Smart speakers are the most versatile gadgets in the modern home. They not only play music, help control other "smart" devices and remind of important events, but also tell the news, find information on the Web, and also answer any question asked aloud.
Moreover, the choice of a speaker with voice control does not at all doom you to worship a certain brand. Many of these devices are compatible with services and smart devices from other companies. In our ranking, we'll highlight the best smart speakers of 2020.
10. JBL Link Portable with Alice
- voice assistant: Alice
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Yandex smart home
- battery powered
- total power 20 W
- Bluetooth
- frequency range 65 Hz - 20 kHz
The rating of smart speakers opens up a hybrid device that works both via Wi-Fi if it is in the user's home, or like a regular portable speaker from JBL if the owner wants to listen to music in nature. The price of this model is only slightly higher than the models working only from Bluetooth.
In addition to playing music, JBL Link Portable works with Google Assistant or Alice in Russia. And, which is important for outdoor enthusiasts, it is waterproof. It can be safely dropped into a pool up to a meter deep and forgotten there for half an hour, so that it can withstand splashes, rain and dust. In general, in terms of price / functionality ratio, this is one of the best offers on the market for "hybrids".
The column comes complete with a charging station and one charge lasts for 8 hours. The time may differ depending on the playing time and volume. In general, the sound from the speakers is decent, the bass is deep, the playback is 360 °. Of course, listening to music, hardly anyone will look around in search of a hidden subwoofer, and if you want HQ sound, you will have to stream to the music center.
pros: Decent sound, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming, waterproof.
Minuses: Yandex marketers have deprived the speaker of compatibility with many foreign services, including the "native" JBL Connect, and the functionality of "Alice" is cut in comparison with Google Assistant.
9. Google Home
- voice assistant: Google Assistant
- Voice assistant language: English
- mains supply
- Wi-Fi
- features: microphone mute button
This smart speaker is one of the most popular in the world. According to representatives of the manufacturing company, at the moment the number of purchased items has exceeded 500 million! The secret of popularity lies in the constant development of the service. For example, shoppers used to complain that Google Home didn't recognize phrases well enough to train their device to understand individual expressions.
The second change is the redesign of the application, which is planned to be made even easier and more convenient. True, for some reason it was decided to throw out the very convenient function of the guest mode, when it was possible to play tracks without having to enter a long password to local Wi-Fi each time.
In terms of music, Google Home can play almost anything: the device supports both Google Play Music and YouTube, Spotify, Pandora, and can also serve as Wi-Fi speakers by itself thanks to the Google Cast function.True, audiophiles should not hope that the sound from the speakers will be 100% quality - for this, you will still need a music center.
Before buying, please note that Google Home has speech recognition difficulties. Of course, if your English pronunciation is perfect, then the device will have no problem finding content on the web and then playing it. And if the column does not "understand" even one word, there will be no result. Also, Google Home cannot play a single episode from the series, although upon subsequent viewing, it may start showing where you left off.
pros: customizable, large selection of music, easy to install.
Minuses: no binding to Google services, problems with Russian language support.
8. Mail.ru Group "Capsule"
- voice assistant: Mail.ru Marusya
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Mail.ru smart home
- mains supply
- total power 30 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- frequency range 50 Hz - 20 kHz
- features: free subscription to VKontakte music (3 months)
Ours can also use intelligent technology! So, a product from a domestic manufacturer appeared in the rating of the best voice-controlled speakers. Mail.ru decided not to take Alice from Yandex, but to create its own voice assistant. The new girl was named Marusya.
The device looks interesting, especially the light ring on the front panel is made in an original way. The backlight visualizes what Marusya is currently “busy” with and how attentively she is “listening” to the owners. However, the brightness cannot be adjusted yet.
You can control the device both by voice and using the touch panel. The engineers also added a cute touch - if you stroke the column, it starts to purr. The touch panel is responsive, recognizes everything without problems. However, a smart assistant does not pick up human speech well against the background of extraneous noises, such as not too loud music, the noise of water or cars under the window.
