The best smart speakers you can buy in 2019
What's the story
Smart speaks are a great add-on to enrich your digital life. They are portable (some of them), affordable and easy to use. With simple voice commands, you can summon a digital assistant to play music, turn on the lights, ask a question, set a reminder, get the latest news and so much more. But which one should you buy? Here are the best picks.
Option #1
Apple HomePod: Priced at around Rs. 21,000
Apple's HomePod, the first Siri-powered smart speaker, has a great sound quality. It also has the ability to adapt to the acoustics of the room. However, feature-wise, it is rather limited. If you ask Siri to play some song, it can only play through Apple Music service. Similarly, only those devices that work with Apple HomeKit can be controlled via voice commands.
Option #2
Sonos One: Priced at around Rs. 14,000
Sonos One is another great option. The audio is at par with the more expensive competitors like Apple HomePod and Google Home Max. You can also pair it up for stereo or multi-room audio. As for features, you can choose to have Alexa or Google Assistant during setup. Interestingly, support for Apple's AirPlay 2 means you can enjoy the best of every world.
Option #3
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd gen): Priced at Rs. 4,000
Next in line is Amazon's hockey-puck shaped Echo Dot speaker. It features a new fabric finish with rounded edges, circular LED strip, four-button control layout, and support for Bluetooth and AUX. It offers a balanced sound output with Dolby audio and can be paired with another speaker for stereo sound. Further, with Alexa support, you can have all your questions answered.
Option #4
Google Home Mini: Priced at Rs. 3,499
Google Home Mini is similar to Amazon's Dot Echo in terms of size, design, features, and sound quality. The pocket-friendly speaker supports Google Assistant, allowing you to use your voice to find out about the weather, news, sports, and other updates. Moreover, you can say things like "Ok Google, let's play a game" or "tell me a story" or "tell a joke."