5 Best Smart Speakers (2026): Alexa, Google, Apple

5 Best Smart Speakers (2026): Alexa, Google, Apple. The Best Smart SpeakersBest Google Smart SpeakerGoogle Home SpeakerJump to review$100 Best BuyBest Alexa Smart SpeakerAmazon Echo Dot MaxJump to review$120 $95 (21% off) AmazonBest Apple Smart SpeakerApple HomePod MiniJump to review$129 AppleTable of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonComparing Our Favorite Smart SpeakersHonorable MentionsWhy Did Amazon Echo Prices Increase?

What happened

Also, check out my guides to the Best Alexa Speakers, Best Google Speakers, and Best Smart Displays if you want more insight into each category. Speaker arrayTwo 2-inch speakersAudio optionsCompatible with Bluetooth and services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and SiriusXMExtra features8-inch display with 1280 x 800 resolution; 13-MP camera with auto-framingWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDSmart display adds extra features you won't get on a regular smart speaker, and the 8-inch size is ideal for most thingsHas a built-in smart home hubPhysical cover for included cameraTIREDHas a camera, which not everyone might want in their homeComparing the Best Alexa SpeakersModelSpeaker ArrayScreen SpecsCamera SpecsOther FeaturesAmazon Echo Dot MaxOne 2.

Skip to main contentSave this storySave this storyThere are three big players in the running for the best smart speaker: Amazon, Google, and Apple. Also TestedFAQsBest for Google UsersPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistGoogleHome Speaker$100 Best Buy$100 Google StoreWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDPowerful sound for its small sizeConveniently built for Google Gemini for HomeComes in fun colorsTIREDMore expensive than Google's previous smaller speakersSome Gemini features are hidden behind a paywallGoogle's latest smart speaker, the Google Home Speaker (8/10, WIRED Recommends), is an amalgamation of great features from other smart speakers.

Best for Amazon UsersPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistAmazonEcho Dot Max$120 $95 (21% off) AmazonWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDImpressive, room-filling sound, especially for its small sizeCompatible with Alexa and Alexa+, and good at hearing requests, even with loud music playingHas a built-in smart home hubTIREDExpensive for such a small speakerMost of the smart speakers I spot in friends' homes come from the Amazon Echo line. Best for Apple UsersPhotograph: AppleSave to wishlistAppleHomePod Mini$129 AppleWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDCompatible with Apple Home and SiriCan be a hub for Apple Home productsTIREDSound quality is fine, but competitors are betterOn the expensive end for such a small speakerSmart speaker options are the most limited for Apple users.

FAQBest Overall Alexa SpeakerPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistAmazonEcho Dot Max$120 $95 (21% off) AmazonOut of Amazon's latest smart speakers, one landed on top for me: the Echo Dot Max.

The wider picture

5-inch woofer; one 1-inch tweeterAudio optionsCompatible with Bluetooth and services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and SiriusXMExtra featuresTap controls; smart home hubWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDImpressive, room-filling sound, especially for its small sizeCompatible with Alexa and Alexa+, and good at hearing requests, even with loud music playingHas a built-in smart home hubTIREDExpensive for such a small speakerBest Affordable Alexa SpeakerPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistAmazonEcho Dot (5th Gen)$80 $55 (31% off) AmazonThe fifth-generation Echo Dot is a few years old now, but it's still a great little speaker.

8-inch woofer, two full-range driversAudio optionsCompatible with Bluetooth and services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and SiriusXMExtra featuresZigbee smart home hub that supports Matter and Thread; 13-MP camera; 11-inch 1920 x 1200 displayWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDGreat sound and a good screen size (and quality) without being bulkyBuilt-in smart home hub and spatial audio capabilitiesMade for Alexa+ and comes with it, no waiting list requiredTIREDHas on-screen adsHas preset content it will show unless toggled offBest Affordable Alexa Smart DisplayPhotograph: Nena FarrellCourtesy of AmazonSave to wishlistAmazonEcho Show 8 (3rd Gen)$150 AmazonThe Echo Show 8 has been our favorite smart display for Alexa for three generations in a row, and the 2023 model remains my preferred option of the Show 8 models, even though there's a new version.

