the slowest response time at an average of a minute for simple questions in regards to traffic or calendar information. 

Pick a Smart Speaker with Great Sound Quality and a Great Music Library

Pick a Smart Speaker with Great Sound Quality and a Great Music Library

Smart speakers are largely used for playing music as well as voice assistants. A smart speaker can have the best voice assistant imaginable, but with horrible sound quality it will be hardly worth the purchase. It's also vital that you take stock on which streaming services the device is compatible with. 


Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, Sirius XM, and iHeartRadio are likely the main streaming services you'll consider when making your purchase. If your smart speaker has Bluetooth connectivity available than it doesn’t need the built-in setting with all of these streaming services but, this will hinder what commands you can give it (pause, skip, etc).


You may also want to confirm that your smart speaker of choice can pair with subwoofers. Most smart speakers will be able to play music at any frequency range, but a subwoofer adds more depth to your sound. For any music lovers who want a more filling sound may want to consider buying a device that can connect to subwoofers.


Additionally, can you pair multiple smart speakers together to get a stereo sound effect? Certain smart speakers can pair with others of the same brand to create a stereo sound. This adds more mix and multi-directional audio to the music you’re listening to.

Displays Add Maximum Visual Content and Accessibility

Displays Add Maximum Visual Content and Accessibility

Display screens are perfect for users who aren’t tech savvy. If you want to initiate a search with your voice and see the results on a screen, a smart speaker with a display may be something you want. 


You may also want to use a smart speaker to make hands-free video calls. This may be more useful in an office setting, giving your the option of conducting video conferences from the comfort of your desk while running other tasks on your laptop.


And let's not forget that smart speakers with screens are extremely useful in kitchens! If you want to ask your voice assistant about a recipe, it can show you all of the ingredients and instructions through video or text.


There is an argument to be made that if you own a tablet, the need for a smart speaker with a screen is redundant. However, if you don’t own a tablet then you should definitely consider a smart speaker with a screen.

Do You Want to Take Your Smart Speaker Wherever You Go?

Do You Want to Take Your Smart Speaker Wherever You Go?

A portable smart speaker may be the right choice for you if you like to listen to music on the beach or while at a picnic. The right portable smart speaker will let you turn on any smart home devices like air conditioners, no matter the distance. 


Additionally, a portable smart speaker can be taken to any room in your house with no need to constantly disconnect and reconnect it to an outlet.

10 Best Smart Speakers Ranking

Here are the best Smart Speakers, ranked according to 10 Best Smart Speakers (as of 11-04-2022). The products are ranked independently by mybest.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Price
Key features
1

Amazon

Echo Plus (2nd Gen)B0794W1SKP

Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) 1

$149.99

Mid

The Best Overall Smart Speaker

2

Amazon

Echo Show 5B07HZLHPKP

Amazon Echo Show 5 1

$79.99

Low Mid

An Excellent Smart Speaker for Amazon Alexa Users

3

Google

Home MaxGA00223-US

Google Home Max 1

$299.00

High Mid

The Best Smart Speaker for Google Assistant

4

Apple

HomePodMQHV2LL/A

Apple HomePod 1

$299.00

High Mid

An Apple Lover's Dream Smart Speaker

5

Sonos

Sonos One (Gen 2)ONEG2US1BLK

Sonos Sonos One (Gen 2) 1

$198.99

Mid

A Must-have for Sound Quality Gourmets

6

Lenovo

Smart Display569748468

Lenovo Smart Display 1

$99.50

Low Mid

A Smart Speaker with a Great Display

7

Ultimate Ears / Logitech

MEGABLAST984-000913

Ultimate Ears / Logitech MEGABLAST 1

$175.93

Mid

The Most Durable Smart Speaker

8

Harman Kardon

AllureB07BBGPBJZ

Harman Kardon Allure 1

$199.95

Mid

The Most Portable Smart Speaker

9

Facebook

Portal899-00080-02

Facebook Portal 1

$148.95

Mid

The Best Smart Speaker for Your Office

10

Google

Home Mini

Google Home Mini 1

$25.00

Low

The Most Affordable Smart Speaker

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

AmazonEcho Plus (2nd Gen)B0794W1SKP

Echo Plus (2nd Gen) 1
Source:amazon.com
Echo Plus (2nd Gen) 2
Source:amazon.com
Echo Plus (2nd Gen) 3
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$149.99
Mid
Reference price
$149.99
Mid

The Best Overall Smart Speaker

The second generation of the Amazon Echo Plus is the most popular smart speaker on the market for a reason. It lets you take phone calls, adjust your thermostat, open or close your garage door, control your TV, turn your lights on and off, and more. 


With multiple Alexa smart speakers, you can also use the Echo Plus as an intercom to contact other family members; and with the Amazon FreeTime feature in the Alexa app, you get the benefit of making your smart speaker kid-friendly.


