The best smart speakers of 2025

The best smart speakers don't just sound great — they also make everyday life easier. With a built-in voice assistant, you can control your music, ask questions, and manage other smart devices around your home, all hands-free. You'll usually be choosing between Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, though some speakers now support more than one platform. If you're just starting to build a smart home, you've got plenty of flexibility. But if you're already using one of these ecosystems, it's best to pick a speaker that works with the assistant you're already invested in.

I've been reviewing audio gear for over a decade, and I've used my extensive experience to test the best smart speakers available. All of my picks start with a foundation of solid audio quality and build on that with ample smarts. My top recommendation for most needs is the Sonos Era 100. This impressive smart speaker offers rich, full-bodied sound quality. It also features Alexa and Sonos' own voice assistant built in. But if you're on a tight budget, Amazon's fifth-generation Echo Dot is a more affordable option that's great for smaller spaces. Its sound quality isn't as good as bigger models, but it's still a capable smart speaker at an affordable price.

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 for bass: Brane X - See at Amazon

Best Echo: Amazon Echo Dot Max - See at Amazon

Best Google Nest: Nest Hub (2nd Gen) - See at Home Depot

Best with Siri: HomePod mini - See at Apple

Best for home theaters: Bose Smart Soundbar - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Sonos Era 100 is the definition of a quintessential smart speaker. It has various ways of connecting to tons 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 a lot more limited as it's currently only really good for voice controlling the speaker's playback. 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 most of these quirks have been resolved. As it stands, I don't consider any lingering glitches to be dealbreakers.

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

If what you're looking for in a smart speaker is an affordable price, then the Amazon Echo Dot is my go-to recommendation. The latest fifth-generation model retails for $50 and is often on sale for less. And despite being a few years old, this budget-friendly speaker is capable of supporting 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. You'll be able to 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 on 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 in height. 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 for bass

The Brane X stands out from other smart speakers on this list thanks to its powerful audio performance and portable design with a built-in battery. The brand claims this is the first portable speaker with a built-in subwoofer, enabling big bass. After just a minute with the Brane X, it's clear the company isn't exaggerating, either.

It 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 competes with the rumble and thump it can provide.

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 is the case 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. 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

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 and offers 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 up a world of new uses as people try to 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.

For the speaker's $100 retail price, the combination of its size, audio quality, and advanced smart home assistance makes 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 Google Nest

The Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the best smart speaker for any Google Home enthusiast. In fact, this model is more than just a speaker; it's a smart display with a seven-inch, easily readable screen.

The handy display can show web results or even stream Netflix. The attached speaker is loud enough for a bedroom or a moderately sized living room. If you place the speaker bedside, it even has a cool Sleep Sensing feature that can track your sleep based on movement, breathing, and sounds like snoring. It doesn't use cameras or any sensors attached to your body, so some may prefer this as a less invasive alternative to a traditional smartwatch or fitness tracker.

However, it's worth mentioning that the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is an aging model, as it has been on the market for over four years. On that note, Google is set to launch a new smart device, the Google Home Speaker, in spring 2026. That model takes the form of a more traditional, rounded speaker without a display, and it's built to use Google's Gemini AI rather than Google Assistant. This should enable the Home Speaker to support more complex tasks and conversational questions.

If Gemini is a big draw, I recommend waiting for the new model. But the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) remains an excellent option for those who want a Google smart display right now. I've been using the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) in my home since its release, and it continues to perform well. It might show some sluggishness every once in a while, but mostly it's been great.

If you want an even bigger, 10-inch screen, there's also the Next Hub Max to consider, which adds a camera and supports video calls.

Read our Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) review.

Best with Siri

Despite being around five years old, the Apple HomePod Mini remains a great, compact smart speaker. It's been refreshed with new colors over the years, so there are plenty of styles that work well with different home decor.

The HomePod Mini can get loud enough to be audible throughout a living room, but it's a perfect smart speaker for a bedroom or kitchen. I use several of these around the house, in places where bigger speakers can't fit.

For example, on the bathroom counter, I can use it to ask Siri for weather info, traffic reports, or to play a song. And though Apple's assistant gets a lot of flak, I've found that Siri can handle all the basic tasks I need just fine.

The HomePod Mini is also an especially good fit for people who use an iPhone. You can seamlessly transition audio from your phone to the Mini just by tapping it on the top of the speaker. Multiple HomePods can also be linked and play the same music in various rooms around the house.

Apple also sells a larger, more powerful smart speaker in the form of the HomePod (2nd Gen). Although the larger model offers a notable upgrade in sound quality, it's best suited for enthusiasts.

Industry rumors do hint that a new HomePod Mini could be on the horizon in 2026, but nothing has been confirmed so far. Shoppers who want the latest Apple technology may want to wait a few months to see if a second-generation model is announced, but for now, the original HomePod Mini is the best smart speaker Apple offers.

Read our Apple HomePod Mini review.

Best for home theaters

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, 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.

If you have a Google Assistant-enabled device in your house, you can also set up that voice assistant, but it's not built into the bar like Alexa is. 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.

How we test smart speakers

To find the best smart speakers, I tested several models across brands. I've been using most of the picks in this guide in my own home for the last several years. I've spent extensive time playing music on them as well as using their voice assistants.

In addition to using each of these devices as I would use any smart speaker in my house, I've also specifically gone through each of their key features to compare responsiveness, volume, audio quality, connectivity, and smart home integration. Each has its pros and cons, even Siri. For example, HomePod speakers integrate really well with iOS and Apple's entire ecosystem, while those from other brands are less seamless.

Alexa+ on new Echo devices is among the first LLM-based assistants to begin rolling out to the mass market. I've been trying out its expanded capabilities, like stringing together multiple commands in one request. In early testing, it has proven to be a net positive, but it still exhibits some quirks and oddities. We're looking forward to testing the Google Home Speaker with its Gemini AI when it's released in the spring of 2026.

Smart speaker FAQs

What makes a smart speaker 'smart '?

Generally speaking, the key component of a smart speaker that makes it smart is support for at least one digital voice assistant. These digital assistants allow you to ask questions, handle various tasks, and give voice commands to control playback and other compatible smart home devices.

Can I turn the microphone off on a smart speaker?

Most 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.

With the exception of the HomePod Mini, all of our best smart speaker picks have a physical mute button or switch.

Do all smart speakers support Bluetooth?

Though many of the best smart speakers include support for Bluetooth, it is not a requirement. 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 allows you to stream music on the go from a mobile device.

For specific recommendations on Bluetooth speakers, visit our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.

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.

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri all offer similar capabilities, but they work best when integrated into each brand's broader lineup of products and services. Through my testing over the years, I've found that each assistant handles the basics adequately — yes, even Siri. So for most people, the best smart speaker assistant is simply the one that matches the ecosystem they're already invested in.

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. After all, never knowing what name to ask to control the lights will drive your family members nuts.

However, though current assistant platforms are all similar, the launch of LLM-powered smart speaker assistants like Alexa+ and Google Gemini will likely present more distinct advantages for certain uses. These enhanced assistants will offer more natural conversations and provide more differentiated responses. We'll be testing these systems more as they roll out to additional smart speakers to determine if one assistant outperforms the others overall.

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