The best smart speakers can do more than just stream your favorite playlists — they can also help with all the little things that pop up throughout the day. Thanks to built-in voice assistants, you can get answers to all kinds of questions, set a timer when your hands are covered in flour, check the weather before you head out, or turn off your smart lights without leaving the couch.
I've spent more than 10 years reviewing audio gear, and I used that experience to test the best smart speakers available right now. For most people, the Sonos Era 100 is the one I recommend first. It delivers full, room-filling sound and works with both Alexa and Sonos' own voice assistant. For a more budget-friendly option, the fifth-gen Echo Dot is a good choice, especially for smaller rooms. It's not as powerful or rich-sounding as bigger speakers, but it costs less and supports Amazon's upgraded Alexa+ assistant for more natural, conversational control.
Your choice will also depend on which voice assistant you prefer. Most smart speakers work with Amazon Alexa/Alexa+, Google Assistant/Gemini, or Apple's Siri, and a few give you more than one assistant to choose from. That's great if you're building your smart home from scratch. But if you already use a lot of Amazon, Google, or Apple products, you'll usually have the smoothest experience by picking a speaker that fits the ecosystem you're already in. For more details on how these assistants and features compare, check out the FAQ section below.
Our top picks for the best smart speakers
Best overall: Sonos Era 100 - See at Amazon
Best on a budget: Amazon Echo Dot - See at Amazon
Best portable: Bose Portable Smart Speaker - See at Amazon
Best for bass: Brane X - See at Amazon
Best Echo: Amazon Echo Dot Max - See at Amazon
Best for home theaters: Bose Smart Soundbar - See at Amazon
Best overall
The Era 100 is one of the most versatile smart speakers. It features powerful sound combined with a wide range of connectivity options. The Era 100 can be used to add music to a bedroom or be combined with other Sonos speakers to build out a wireless home theater system.
What we like
What we don't like
The Sonos Era 100 is the quintessential smart speaker. It offers various ways to connect to a wide range of music services, fantastic sound quality for its compact size, and built-in support for multiple voice assistants.
The speaker is versatile enough to be used on its own, as part of a stereo pair, or as part of a larger home theater system. That means you can invest in one now and adapt how you use it later as your audio needs evolve and you add more Sonos speakers to your setup. I've used an Era 100 in nearly every room of my house at different times, and it's always been a great fit for every space.
In terms of the Era 100's smarts, you can use Amazon Alexa or Sonos' own voice assistant. When used with Alexa, you get support for Amazon's key digital assistant capabilities and skills. However, Sonos' assistant is much more limited, as it's currently only good for controlling the speaker's playback via voice. That said, the scope of Sonos' first-party voice assistant could be expanding, as Philips Hue has entered a partnership to enable the speaker to control Hue lights and devices.
Like all Sonos speakers, you can control the Era 100 via the Sonos mobile app and stream all of the most popular music services over WiFi for high-quality playback. The Era 100 also supports multi-room audio setups. Sonos' app experienced some issues after a botched update in 2024, but these quirks have been resolved.
Throughout all my testing, the Era 100 stands out as a compact powerhouse of sound that can handle nearly anything you throw at it. Whether that's as a stereo pair, playing your favorite music album, checking the weather outside, dimming your smart lights, or setting timers as you cook dinner.
For more Sonos recommendations, check out our guide to the best Sonos soundbars.
Best on a budget
Amazon’s fifth-generation Echo Dot offers improved sound quality over previous models, along with a temperature sensor and Eero WiFi extender capabilities.
What we like
What we don't like
The Amazon Echo Dot is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants a great smart speaker on a budget. The latest fifth-generation model retails for $50 and is often on sale for less. And despite being a few years old, this affordable speaker supports Amazon's new and improved Alexa+, in addition to standard Alexa.
