The 5 Best Smart Speakers - Summer 2022 Reviews

The best smart speaker we've tested is the Sonos Move. This versatile and well-built portable smart speaker comes with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, and has little trouble understanding your commands when you're far from the speaker or in noisier rooms. You can activate your assistant using your voice and can mute the speaker's mic when you no longer want it listening to you. With its room correction feature enabled, it has a well-balanced sound profile, with a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments sound clear and present in the mix. Unfortunately, this room correction feature is currently only available with iOS devices.

Its Sonos S2 companion app is also fantastic and comes with bass and treble adjustments to customize the speaker's sound profile to your liking. That said, while you can use the app to connect the speaker to another compatible speaker to create a stereo pair, the speaker downmixes stereo content to mono when using it on its own, resulting in a less immersive soundstage. If having a speaker that can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono is more important to you, consider the Bose Home Speaker 500. However, it isn't as portable or well-built as the Sonos since it needs to remain wired to an outlet to work. If you're looking for the best-sounding smart speaker to add to your home, the Move is still a solid choice.

Best smart speakers 2022: the best voice assistant speakers

Best Smart Speaker Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi?'s round-up of the best smart speakers you can buy in 2022.

Virtual voice assistants from big-hitters Amazon, Apple and Google have never been so full of smarts. Whether you want to know the news headlines, how many calories you'll have to deduct from your recommended daily intake if you want a Mars bar (228), failsafe scone recipes or whether the cat misses you while you're at work, Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant can be found baked into certain speakers, waiting patiently for your next query.

Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant products aren't just humble fonts of knowledge, either. These speakers can play your chosen music over Bluetooth or wi-fi and, depending on the brand, also offer access to a number of different music streaming services, including Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer and Spotify.

How to choose the best smart speaker for you

The first thing to consider is compatibility. Most smart speakers are platform agnostic, so they'll work with both Android and iOS devices, but the Apple HomePod Mini isn't much use without an Apple mobile device to set it up.

It's also worth thinking about which ecosystem you use most. If you frequently use Google's services – Calendar, Maps, Gmail – maybe a product with Google Home baked in would be best for you. Love shopping at Amazon and have a Prime account? An Amazon Echo might be right up your alley. (While these do both work with other services, they're tightly integrated with those made by their creators, making them much slicker to use.)

Finally: sound quality. This can vary quite a lot between models and manufacturers and spending more doesn't always guarantee a better listening experience. Some of the smaller smart speakers are limited purely because of their dimensions. Be realistic about your budget and what to expect. Luckily, every product here comes with our unabridged, comprehensively star-rated review attached – and if it didn't get at least a highly-commended four-star review under test conditions, you won't find it on this list.

From cheap budget options to premium sonic experiences, read on for our pick of the best smart speakers.

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The HomePod Mini really is bijou. At just 8.4cm tall and 9.8cm wide, it’s quite a bit smaller than the similarly spherical Amazon Echo. In fact, it’s even dwarfed by the new Echo Dot. Get its swirling orb of coloured light up and running (when Siri is listening or processing) though, and you realise you've got a classy performer on your hands.

After a short period of learning, Siri will respond to the phrase “Hey Siri, play something I'll like” not by streaming your most played track of the last few weeks, but by playing something that you may have never listened to before but is a good fit for what you often do listen to. It’s a really powerful way to discover new music, and Alexa is nowhere near as good at it.

It goes loud, too. From the moment we start playing music, it’s clear that the HomePod Mini comfortably outperforms its size and price, quite frankly embarrassing its direct competition with the sophistication and maturity of its sound.

Read the full review: Apple HomePod Mini

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The question of which voice assistant to introduce to your home is largely a personal one. But by updating its most popular and affordable Echo device with this degree of skill, Amazon has laid down the most compelling case yet for choosing Alexa. Regardless of the Marmite aesthetic (yes, it looks like a little Magic 8-Ball) Alexa's responses are slightly quicker, the answers are much (much) clearer, and the sonic performance is better than ever.

Amazon’s entry-level smart device has come a long way in terms of sound quality since the arrival of the first and second Dots – so much so, you could say Amazon has come a 'full circle’ in the smart speaker arena.

Read the full review: Amazon Echo Dot (4th Generation)

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Amazon's inaugural smart speaker is back with a whole new look, a built-in Zigbee smart hub, and more potential under its new 100 per cent recycled hood. You don’t need an especially keen eye to realise that Amazon has started from scratch for this fourth-generation Echo.

