Smart speakers, or intelligent loudspeakers, are now part of the furnishings of millions of homes in Italy too. Initially used as digital assistants to ask for the time or the weather forecast, they have now become the access point to home automation systems that control different aspects of daily life, depending on the home technology equipment of each person.
It is not surprising that dozens of models and types have spread on the market, coming from a number of manufacturers that have grown exponentially for years to then reach a phase of consolidation. After all, with these gadgets it is now possible to program the cleaning of the robot vacuum cleaner, start the timer of the smart oven, adjust the home lighting for a gradual alarm clock and – last but not least – even listen to music.
How smart speakers have changed over time
Since 2018 — the year in which the first gadgets arrived in Italy — smart speakers have evolved in many ways. They are equipped with more sophisticated and numerous microphones, to perceive commands in the most difficult situations; they boast acoustic speakers specially designed to distribute audio and music optimally in the room; they have more modern designs that match most environments and in some cases they have hybridized with other electronic devices such as televisions, displays and sound bars, to give life to more recent and potentially equally interesting product categories.
The best smart speakers of 2022
A lot has changed since a handful of models were on the market, and navigating through the offerings today can be complex. Here then is a rundown of all the most popular products among which it is worth aiming for in 2022, depending on needs and budgets.
There is only one caveat: check that the smart ecosystem on which the products are based is the same one you refer to on a daily basis with your smartphone or home automation gadgets. To tell the truth, nowadays almost all smart products are compatible with at least two or even three of the most popular systems, namely:
- Google Assistant , the artificial intelligence of the Mountain View house present on products from the Nest range and on gadgets from third-party manufacturers.
- Alexa , Amazon’s digital assistant born on the smart speakers of the Amazon Echo range but now present on hundreds of products, including third-party speakers.
- Homekit , the ecosystem managed by Apple that allows you to control home automation exclusively from products made in-house in the Cupertino house.
For daily needs, however, there are those who are already more familiar with one of these three ecosystems: for these people, the choice of the smart speaker cannot ignore this element, or the risk is to end up with a product that will end up with the rarely use.
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01
Amazon Echo (4th generation)
In their latest iteration, the smart speakers of the Echo range have changed shape until they become spherical . Both the acoustic diffusion and the ability to perceive the users’ speech benefit from this, while the look is decidedly unmistakable. At the moment it is the most reliable product for those who decide to focus on Alexa’s skills for home automation, but for those who want to spend less, the practical and compact Echo Dot are also available .
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02
Google Nest Audio
It works with the Google Assistant and thanks to the symmetrical profile it makes it possible to hear music and responses to commands anywhere in the room, even if it loses a bit in practicality compared to a 360-degree speaker. Not bad: for daily chores and for comfortable listening it is more than adequate, plus in electronic chains it is discounted by several tens of euros . The Nest Mini variant, dedicated to smaller rooms, is the cheapest and at the same time reliable smart speaker around.
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03
Apple Homepod Mini
Unfortunately, for those who want to base their home automation ecosystem on Siri commands and Apple’s Homekit system, the choice available in terms of smart speakers is not much. The Cupertino house has brought to Italy only the Mini variant of its valid Homepod speaker, which however can sound great and can be positioned in any room and distributes an adequate sound even if not exactly enveloping. Dedicated to Apple users, it costs slightly more than competing products.
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04
Amazon Echo Show 10
For those who want a screen combined with the smart speaker, this smart display is the ideal solution. It works exclusively with Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant and through the 10-inch screen it can show recipes, videos, weather, song lyrics and other information pertinent to searches and set voice commands. Thanks to a motor positioned on top of the speaker, the display rotates to follow the user during video calls (Skype or Zoom) and daily use. On sale there is also a more compact and much cheaper variant with a 5-inch screen.
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05
Google Nest Hub (2nd generation)
The smart display linked to the Google Assistant is present in Italy only in this version dedicated to home automation, but not to video calls. On the frame of the 7-inch display the camera is absent but gives way to a motion sensor that allows you to control playback and navigation with gestures, and to control the quality of sleep when the gadget is placed on the nightstand next to the bed.
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06
Sonos One
The choice dedicated to those who have not yet decided which home automation ecosystem to choose. The gadget is in fact compatible with both the commands given to Alexa and those dedicated to the Google Assistant , and integrates perfectly with both systems. Also from the point of view of the quality of the audio and the sensitivity of the microphones it does not disappoint; in addition, like the proprietary speakers of Google, Amazon and Apple, it can be connected to other Sonos Ones present in different rooms of the house.
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07
SonosRoam
For those who want a smart speaker to carry around, this is the most practical model out there. At home it connects to wi-fi and the electricity grid and can be controlled via Alexa and Google Assistant , while on the road or temporarily transported to a secondary room it uses bluetooth and an integrated battery that gives it 10 hours of autonomy . Waterproof, it can be paired with twin devices for more immersive audio.
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08
Bose 300 soundbar
The entry point into the world of smart soundbars from Bose sounds great and doesn’t cost a fortune (at least not compared to the more refined models of the bunch). In addition to five full-range drivers that make the audio coming from the TV full-bodied, inside the soundbar there is support for both the Alexa and Google voice assistants ; voice commands also allow you to control the TV by changing channels or inputs. In association with your smartphone or computer, it also allows you to play audio content from your phone via bluetooth, wi-fi and Spotify Connect.
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09
Sonos Beam sound bars
Another equally complete model is the one produced by Sonos. The audio is less full-bodied than that offered by rival Bose, but the footprint is smaller and above all the price is lower. Instead, the compatibility with digital assistants is identical, which includes both the Google and Amazon solutions .
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