Alexa+ is free for Prime subscribers or $20 a month for non-subscribers. This upgraded digital assistant leverages generative AI to provide more conversational control and handle more complex queries. In practice, this means you can hold more involved conversations and string together multiple tasks, without needing to keep saying the "Alexa" wake word.
On the hardware front, this is a budget smart speaker, so there are definite limitations in audio performance. The device features a single 1.73-inch front-firing driver, yet its sound quality remains adequate for listening to music in a bedroom. However, the Echo Dot isn't the best fit for listeners who want to fill a living room with deep, rich sound. This is more of a background-music kind of speaker to play tracks while working in the kitchen, winding down before bed, or multitasking.
But in exchange for some compromises in audio range and depth, you get a very compact speaker measuring just under 3.5 inches tall. This makes it perfect for tighter spaces and apartments. And despite its low price and tiny footprint, it's still a fully capable Alexa smart speaker. It can even connect to Amazon Fire TVs to play television audio, and it features built-in support for extending your home WiFi if you use an Eero router.
Best portable
Bose’s oil can-sized Portable Smart Speaker offers big sound, wireless charging capability, and compatibility with both Amazon’s and Google’s virtual assistants. It also boasts versatile connectivity options and strong functionality.
What we like
What we don't like
Considering its name, Bose's Portable Smart Speaker delivers exactly what you'd expect. This cylindrical wireless speaker supports WiFi, enabling Amazon Alexa, Alexa+, or Google Assistant, so you can choose the platform you prefer. It also boasts Bluetooth and an integrated battery with up to 12 hours of use per charge, so you can take it on the go and still listen to music.
Though not as compact as something like the Echo Dot, the Portable Smart Speaker is built to move around, so it's light and easy to take outside. It even features a handle, so it's a breeze to pick up at a moment's notice.
Sound quality is also impressive for its size and class, with a clean midrange and a clear high end. However, the bass is less pristine as the speaker veers toward a boomy quality in lower frequencies, which can overwhelm other elements in certain music.
Like most Bose devices, the Portable Smart Speaker can also be grouped with other Bose speakers and soundbars to enable a multi-room audio setup. The Bose app is also solid with handy features like Chromecast and access to services like Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and SiriusXM.
If you only need to keep your smart speaker in one location, you're probably better off with the less expensive Sonos Era 100. But for listeners who want an Alexa or Google Assistant speaker that can move from room to room or be taken outside, the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a versatile solution for your home and travel.
Check out our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.
Best for bass
The Brane X delivers the most impressive bass performance we've heard in a portable speaker this size. In addition to Bluetooth, it also supports WiFi with Alexa built in.
What we like
What we don't like
The Brane X stands out from other smart speakers on this list thanks to its powerful low-frequency performance. Like the Bose Portable Smart speaker, this model features a portable design with a built-in battery. But the Brane X offers a clear step up in bass. The brand claims this is the first portable speaker with a built-in subwoofer. After just a minute with the Brane X, it's clear that the claim isn't just marketing fluff.
The Brane X achieves deep bass with "Repel-Attract Driver (RAD) and custom magnets to cancel internal air pressure forces." I've spent several months listening to the Brane X, and there just isn't another smart speaker this size that can match the rumble and thump it delivers.
For handling smart home tasks, the Brane X includes standard Alexa support; however, it's unclear if it will receive an update to work with the more advanced Alexa+ system. As with all smart speakers, Alexa only works when the Brane X is connected to a WiFi network. So, if you take the speaker on the go without WiFi available, you do lose Alexa functionality.
The speaker can also be connected to audio sources via Bluetooth, making mobile playback simple, and it supports up to 12 hours of battery life. If you want to connect an external device, a 3.5mm jack is also available.
Using Alexa on the Brane X is a fine experience, as it is on other models that integrate Amazon's assistant. But it's clear that smart features are more of a bonus here. And though it can be taken on the go, the Brane X is a bit heavy for a portable device and isn't as easy to take around as the Bose Portable Speaker. At its core, this is really a speaker that wants to play big, booming music. And to that end, it has impressed me nearly every time I listen to it.
