ARTICLE
February 11, 2025 – 5 min read
There used to be a time when people would talk about ‘the future’ as a place with flying cars and robot assistants. While we haven’t quite worked out the flying cars, voice assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant are becoming more and more popular. So if you’re setting up a smart home with all the latest tech, it might be time to explore adding a smart speaker into the mix.
To help you find the right smart home speaker system for your lifestyle, let’s take a look at some of the best options out there (and some of the benefits of these new gadgets).
Similar to portable Bluetooth speakers, smart home speakers can play music, but they also connect to the internet so you can access a built-in voice assistant. Once set up, you can use voice commands to perform tasks such as:
To brush up on smart speakers and get tips on how to best use them, check out our smart speakers buying guide. You’ll get a detailed overview of this new technology including information on how to smarten your home if you’re just getting started.
There are a few different types of home smart speakers designed to help you get tasks done and integrate with your other technology around the home. While most have voice assistants, they all have a range of unique features, so the first thing you’ll need to do is decide what you need. You might like to ask yourself the following questions:
Once you have your wish list, it’s also important to factor in what operating platform you use. Amazon, Google and Apple all offer their own smart home speakers, so let’s take a look at a few great options.
Amazon has one of the best voice controlled speakers and they were instrumental in paving the way for other brands, especially in terms of technology. The Amazon Echo Dot Smart Speaker with Alexa (Gen 5) - Charcoal is sleek, compact and easy to fit into small spaces. It integrates with other Amazon devices, like the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen) with Alexa (Deep Sea Blue), so you can fill your whole home with music (and access Alexa at the same time). The Echo Show 5 also has a touchscreen so you can catch up on the news or watch movie trailers, too.
Alternatively, Google has developed one of the best smart home speaker systems for epic integration across the entire Google suite of software and devices. You can access your favourite Google applications via the Google Nest Mini (Chalk), which can distinguish between six different voices at home, so it’s a great option for families.
Apple’s smart speaker, the Apple HomePod mini - Midnight, high-fidelity audio that has the capacity to adapt to its location. You can ask Siri to help you make calls, add events to your calendar and create your smart home setup using apps on your Apple iPhone. Discrete yet powerful, the Apple HomePod packs great sound and gives you access to all the Apple apps you already know and love.
When you’re looking for a smart home speaker system, there are a few features to look out for. These features will help with connectivity, support and just generally make your user experience more enjoyable:
Once you have your wish list, it’s also important to factor in what operating platform you use. Amazon, Google and Apple all offer their own smart home speakers, so let’s take a look at a few great options.
Smart speakers, like many other smart home devices, are designed to make your home more enjoyable, connected and convenient. With a smart speaker at home, you get:
Smart speakers are a wonderful addition to any smart home setup. We’ve got all the leading brands and smart speaker options for you to explore as well as other smart home technology. You can shop online, or chat to one of our smart speaker experts in-store.