A smart speaker or display is the cockpit of a smart home. Ask for the lights, see the doorbell camera, set timers and play music in every room.
We picked six: Echo Dot, Echo Spot, Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 15, plus two music-first speakers, Sonos Era 100 and WiiM Sound.
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#1 — Amazon Echo Dot
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and other…
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and e…
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in mo…
Echo Dot delivers vibrant sound in a compact sphere and controls compatible smart devices by voice.
Best for: A first smart speaker
Verdict: ★★★★☆
#2 — Amazon Echo Spot
- MEET ECHO SPOT – A sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa and big vibrant sound. Ready to help you wake up, wind down, and s…
- CUSTOMIZABLE SMART CLOCK – See time, weather, and song titles at a glance, control smart home devices, and more. Persona…
- BIG VIBRANT SOUND – Enjoy rich sound with clear vocals and deep bass. Just ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, and audiob…
A sleek smart alarm clock with Alexa, a customizable screen and good sound.
Best for: Nightstands and desks
Verdict: ★★★★☆
#3 — Amazon Echo Show 15
- MEET ECHO SHOW 15 – A stunning 15.6″ Full-HD (1080p) smart display that’s perfect for your kitchen and ready to show you…
- FAMILY ORGANIZATION HUB – See your top widgets at a glance, like your family’s calendars and to-do lists, local weather,…
- ALL YOUR FAVORITES, ALL RIGHT HERE – Built-in Fire TV unlocks endless entertainment, so you can enjoy your favorite cont…
A 15.6" Full HD display for kitchens and hallways with calendars, cameras and controls.
Best for: Family command center
Verdict: ★★★★☆
#4 — Amazon Echo Show 8
- Powerfully smart, beautifully built: The redesigned 8.7″ smart display features a vibrant HD touchscreen with 15% more v…
- Content sounds incredible: Stream music or watch shows on Prime Video, Netflix, and more. All with room-filling spatial …
- Your everyday assistant: See recipes and calendars at a glance, easily find meal inspo and manage your shopping lists. W…
The redesigned 8.7" display adds spatial audio and fast smart home controls.
Best for: The best all-round hub
Verdict: ★★★★☆
#5 — Sonos Era 100
- Powered by a 47% faster processor, the next-gen dual-tweeter acoustic architecture produces detailed stereo separation w…
- Place this speaker anywhere and everywhere you want to listen. The compact design fits beautifully on your bookshelf, ki…
- Stream from all your favorite services over WiFi. Pair a Bluetooth device with the press of a button. Connect a turntabl…
Sonos's Era 100 has a faster processor and dual tweeters for rich stereo sound, with Alexa built in.
Best for: Music-first rooms
Verdict: ★★★★☆
#6 — WiiM Sound
- Smart Hi-Fi Made Simple – Upgrade from ordinary smart speakers and Bluetooth audio with WiiM Sound, a premium WiFi smart…
- Big Sound. Refined Detail – Experience room-filling sound from a tuned 2.1 stereo speaker system with a dedicated 4″ woo…
- See. Touch. Control – Bring your music experience to life with a 1.8″ color touchscreen display. View album art, track i…
WiiM Sound brings hi-res Wi-Fi audio and a touchscreen in a smart speaker.
Best for: Hi-res audio with a touchscreen
Verdict: ★★★★☆
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose
Speaker or screen
A display adds camera feeds, recipes and controls you can tap.
Room by room
Small speakers suit bedrooms; bigger ones fill living rooms.
Sound quality
Music lovers should look at Sonos or WiiM.
Privacy controls
Look for mic-off buttons and camera shutters.
Final Thoughts
Echo Show 8 is the best smart home hub for most people, Echo Dot the best starter, and Sonos Era 100 the best sounding. Echo Show 15 is the family command center.
Upgrade the next room: read our guides to the best smart plugs and video doorbells.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.