Best Echo
The Echo Dot Max is one of Amazon's latest smart speakers. It offers big, boastful sound in a compact size. It also supports Alexa+ for AI-powered smart home control.
What we like
What we don't like
There are several Echo speakers to choose from, but Amazon's latest Echo Dot Max strikes the perfect balance between smart features and audio quality. This larger take on the basic Echo Dot design features more robust drivers, with a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 2.5-inch woofer.
During my testing, I was impressed by the speaker's bass and audio range, especially for its size. It's larger than the Dot but still relatively compact, offering a deeper listening experience with plenty of volume to fill a living room. And as long as you don't push it too close to 100%, songs retain their clarity.
In terms of the speaker's smarts, it's one of the first Echo devices built with Alexa+ in mind, Amazon's new LLM (large language model) based voice assistant. With the improved Alexa, you can ask more complex questions or string multiple requests together in the same sentence. This type of digital assistant, which is much closer to ChatGPT, should open a world of new uses as people interact with it.
Additionally, the Echo Dot Max has a built-in smart home hub (Zigbee, Thread, Matter) to simplify pairing with other smart devices. This is something that the cheaper Echo Dot lacks. With the integrated hub, setting up control over your other devices requires fewer steps, and you get broader compatibility and more reliable connectivity. You also don't have to worry about getting a separate bridge for products that usually require one.
At the Echo Dot Max's $100 retail price, its size, audio quality, and advanced smart home assistance make it a great all-around smart speaker. Just be aware that Alexa+ either requires an Amazon Prime membership or a separate $20 a month fee. Otherwise, the Echo Dot Max will just use the standard version of Alexa, which, though still very useful, isn't as intelligent.
Best for home theaters
The new Bose Smart Soundbar is a refreshed version of the brand's Smart Soundbar 600. It carries over the same design and excellent Dolby Atmos audio performance while adding an AI enhanced dialogue mode and the ability to use Bose Ultra Open Earbuds as rear speakers.
What we like
What we don't like
If you want an excellent soundbar that can double as a fully capable smart speaker, I recommend the Bose Smart Soundbar. This powerful TV speaker offers a fully immersive home theater experience right out of the box, and it has Amazon Alexa for all your smart control needs.
Unlike my other picks, which are primarily geared toward music listening, the Bose Smart Soundbar is a powerhouse for movies and TV shows. It can even handle Dolby Atmos audio with its up-firing drivers, which help spread sound effects all around your room, including above your head. I also love the bar's AI Dialogue Mode, which utilizes real-time machine learning to enhance voice clarity.
Of course, the bar isn't just good as a TV speaker. It's also great for music. During my testing, I was impressed by how the speaker delivered rich audio with various genres, from rock to jazz.
The Bose Smart Soundbar integrates Amazon Alexa and Alexa+, allowing you to use the assistant for all the main smart home functions Alexa is known for. In addition to setting timers and various tasks, Alexa can raise the soundbar's volume, skip tracks, and even control multi-room audio if you have multiple Bose speakers.
Bose's mobile app allows you to configure the soundbar however you like, including changing the EQ or adding additional wireless speakers to the soundbar setup.