The cylinder design has gone, in favour of a Magic 8-Ball-esque sphere, and perhaps fittingly you can ask it any question you want – as long as it’s plugged in to power and linked to your wi-fi. There's an impressive selection of third-party support, (once you’ve linked your streaming service accounts, it'll play music from Apple Music, Spotify or Deezer over wi-fi, and even if you don’t link any music-provider subscriptions, the Echo will play from Amazon Music by default – and you’ve always got TuneIn radio) and the pulsating ring of light is relocated to the lopped-off base.

Alexa feels present and useful but not imposing, the Alexa app support makes placement and multi-room configurations a breeze, and the sound quality, while a step down from superb, easily passes the sound-per-pound value test for a smart home hub of this modest price.

Read the full review: Amazon Echo (4th generation)

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Bang & Olufsen isn’t noted for following the herd. In the Danish tech specialist’s catalogue you'll find a wheel-shaped wireless speaker, a TV that opens up like a butterfly, and an 8200-watt monolithic speaker comprising 18 drivers. B&O's output could reasonably be described as "premium" and "innovative" – and the Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) wireless speaker is no exception.

It boasts similar dimensions to a large floury bap, but that's where any comparisons with baked goods end. The new A1 supports Qualcomm’s latest aptX Adaptive Bluetooth 5.1 codec, and of course, Alexa is built-in (in a manner of speaking – it's a Bluetooth-only speaker).

It works a treat, too, delivering a pleasingly comfortable yet authoritative performance that you'd be happy listening to all day. Throw in its classy, well made design, easy to use operation and the bonus of Alexa (as long as your smartphone is nearby and connected to wi-fi), and you're looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait.

Read the full review: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)

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It's the most expensive smart device Amazon has produced by a whole £20 ($20, AU$50) but when you consider that its 10.1in Full HD screen can now tilt and twist to follow you around the room, and that both the speaker and camera performance have been significantly improved from the previous-generation model, that price hike begins to look entirely reasonable.

Physically, it's imposing. It will require a space the size of a large pizza to operate fully (it comes with a footprint so you can check). The camera has been boosted from 5MP to 13MP and it’s here one of the biggest gains is to be had, because you can now ‘drop in’ visually on the Show 10 by selecting ‘communicate’ and tapping on the Show 10 icon – and nobody need answer at the other end. But you can go even further. Tap ‘All devices’ on the Alexa app and the Show 10, then ‘camera’ and you’ll get a live feed of your home. Swipe left or right on your smartphone and it manually moves the Show 10 to pan around your room in real-time.

If you want to make sure the family silver hasn’t been pinched, see if a parcel has arrived or just spy on the cat, you now have a security camera that zooms in and out, depending on how close a moving object is to the screen. It’s a neat feature and the Show 10 is likable and helpful overall. It won’t be your new sound system – for this money, we would expect a little more from it sonically – but it is a very good smart device indeed.

Read the full review: Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Generation)

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To put the Google Nest Hub’s 7in (1024 x 600) touchscreen into context, the display real estate is only marginally bigger than the 6.7in one sported by the largest iPhone 12 Pro Max when measured on the diagonal – and here, there's no camera for selfies, video calls or security duties.

But there are plenty of music streaming and TV services available, including All 4, Deezer, Netflix and Disney Plus – and remember, Amazon's smart products don't currently have 'skill' support for Disney Plus. The headline-grabber, however, is Sleep Sensing, which is free to trial on the Hub this year but will come at a cost from 2022. As the Nest Hub includes Google’s Soli sensor for motion detection, plus light and temperature sensors, not only can you stop and resume tracks by simply showing your Hub the palm of your hand, the chip housed within the speaker can tell you how long you slept for and how restful your sleep was. It's something different and trying to align your 'sleep circles' with a good eight hours is quite addictive.

Amazon's Echo Show 10 (above) – a similar smart-speaker-with-screen concept – is almost three times the price and is bigger, beefier, and comes with a snapper. But thanks to Disney Plus, Sleep Sensing tech and a good (if not great) sound, the Google Nest Hub is a worthy proposition depending on your priorities.

Read the full review: Google Nest Hub (2nd Generation)

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Considerably larger than any previous Echo, the Studio manages to dwarf both the Sonos One and Apple HomePod. As well as boasting 330W of power and upgraded internals fit for CD-quality and hi-res audio (which are both now available from Amazon's latest incarnation of its streaming service, Amazon Music HD) the Echo Studio also promises to deliver 3D audio via tracks encoded in Sony's 360 Reality Audio and Dolby Atmos.