It's important to note that this smart speaker isn't portable. You also have the option of multi-room listening and stereo pairing, but only through a WiFi connection.

Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

AmazonEcho Show 5B07HZLHPKP

Echo Show 5 1
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$79.99
Low Mid
Reference price
$79.99
Low Mid

An Excellent Smart Speaker for Amazon Alexa Users

The Echo Show 5 is a close second to the second generation Echo Plus. Although the audio quality isn't as great as the top choice, the Echo Show 5 boasts a 5.5-inch touchscreen display that gives you visual responses.


The Echo Show 5's best feature is the Alexa skills video library, such as Wikihow. It allows you to learn anything online like folding origami, baking a cake, or even how to use Alexa.


The main negative feature of the Echo Show 5 is that the menu options aren't intuitive. There are a lot of options that may take you a while to find through the menu navigation and are that are easier to initiate by simply using the voice commands


There are also some redundancies with the using the speaker. Customers report that they often don't use the touchscreen for simple tasks that can be done through voice commands or on their phones like setting up a daily reminder or cooking timer.

No.3

GoogleHome MaxGA00223-US

Home Max 1
Source:walmart.com
Home Max 2
Source:walmart.com
Home Max 3
Source:walmart.com
Reference price
$299.00
High Mid
Reference price
$299.00
High Mid

The Best Smart Speaker for Google Assistant

The Google Home Max is a great smart speaker for anyone who already owns Google products and wants great sound. That being said, it's not always balanced; The Google Home Max can be bass-heavy at times and doesn't perform well at low volumes


It does provide stereo sound, which is hard to find in your typical smart speaker. The maximum volume level is primarily useful in a party or large gathering. Most reviewers recommend keeping the volume settings to be around 75% for optimal sound quality.


Volume control on the speaker is easy to manage by sliding your finger up and down or left to right across the speaker. If you put the speaker upside down by accident, Google Assistant will provide a handy warning. And with an auxiliary port included, you can connect your Google Home Max to an external audio player, too!


Unlike the Google Home Mini, the Google Home Max doesn't have an omnidirectional microphone. It's best positioned in the corner of a room so that the sound can fill the entire space. The main drawback reported by customers is that you cannot play YouTube app content.

No.4

AppleHomePodMQHV2LL/A

HomePod 1
Source:walmart.com
HomePod 2
Source:walmart.com
Reference price
$299.00
High Mid
Reference price
$299.00
High Mid

An Apple Lover's Dream Smart Speaker

The Apple HomePod is the perfect addition to any Apple Homekit user's homeSet up is extremely easy, as the W1 Bluetooth chip allows the speaker to be paired with your iPhone by simply placing the two devices next to each other. 


It uses smart-sound analysis to scan the room and adjust the levels for the best audio quality. It can also hear your voice from any place around the room, except when music is playing at high volumes. 


One issue with the HomePod is that it can only play Apple Music via Siri voice commands. You can use other streaming services such as Spotify by using Airplay, but simple voice command functions like "Siri pause music" won't work. 


Another slight drawback is that this smart speaker isn't portable and can only be used with its mandatory power cord. The HomePod also doesn't allow device pairing with devices outside of the Apple ecosystem. Lastly, the Homepod can only be used as a speaker when paired with an iPhone rather than other Apple products like Macbooks.

No.5

SonosSonos One (Gen 2)ONEG2US1BLK

Sonos One (Gen 2) 1
Source:amazon.com
Sonos One (Gen 2) 2
Source:amazon.com
Sonos One (Gen 2) 3
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$198.99
Mid
Reference price
$198.99
Mid

A Must-have for Sound Quality Gourmets

The second generation Sonos One is the best smart speaker for anyone who prioritizes audio quality. Although Bluetooth pairing and an audio port aren't available, the high fidelity sound produced via WiFi network connection is unmatched. 


One benefit of this smart speaker is that it works with Apple Airplay, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. Through Apple Airplay, Siri can be used so long as the microphone on the paired device is within range of your voice. 


We recommend using this product with Amazon Alexa as the Google Assistant sometimes malfunctions. Google Assistant will acknowledge that a task has been requested but will not execute it.


Other smart speakers may get damaged over time if exposed to water, but there is no need to worry when it comes to the Sonos One. It's moisture resistant, making it usable even in the bathroom! And because the smart speaker is portable, you can even take with you to a pool.

No.6

LenovoSmart Display569748468

Smart Display 1
Source:walmart.com
Smart Display 2
Source:walmart.com
Smart Display 3
Source:walmart.com
Reference price
$99.50
Low Mid
Reference price
$99.50
Low Mid

A Smart Speaker with a Great Display

The Lenovo Smart Display is the perfect smart speaker for anyone who cooks. It can serve as a great kitchen assistant, showing you how to make your favorite pasta visual text and voice instructions. You can then pull up a YouTube video on how to make it and have Google Assistant pause the video.