For more soundbar recommendations, visit our guides to the best soundbars, best Bose soundbars, and best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
The best smart speakers, compared
| Voice assistant | Best for | Skip if | |
| Sonos Era 100 | Alexa, Sonos Voice Control | People who want a versatile, great-sounding smart speaker that can work as part of a larger Sonos setup. | You want to spend less, and sound quality isn't a top priority |
| Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) | Alexa, Alexa+ | Alexa users who want an affordable, compact speaker for small rooms, background music, timers, weather, and smart-home basics. | You want rich, room-filling sound, wired audio, or a built-in Zigbee smart-home hub. |
| Bose Portable Smart Speaker | Alexa, Alexa+, Google Assistant | Listeners who want a smart speaker they can carry around the house or outside, with up to 12 hours of battery life. | You only need a stationary speaker. |
| Brane X Smart Speaker | Alexa | Bass lovers who want a powerful smart speaker with big low-end punch. | You don't care about bass, or you want a lightweight travel speaker. |
| Amazon Echo Dot Max | Alexa, Alexa+ | Alexa fans who want better sound than the standard Echo Dot, plus a built-in Zigbee, Thread, and Matter smart-home hub. | You don’t want to pay for Prime or Alexa+ to get the most advanced assistant features. |
| Bose Smart Soundbar | Alexa, Alexa+ | Anyone who wants a TV-first smart speaker with Dolby Atmos, clear dialogue, and strong music performance. | You need lots of inputs, DTS support, or deep bass from an included separate subwoofer. |
Other models to consider
Google Home Speaker - See at Walmart
Google's latest smart speaker is the first designed with its new Gemini AI digital assistant in mind. It delivered solid audio quality in our tests, though the similarly priced Echo Dot Max offered a bit more bass and depth. Gemini itself works well, offering smart control and conversational answers that are on par with Alexa+. However, you need a subscription to unlock all of its features. It's also important to note that several older Google speakers have been updated to support Gemini, including the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen), so the Home Speaker doesn't offer anything dramatically new. It's a solid entry into Google's smart home ecosystem, but if you're not already tied into Google, we give an edge to Amazon's Echo Dot Max in this tier.
Read our Google Home Speaker review.
Bose Lifestyle Ultra - See at Amazon
Bose's latest smart speaker is part of its new Lifestyle Audio collection, which also includes a Dolby Atmos soundbar and wireless subwoofer. We were impressed by the Ultra's audio quality, which delivered a wide soundstage, expansive bass, and a solid sense of height thanks to its upfiring driver. Bose is also the first third-party brand to support Alexa+, making the Ultra Speaker a solid, higher-end alternative to an Echo Dot Max. However, it's $299 price tag is high compared to the Echo Dot Max's $99. We also ran into some syncing issues during testing of the stereo pairing feature, but this may be due to pre-release software.
Read our Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker review.
Denon Home 200 - See at Amazon
Denon's new wireless multi-room speaker offers excellent audio quality, with a spacious, deep, and rich profile that delivers room-filling sound. This model doesn't have an upfiring speaker driver, so its sense of height is limited, but it does still support Dolby Atmos processing. As a wireless home speaker for music, this is a great option that competes favorably with the Sonos Era 100 and Bose Lifestyle Ultra. However, its smart capabilities are currently lacking. The Home 200 does have an integrated microphone that supports Siri, but it only works when paired with a separate HomePod device that's on the same WiFi network. Denon says it's considering adding other voice assistants, but for now, this isn't the best speaker if smart control is your priority.
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) - See at Walmart
The Nest Hub (2nd Gen) remains an excellent smart speaker and display. It's an especially great bedside companion, thanks to its solid Sleep Sensing feature. A recent update has even added Gemini AI support, and we found performance to be on par with Google's new Home Speaker. However, the Nest Hub is an aging device and is getting harder to find in stock. If you can find it at its suggested price of $99 or less, it's still a great smart display option for Google fans, but availability is limited.
Apple HomePod Mini - See at Apple
Apple's HomePod mini is still a solid, compact smart speaker, and it's one of the few options with built-in Siri support. However, much like the Nest Hub, the HomePod mini is an aging device, and industry rumors suggest a new model could be on the horizon in 2026. The iteration of Siri that the HomePod Mini supports is also a lot less capable than Amazon's new Alexa+ and Google's new Gemini assistants. Shoppers who want the latest Apple technology are likely better off waiting a few months to see if a second-generation model with the new, more advanced Siri AI is announced.