Producing immersive, directional audio is always going to be difficult, but doing it from a single speaker source is even more challenging. Nevertheless, it’s an open, airy presentation that suits the 3D environment well. The speaker sits you in the jaws of a tall soundstage, where there's a good amount of detail to percussion and high frequencies. While we're not entirely convinced by the way it handles bass – and we wouldn't exactly call it audiophile quality – for the money, the Echo Studio has a lot going for it.

Read the full review: Amazon Echo Studio

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If you want to get fully ensconced with the world of the digital assistant – and by that we mean with both audio and video – this is as a good a starting point as we’ve come across.

You see, where most Alexa-enabled kit on the market is audio based, concentrated on the Bluetooth speaker market in particular, the Echo Show 5 embraces both sound and video in its abilities to communicate. So, as well as playing music or reading out information, you can access video content on the Echo Show 5's 5.5in LCD touchscreen.

There’s also an HD camera, allowing the user to make Skype calls (for example), or view images from cameras in other rooms of the house – and elsewhere.

Although it can be beaten for sound quality, this is an £80 box of tricks that opens up the world of the digital assistant to a whole new audience for both audio and video; and if that’s what you’re after, this is about as good as you’ll get – especially for this kind of money.

Read the full review: Amazon Echo Show 5

Arguably the best all-round smart speaker you can currently buy, the Sonos One sounds superb for the money and has all the functionality you're likely to need. There's Spotify and Tidal integration, the ability to chat with Alexa and Google Assistant, and the option to build a multi-room system around it using other Sonos speakers or AirPlay 2. This is now the best Google speaker on the market.

Read the full review: Sonos One

The Audio Pro Addon C5A is almost identical to the Addon C5, which was our wireless speaker Product of the Year in 2017. So adding Alexa voice control to an Award-winning speaker is, frankly, the icing on the cake.

Available for the price of an Addon C5 plus the cost of an Amazon Echo product bolt-on, it brings the whole package into one tidy, easy-to-set-up box. And with that same Award-winning sound, this is the ideal combination for those who want an excellent Alexa wireless speaker that can be expanded into a full-blown multiroom system.

Read the full review: Audio Pro Addon C5A

It looks like your average smart speaker, but the Citation 100 produces bass by the bucket-load and can play extremely loud without strain. It is great for parties, though perhaps not so much for purists.

This Harman Kardon speaker has a pretty standard, minimalist design, and it keeps connections to a minimum, too, with no aux input. Control comes via the Google Home app and Google Assistant, and commands work well enough, though it seems slightly more prone to wi-fi drop-outs than rivals.

Sonically, while the Harman Kardon Citation 100 isn't exactly balanced, it is otherwise a tasteful-sounding smart speaker with enough scale to fill most rooms. If you don't mind that bassy over-exuberance, there's a lot to like.

Read the full review: Harman Kardon Citation 100

How we test smart speakers

We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door.

What is important in our reviewing process is that each product is compared to the best in its price and class – whether that's one standout smart speaker or a few we favour the highest among the scores we listen to each year for reviews and What Hi-Fi? Awards judging. What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we keep our Award-winners nearby to enable unbiased comparisons between new products and ones we know to have performed highly in the category.

We are always impartial and do our utmost to make sure we're hearing every product at its very best, so we'll try plenty of different types of music and give each one extensive listening time – including time to run in. It's not just about sound quality, of course. If a product has noteworthy features (including specific smart skills) we'll ensure part of our testing involves trialling the claims made by its makers.

All review verdicts are agreed upon by the entire team, rather than an individual reviewer, to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdicts or star ratings in our reviews.

MORE:

See our pick of the Best wireless speakers 2022

Check out the Best portable speakers: Brilliant budget Bluetooth speakers

Best smart speakers in 2022

The best smart speakers don't just play music — these smart home devices have a voice assistant built in, which lets you use the speaker for all sorts of tasks, such as looking up the news and weather, recipes, and controlling smart home devices, such as lights and locks. They can even change the channel on your TV.

Of all the best smart home devices, the first you'll probably get is a smart speaker. Most smart speakers come with either Alexa or Google Assistant. A few let you switch between Alexa and Google, but for the most part, you're stuck with one. Before you buy, decide on the assistant you want to use. Amazon's assistant came out on top in our Alexa vs. Google Assistant face off, but both have positive attributes that the other lacks.