I had no issues setting it up in my Google Home app by scanning the Matter QR code, but you can also use the Shelly app or your smart home ecosystem of choice (Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings). Amazon's smart-speaker fleet, in particular, is expansive, often seeing multiple new models every year, while the offerings are much narrower for Google and Apple. That said, a few months ago, Google did launch a new smart speaker for the first time in years—the 2026 Google Home Speaker—and I share my thoughts on it in this guide.

Updated September 2026: I've added details about Amazon’s increased prices and which speakers were affected, and noted that the Google Nest Hub Max is currently out of stock online. And it joins the rest of Google’s smart speakers (other than the Google Pixel Tablet with the charging dock) by using Google Gemini as the default assistant instead of Google Assistant. There's also no smart display option in Apple's ecosystem, so if you'd like one of those in your home, you'll have to go with Google or Apple.

What has been reported

Comparing Our Favorite Smart SpeakersModelSupported Voice Assistant(s)Dimensions (H x W x D)Speaker ArrayMicrophone ArrayAudio OptionsExtra FeaturesWarranty / Return PolicyGoogle Home SpeakerGemini for Home, Gemini Live (with subscription)3. 9 inchesFull-range driver and dual passive radiatorsFour microphonesCompatible with Bluetooth and AirPlay, and services including Apple Music, iCloud libraries, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Audacy, and other third-party servicesTouch controls, built-in smart-home hubLimited one-year warrantyHonorable MentionsPhotograph: Nena FarrellThere are tons of smart speakers available for purchase. Amazon’s Echo Show 8 (third gen) for $150 is the best Alexa smart display for the money.

For anyone looking for a smart display, the Echo Show 11 ($250) is the best of Amazon's newest smart displays that come designed for the updated assistant, Alexa+. Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonComparing the Best Alexa SpeakersHonorable MentionsMore Alexa (and Alexa-Compatible) SpeakersWhy Did Amazon’s Echo Prices Increase? Extra featuresn/aWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDImpressive sound for such a small size, with solid bass compared to previous generationsGood size for bedside tables and smaller roomsTIREDWon't fill a large room with sound like other picks in this guideBest Alexa Smart DisplayPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistAmazonEcho Show 11$250 $190 (24% off) AmazonI'm surprised to say that out of Amazon's two newest Echo Show devices, the new Echo Show 11 ended up being my favorite over the fourth-gen Echo Show 8.

JBL Authentics 200 for $380: This JBL smart speaker supports both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, letting you switch between them for different tasks without changing your preference in the app. Looking to add a smart speaker to your house? Here’s which to choose, whether you’re an Alexa, Siri, or Gemini fan.

What happens next

Or maybe it's Amazon's Alexa, if you already own one of the many speakers that the company launched following the 2014 arrival of the first Amazon Echo. After trying nearly every single smart speaker that's come out in the last decade, I have a sense of the best options available today to fit various needs. It shares its name with the original Google speaker from 2016, but its shape and size are reminiscent of an Apple HomePod Mini.

But Google Gemini is nonetheless a touch smarter than other assistants in its cohort; it’s able to answer questions about my own schedule and knows to check with me about my artist preference if a song I request has multiple covers. For instance, Google rebranded its video camera subscriptions to “Google Home Premium,” which bundles some smart-home assistant features and video storage into one price. Photograph: Simon HillCourtesy of GoogleSave to wishlistGoogleNest Hub Max$229 Google StoreWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIRED10-inch screen adds several features and doubles as a digital photo frameGoogle's voice assistant is handy, and the screen visuals are greatNo ads or spam, like with Amazon's smart displaysTIREDHas a camera, and there's no physical cover for the camera (though there is an off button)Subscription required for more powerful assistant (Gemini Live)Gemini Live doesn't work on every Google speaker, but in addition to working on the Google Home Speaker, it also works on all three versions of its available smart displays, including two iterations of the Nest Hub.

Such dated speakers are still fairly well-supported, though not all of them can gain access to Alexa+, Amazon's newer AI-powered voice assistant.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across wired.com, espn.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.