Marusya herself is still quite young, so not all knowledge of the world is available to her; she may find it difficult to answer some questions. It also lacks support for connecting to music services, both foreign and domestic, therefore, of the entire world variety, only paid VKontakte music is available. Well, at least a three-month subscription is included with the purchase.
But VKontakte users can call their friends with the help of Marusya. So far, the list of services for the "Capsule" is small, although the developers promise many interesting novelties - for example, the ability to tell fairy tales to children with musical accompaniment and special effects.
pros: original design, simple setup, tailored for VKontakte, the kit includes a small bag for transporting the device.
Minuses: small functionality of services, poorly distinguishes the voice against the background of noise.
7. Harman / Kardon Citation One
- voice assistant: Google Assistant
- Voice assistant language: English
- battery powered
- total power 40 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
The Citation One is one of the most inexpensive smart speakers from Harman / Kardon. You can control the device using voice commands via Google Assistant, and listen to music both via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. And the sound, according to reviews, is very good for this device - rich, clear, with deep bass and ringing top notes.
Google Assistant is extremely easy to use. The app automatically recognizes the Citation One when the device is connected to the network. All you need to do is enter the password for the Wi-Fi network and "talk" to him a little: the application needs time to get used to your voice. And then you can dive into all the variety of services that support work with Google Assistant, including many streaming music.
pros: Great sound, two or more speakers can be networked and enjoy surround sound, Google Assistant support, easy to set up and manage.
Minuses: Especially deep bass can cause vibration, does not always respond in Russian.
6. Apple HomePod
- voice assistant: Apple Siri
- Voice assistant language: English
- mains supply
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- features: touch surface for control, Wi-Fi MIMO support, embedded Apple A8 processor
The list of smart speakers in 2020 also includes a product from Apple - HomePod. It is praised for its rich bass, clear highs and natural voices. Overall, this speaker can handle just about anything from death metal to classical music, from folk songs to techno music.
The Apple HomePod is exceptionally easy to set up and operate, and Siri can hear and understand its owners from across the room.
True, there was also a fly in the ointment in the ointment. By purchasing a speaker from Apple, you can only use services from Apple. You shouldn't expect the kind of richness that Google Assistant-powered devices have from HomePod. But it connects without problems with existing devices and services from Apple.
Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth support - meaning the HomePod cannot serve as a TV speaker unless you use an AppleTV intermediary. And you won't be able to play music from a smartphone on Android right away (only via AirPlay). But if you are an inveterate "apple" and adore services from Apple, you will not have any problems using the column.
pros: excellent sound, easy maintenance.
Minuses: Siri does not understand Russian, no Bluetooth support, binding only to services from Apple, difficulties with buying in Russia.
5. LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK7Y
- voice assistant: Alice
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Yandex smart home
- mains supply
- total power 30 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- features: Yandex.Music, alarm clock, news, weather, timer
The “smart five” is opened by a well-assembled, loud and clean-sounding smart speaker that understands Russian speech and is equipped with a voice assistant from Yandex. It can become part of the smart home, controlling other smart devices, or it can serve as a music center and entertain you with chatting with Alice.
Users praise the high sensitivity of this model's built-in microphones. Thanks to them, the device recognizes the owner's voice even in a noisy room. However, the LG Xboom AI ThinQ has one not very convenient feature: the speakers are not located in a circle, and this fact will have to be taken into account when deciding which side of the speaker will be turned to the wall, and which to the free space of the room.
pros: Superior sound quality, rich bass, looks good in any decor.
Minuses: no built-in battery, frequent complaints that Wi-Fi is falling off.
4. ELARI SmartBeat
- voice assistant: Alice
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Yandex smart home
- mains powered, battery powered
- total power 5 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- frequency range 40 Hz - 18 kHz
- features: 3 months subscription to Yandex.Plus
This smart speaker is not as loud and powerful as its closest competitor - Prestigio Smartmate Lighthouse Edition - but if you take it for a one-room apartment, then the volume reserve will be more than enough. It works up to 5 hours in Wi-Fi mode and up to 8 hours in Bluetooth mode, and will become a great entertainment when going out into the countryside.