Of course, there's the Siri-enabled Apple HomePod mini, which at $99 is a much more affordable alternative to the standard $299 HomePod. Not to mention the Google Nest Hub (Gen 2), one of the top recommendations in our ultimate smart home guide.

If you're already invested in a specific assistant that's not Siri, check out our guides to the best Alexa speakers and best Google Assistant speakers. But if you're undecided see all of the best smart speakers below.

What are the best smart speakers?

The Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is the best smart speaker you can buy right now. Not only does it offer practically every Alexa skill you could need, but this clever device doubles as a bedside alarm clock, too. Compared to the previous, puck-shaped Echo Dot with Clock, the LED display on the new spherical one is raised, and therefore easier to read.

If you value audio quality above all else, the best-sounding smart speaker is the Sonos One. The Sonos One can be used with either Alexa or Google Assistant, and works with hundreds of streaming sources. The one caveat is that the Sonos One doesn't get all of Alexa's or Google Assistant's capabilities, such as the ability to call other smart speakers.

The $99 Google Nest Audio and $49 Google Nest Mini both come fabric-swathed and packing a punch. They're the best smart speaker for people looking to replace their bygone Google Home. Alexa users interested in devices at these price points should consider the Amazon Echo (4th gen) or Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen).

As for Siri smart speakers, the $99 HomePod mini makes Siri a more accessible smart home assistant. It's more affordable than the original HomePod, plus it sounds great for it's size.

The best smart speakers you can buy today

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1. Amazon Echo Dot with Clock The best smart speaker overall Specifications Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches Speakers: 1.6 inch speaker Ports: 3.5mm line in/out Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth Smart assistants: Alexa Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Affordable + Useful LED display + Sounds good for the price + Seamless Alexa integration Reasons to avoid - Sound not as full as larger smart speakers

The second Amazon Echo Dot with Clock is as good at the first. Not only does the spherical shape of the device improve the fullness of the Echo Dot's sound, but it makes the display a bit easier to read, too. More than just the time, though, the Echo Dot with Clock's display can also show you the current temperature, and also functions as a timer.

An added LED display brings more functionality to the Echo Dot, aside from just the best Alexa skills. In fact, we wish more smart home companies took Amazon's cue and make minor —yet effective — enhancements to already excellent devices. That's why the Echo Dot with Clock is also one of the best smart home devices overall.

Read our full Amazon Echo Dot with Clock review.

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If you're looking for the best in sound quality from a smart speaker, look no further than the Sonos One. While not much larger than the Amazon Echo, the Sonos One churns out tunes that you would swear were coming from a much larger device. Like other Sonos devices, you can pair two of the Ones for true stereo sound, or link them with other Sonos speakers for whole-home audio.

Aside from audio quality, another advantage of the Sonos One is that you can stream audio from hundreds of streaming services, from well-known sources like Spotify to more obscure channels. And, the Sonos One can be set up to use either Alexa or Google Assistant. While you don't get all of the abilities of either voice assistant, there's enough there for most. Yes, you'll pay more, but out of all the best smart speakers, this is the one to get for audiophiles. It also offers Sonos Voice Assistant.

Read our full Sonos One review.

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At $99, the Google Nest Audio is $30 less than the original Google Home, yet an improvement over its predecessor in every way. It sports a clean-looking, cloth-covered exterior, so the Nest Audio can be disguised as home decor unlike the tear drop-shaped Google Home. You'll also get louder sound and stronger bass from the Nest Audio. In our testing, this towering smart speaker packed a punch.

Not only is it one of the best smart speakers in terms of sound — thanks to on-device processing, Google Assistant gives speedy responses, which comes in handy when searching for music or getting a morning rundown while you're in a rush.

Read our full Google Nest Audio review.

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Apple fans who have been looking longingly at Amazon and Google’s budget smart speakers finally have a device to call their own. The Apple HomePod mini sounds great for its size, and will certainly attract many more buyers than the $249 HomePod did. Plus it looks great, complete with a colorful glowing panel and a base that won't stain your furniture.

The HomePod mini also integrates well with your iPhone and other products in the Apple ecosystem. If you're a fan of the Siri assistant, you'll appreciate having it within voice's reach around your home. You'll be able to use it to control the best HomeKit devices at any time.

Read our full Apple HomePod mini review (opens in new tab).

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The 4th-generation Amazon Echo makes a big visual statement with its new sphere-shaped design, but it’s what’s on the inside of the Echo that makes it one of the best smart speakers, and the overall best smart speaker under $100.