It can also stream music or podcasts, and it can show you nearby restaurants and your personal photos! This smart speaker works as an entertainment control hub; it can control up to 5,000 available smart home devices from over 100 brands. 


Reviewers have mentioned that the Google Assistant cannot pick up your voice from far distances, so it would work better in smaller spaces. Another thing to note is that portrait mode only works when conducting video calls on Google Duo.

No.7

Ultimate Ears / LogitechMEGABLAST984-000913

MEGABLAST 1
Source:amazon.com
MEGABLAST 2
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$175.93
Mid
Reference price
$175.93
Mid

The Most Durable Smart Speaker

You can host backyard parties and lounge at the pool without a worry using the most durable smart speaker on the market. It's water resistant and has the ability to be fully submerged underwater for 30 minutes without any damage.


WiFi and Bluetooth streaming with Spotify and Pandora are both available on the MEGABLAST. It has a 12 to 16-hour battery life, and you can connect two MEGABLAST speakers for stereo sound as well!


Customers report that Alexa can be a little tricky to use because it doesn't have the Alexa ring to indicate when it listening to a command. Additionally, the MEGABLAST doesn't come with an auxiliary port for anyone that wants to connect it to an external speaker.

No.8

Harman KardonAllureB07BBGPBJZ

Allure 1
Source:amazon.com
Allure 2
Source:amazon.com
Allure 3
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$199.95
Mid
Reference price
$199.95
Mid

The Most Portable Smart Speaker

The Harman Kardon Allure is the most powerful portable smart speaker on the market. With built-in Alexa and one of the loudest bass speakers, this device will give you both a fantastic sound and everything you need from a voice assistant.


It provides 10 hours of battery life at just 3.35 pounds. WiFi music streaming isn't needed as it pairs with your other devices via Bluetooth. It also has a built-in 4-microphone array with amazing voice recognition at far distances.


Alexa does only work with a Wifi connection so, if you aren't indoors we recommend connecting your smart speaker to your mobile phone's hotspot. 


One major drawback of this speaker is that there are periods where new products aren’t available on Amazon and most products that are sold are used. In that case, we recommend that you use this link here to see when new products are available.

No.9

FacebookPortal899-00080-02

Portal 1
Source:amazon.com
Portal 2
Source:amazon.com
Reference price
$148.95
Mid
Reference price
$148.95
Mid

The Best Smart Speaker for Your Office

The Facebook Portal with built-in Amazon Alexa is the best smart speaker for any office space. It's fully integrated with Facebook's Workplace features and provides the best video calling and conference calls for teams.


During conference calls, users have the option to set live video captions for added accessibility. The Portal also can conduct group video calls with up to seven devices at a time


The main drawback of this product stems from Facebook's reputation on privacy protection. The device itself is amazing but, customers can be deterred from buying due to Facebook not having such a great rep. 

No.10

GoogleHome Mini

Home Mini 1
Source:walmart.com
Home Mini 2
Source:walmart.com
Home Mini 3
Source:walmart.com
Reference price
$25.00
Low
Reference price
$25.00
Low

The Most Affordable Smart Speaker

The Google Home Mini the most affordable smart speaker, especially for those that don't own any other smart home devices. As with other Google smart speakers, it can let you know what's in your calendar, make phone calls, and give news briefings.


Weighing less than a pound, the Google Home Mini can be taken anywhere and fit into any bag, and it boasts 8 to 12 hours of battery life. There are also third-party vendors that sell battery bases for the Home Mini to extend battery life even further.


You can stream audio directly from your phone or laptop via Bluetooth, but it doesn’t have an auxiliary port to connect to external speakers. Also, the Google Home Mini has weak audio performance, providing no perceivable bass when streaming music.

What to Think about When Designing Your Smart Home

What to Think about When Designing Your Smart Home

There are a ton of possibilities for the future of the smart home. According to Statista, there will be roughly 31 billion smart devices in people’s homes this year. You will have access to smart showers, smart health sensors, smart vacuums, and more. And as the list continues to grow, voice assistant software will also develop at scale.


Once you purchase your smart speaker, we also recommend considering the following questions so that you can maximize your purchase for the future:


  • What are the devices that you want your smart speaker to control? 
  • How do you want your smart speaker to assist you and your family? 
  • Where do you want your smart speaker to be housed and in how many rooms?

Maximize the Convenience of Your Home and Lifestyle with These Products

Top 5 Smart Speakers

No. 1: AmazonEcho Plus (2nd Gen)B0794W1SKP

No. 2: AmazonEcho Show 5B07HZLHPKP

No. 3: GoogleHome MaxGA00223-US

No. 4: AppleHomePodMQHV2LL/A

No. 5: SonosSonos One (Gen 2)ONEG2US1BLK

View Full Ranking
The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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