Voice assistant Alice can turn on Yandex.Music and radio, tells fairy tales, shares the weather forecast and searches for information on the Internet at your request. But this speaker cannot be connected to the TV, there is no HDMI port.
pros: good sensitivity of microphone array, good quality of speech recognition.
Minuses: long charge (about 8 hours off), not very loud sound.
3. Prestigio Smartmate Lighthouse Edition
- voice assistant: Alice
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Yandex smart home
- mains powered, battery powered
- total power 6 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, audio output
- frequency range 180 Hz - 16 kHz
- features: smart remote Perenio Red Atom and 3 months of Yandex.Plus subscription as a gift
A beautiful and inexpensive smart speaker is distinguished by high-quality sound and long battery life (within 8-9 hours). It is equipped with a smart Perenio Red Atom remote control, which "translates" the user's voice commands to the TV and air conditioner via the infrared port.
Prestigio Smartmate Lighthouse Edition will become a real pet for families with children. After all, Alice can tell a child a bedtime story, turn on a lullaby, and answer the most important children's questions thanks to the “Lighthouse for Children” function.
With the help of a smart speaker from Prestigio and its voice assistant, you can control smart home appliances. For example, ask Alice to make the air conditioner cooler, or turn on the night light.
pros: excellent functionality for families with children, bright and stylish look, convenient setting.
Minuses: inconvenient power button, users complain about frequent freezes of Wi-Fi, which may cause interruptions when playing music.
2. Yandex.Station Mini
- voice assistant: Alice
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Yandex smart home
- mains supply
- total power 3 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, audio output
- frequency range 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Unlike its "older sister", which took first place in the ranking of smart speakers, Yandex.Station Mini does not have an HDMI connector. Accordingly, it will not be able to play video content.
Otherwise, the younger version has the same functions as the original device (it will set a timer, tell the news, turn on your favorite music and add the desired track to your favorites, report the weather, etc.). In addition, she is friends with smart home devices from the Yandex and Xiaomi ecosystems.
Yandex.Station Mini can be controlled not only with voice, but also with gestures. And on the command "Alice, give me a sound" you can even play music with gestures, like on the theremin.
pros: good speech recognition, easy to operate, compact.
Minuses: alarm volume cannot be adjusted, Bluetooth does not turn on if there is no network connection, short wire, must be constantly connected to the outlet,
1. Yandex.Station
- voice assistant: Alice
- voice assistant language: Russian
- smart home ecosystem: Yandex smart home
- mains supply
- total power 50 W
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI output
- frequency range 50 Hz - 20 kHz
The best smart speaker with Alice you can buy in 2020. It is published by Yandex, and it tirelessly refines its creation in accordance with the wishes of users.
Yandex.Station is equipped with a detachable wire, and, if desired, it can be placed anywhere in your home. It can recommend and play music from Yandex services, search for information on the Internet, announce news, read fairy tales, and when connected to a TV via HDMI, it will play videos in Yandex.Ether, YouTube and KinoPoisk.
But the possibilities of a smart speaker are not limited to this. She can start a timer, turn on a one-time or permanent alarm, and has finally learned how to call a taxi. But all these utilities are available only when you have a Yandex.Plus subscription. You can use Yandex.Station without it, but the device's functionality will be significantly limited (for example, Yandex.Music and Kinopoisk will not be available).
And with the help of Yandex.Station, you can carry out voice control of devices that are part of the Xiaomi smart home ecosystem.
pros: austere and elegant look, a six-month subscription to KinoPoisk and Amediatek (includes Yandex.Plus) is a gift, and after its completion - another six months of Yandex.Plus subscription, a beautiful and convenient interface, fast connection.
Minuses: does not always hear the command the first time, there is not enough equalizer.