Compared to the 3rd-generation Amazon Echo, this one not only has improved audio, but a host of other features that make it one of the most convincing smart home devices around. The inclusion of a Zigbee hub lets this Echo lay a foundation for the rest of your connected products. So if you’re looking for a smart speaker that will not just play tunes, but act as a central smart home hub, the 4th-generation Echo is the best choice.

Read our full Amazon Echo (4th gen) review.

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With the 4th generation Echo Dot, Amazon has once again delivered an inexpensive smart speaker that doesn’t skimp on features or quality. The new spherical shape is an interesting deviation from the hockey puck, plus it lets audio sound fuller despite this Echo Dot having the same speaker hardware as the previous one.

The Echo Dot’s purpose is to be more of a personal smart speaker. For $50, this isn't the solution for controlling all your connected home devices or filling your space with sound. But if you have a couple of smart lights, or want a soundtrack in your bedroom, it's the best smart speaker you can get. It makes a great gift, too.

Read our full Amazon Echo Dot (4th gen) review.

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Like the Echo Dot, the Google Nest Mini is one of the best smart speakers you can get for less than $50. Without changing the price or general appearance of the original Google Home Mini, Google made significant interior upgrades that make the Nest Mini better than its predecessor. The added microphone, twice as strong bass and in-house learning chip give it spectacular value for the price.

Touch-sensitive controls on the top of the Mini let you adjust volume, and are otherwise hidden, which gives its cloth-covered exterior a non-techy look. We also liked the fact that there's a physical switch to deactivate its microphone, for those times you don't want Google listening in. Plus, the hook on the back lets you hang it on the wall to save counter space. The Nest Mini also comes in a variety of colors: a modern-looking light-grey, Chalk, Charcoal gray, Coral orange and Sky blue.

Read our full Google Nest Mini review.

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The third-generation Echo Dot has vastly improved sound over the previous generation and, with a fresh, cloth-covered design, looks better too. Although it was once higher on this list of the best smart speakers, it's been replaced by the spherical Echo Dot. You can still get this puck-shaped model for the great price of $30 (and often less,) which is why we think it's still worth recommending.

Amazon is continuing to sell this Echo Dot until it runs out of stock, which will likely happen during the holiday season. If you're looking for an even cheaper smart speaker, the $25 Echo Flex is an excellent variant. The plug-in Alexa device doesn't sound the best, but its useful nonetheless.

Read our full Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen) review.

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Why settle for a mere speaker when you can get one with a massive touchscreen, too? Yes, the Google Nest Hub Max is a great smart speaker — it has two 18mm, 10W tweeters and one 75mm, 30W woofer, which pump out great audio — but the star of the show its its large 10-inch display, which lets you do everything from watch videos to look up step-by-step recipes, control your smart home devices, and even get a glimpse at how long your commute will be. It's the ultimate vehicle for the best Google Home commands.

Atop the Nest Hub Max is a camera which you can use to make video calls (sadly, via Google Duo only), but it has a clever motion-tracking feature that will keep you in the center of the frame as you move about a room. It's great if you're in the kitchen making dinner, and can't remain planted in front of the display. We also appreciate the camera privacy switch, and imagine others will, too. It’s taken Google longer than Amazon to come out with a 10-inch smart display, but the Echo Show now has a more than worthy competitor in the Nest Hub Max.

Read our full Nest Hub Max review.

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We're as surprised as you, but we think the Amazon Echo Show 8 is by far the best Alexa speaker with a display. That's right: We like it better than its larger sibling, the 10-inch Amazon Echo Show, and miles more than the adorably compact Echo Show 5.

For starters, the Echo Show 8 is much less expensive, yet delivers visuals and audio far better than its price would suggest. The main difference is that the Echo Show 8 has a smaller 1-megapixel camera, but we didn't find that impacting the overall quality of our video chats. It also lacks the Zigbee smart home hub found in the 10-inch Echo Show, but that shouldn't be much of a deterrent for those who want a quality smart display for around $130.

Read our full Amazon Echo Show 8 review.

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11. Apple HomePod The best smart speaker for HomeKit users Specifications Size: 6.8 x 5.6 inches Speakers: 7 tweeters, 1 woofer Microphones: 6 Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Excellent audio quality + Attractive design + Easy setup Reasons to avoid - Pricey

The Apple HomePod smart speaker puts Siri in your living room, kitchen or other interior space without needing your iPhone or iPad nearby. Just shout for Apple’s voice assistant to shuffle your Apple Music playlist, give you traffic information, place a pizza delivery order or control any of the best HomeKit devices.