How we test smart speakers
To find the best smart speakers, I didn't just unbox them and run a few quick tests — I've actually lived with many of these picks for years. They've been part of my daily routine, whether that's streaming music throughout the house, setting kitchen timers, or casually asking about the weather. That long-term use has given me a solid sense of how they perform beyond the honeymoon phase.
Along with using each speaker the way I would in my own home, I also put them through more structured testing. I compared how quickly and accurately they respond to voice commands, how loud they get, and how they handle audio quality across different music and podcast genres. I also evaluated connectivity, reliability, and how smoothly they integrate with other smart home devices.
I've also been testing Alexa+ on newer Echo devices, which is one of the first large language model (LLM)-powered voice assistants to roll out to a wide audience. I've tried features like combining multiple commands into a single request to see how well it handles more natural, conversational prompts. So far, it's largely been a step forward, though it still has a few quirks to iron out. I've also started testing Gemini AI on the Google Home Speaker and compatible Nest devices, and have found similar results.
You can learn more about our review process in our breakdown of how we test tech products.
Meet the expert behind this guide:
Tyler Hayes, contributing reporter: I've been covering consumer tech since 2013, with a focus on service journalism that helps you figure out what's actually worth buying — and what's not. Over the years, I've spent a lot of hands-on time testing everything from budget gadgets to high-end gear, including smart speakers from every major brand. I've lived with models that support Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, putting them through real-world use to see how they sound, how smart they really are, and which ones are worth your money.
Learn more about the Reviews team at Business Insider.
Smart speaker FAQs
What is a smart speaker?
Generally speaking, the key component that makes a smart speaker smart is support for at least one digital voice assistant. These digital assistants let you ask questions, handle various tasks, and issue voice commands to control playback and other compatible smart home devices.
Can I turn the microphone off on a smart speaker?
The best smart speakers have a physical microphone mute button or switch. When it's on, the speaker won't listen for the wake word. Many models also feature a clear indicator, such as a red light, allowing you to see when the mic is off.
All of our picks in this guide have a physical mute button or switch.
Do all smart speakers support Bluetooth?
Though many of the best smart speakers support Bluetooth, it is not required. Smart speakers rely on WiFi to enable their digital assistants, and WiFi can also be used to stream music throughout your home. That said, many brands include Bluetooth as an additional music streaming option. This is particularly helpful if your WiFi is unreliable or the speaker is portable, as Bluetooth lets you stream music on the go from a mobile device.
Which digital assistant is best?
There's no one "best" digital assistant for every person. Instead, it really comes down to which ecosystem you're using and what you care about most. On that note, it's best to select a single assistant and stick with it for all your smart speakers and smart home devices. This enables the most seamless communication between products and prevents confusion.
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri all offer similar capabilities, but they work best when integrated into each brand's broader product and service lineup. Through my testing over the years, I've found that each assistant handles the basics adequately. So for most people, the best smart speaker assistant is simply the one that matches the ecosystem they're already invested in.
Each brand has also developed a new, enhanced LLM-powered version of its digital assistant. Amazon has Alexa+, Google has Gemini, and Apple has Siri AI. These AI-enhanced assistants offer more natural conversations and provide more differentiated responses than each company's standard assistant.
Alexa+ is now available on Amazon's latest Echo devices and several Bose speakers, while Gemini is available on the new Google Home Speaker and several older Nest speakers. Both require paid memberships in order to unlock all their features. Meanwhile, Siri AI is not yet available on any smart speakers.
Do smart speakers sound good enough for music?
Short answer: Some do, some don't. Smaller, budget-friendly models like the Echo Dot are fine for background listening (think podcasts, casual playlists, or a kitchen speaker). But if you actually care about sound quality, larger options like the Sonos Era 100 or Brane X make a noticeable difference with fuller bass, clearer vocals, and better room-filling audio. If music is a priority, it's worth stepping up to a midrange or premium model.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@bjinnox.com.