HomeKit has consistently lagged behind Amazon and Google in integrating with other smart home devices because of Apple’s more stringent security rules. However, Apple has changed its policies so that you now only need software certification. As a result we have seen HomeKit support grow, adding value to the booming HomePod speaker. It has a long way to go before becoming as mainstream as the Echo, but it’s worth considering now if you’re growing your smart home using HomeKit.

Read our full Apple HomePod review.

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Perhaps tired of seeing Sonos eat its lunch, Amazon came out with its own premium smart speaker. The Echo Studio produces the best audio of any of Amazon's smart speakers, thanks to three 2-inch midrange speakers, a 1-inch tweeter, and a 5.3-inch woofer. You can also pair two Echo Studios together for stereo sound, and you can also use the Studio as a speaker for your HDTV as well as your Amazon Fire TV device

The Echo Studio delivers great room-filling audio and visceral, chest-pounding bass, though in head-to-head tests, the Sonos One still sounded better, with more defined mids. But, because the Echo Studio has a 3.5mm input jack — something the Sonos lacks — you can plug a turntable directly into the Studio, which gives you both a streaming speaker and an output for your record collection in one device.

Read our full Amazon Echo Studio review.

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The Sonos Move is the one of the best smart speakers and though the field is limited, the overall best-sounding portable smart speaker on the market. You're able to transport it around the home and outdoor spaces while still taking advantage of Sonos' extensive streaming collection. It also introduces Auto TruePlay, a technology that allows the speaker to adjust its sound for its location using the internal microphones.

The Move is also weather-resistant and can take a beating — we dropped ours a few feet without any damage. However, it's heavy, weighing in at 6 pounds, and isn't the easiest to carry. Also, if you move out of range of your Wi-Fi network, you lose all of the Move's smart features, and have to rely on a Bluetooth connection to you phone. And, at $400, it's an expensive device. But, if you want the best audio in an outdoor setting, this is the smart speaker to get.

Read our full Sonos Move review.

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If you're looking for a portable smart speaker that's not as pricey as the Sonos Move, the UE Megablast is a great option. It costs half as much, weighs even less, yet sounds great for its size. Plus, the Megablast is water-resistant, so you can dunk it in a pool for up to 30 minutes, and it should come out just fine.

The UE Megablast's battery is good for up to 16 hours of playtime, which makes it an excellent companion for a backyard barbecue or a day at the beach. As with most third-party speakers, the Megablast has almost all of Alexa's capabilities, but Amazon reserves some features, such as drop-in, messaging, and calls, for its own devices. But if all you're looking for is a smart speaker that can crank out some tunes, then check out the Megablast.

Read our full UE Megablast review.

How to pick the best smart speaker for you

Before you purchase any of the best smart speakers, decide how you plan to use it. If it's going to be the only device in your living room that will play music, then you'll want one that has good audio quality. But while sound is important, it shouldn't necessarily be the deciding factor in which smart speaker you choose.

For example, the Amazon Echo Dot has perhaps the worst-sounding speaker among those we've tested, but its small size and low price make it useful for people who already have a good speaker and merely want to add some smarts to it. The Dot is also a cheap way to spread a voice assistant throughout your house. Same goes for the Nest Mini.

If you want one of the best outdoor speakers, though, you'll want to consider a portable option, such as the Sonos Roam. The Sonos Move and Bose Portable Home Speaker are great options, too.

And if you're set on either Alexa or Google Assistant, check out the best Alexa speakers and best Google Home speakers for more options.

How we test smart speakers

When evaluating a smart speaker, one of the first things we look at is its audio quality. After all, if a speaker doesn't sound good, then what use is it? We take into account the price and aim of the smart speaker here, too. If it's a small, budget device, we wouldn't expect it to sound as good as something that costs five times as much.

And, because it's a smart speaker, we also take into account what you can do with the voice assistant embedded inside. While smart speakers made by Amazon and Google naturally have all of the abilities of Alexa and Google Assistant, both companies exclude some features, such as the ability to make voice calls, from third-party manufacturers. So, if a speaker made by Amazon sounds the same as one made by another company, but that latter speaker doesn't have all of Alexa, then Amazon's device will get a higher rating.

We also look at the design of the speaker: How nice does it look? Does it have audio inputs, so you can connect things such as turntables or TVs? All these factors and more go into deciding what makes our list of the best smart speakers — and what doesn't.