Google Home vs Amazon Echo: Which Smart Speaker Is Better?
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As we’ll explain below, that’s one of the major benefits that Google has over its rival. If you try to ask “Alexa, turn on the lights and tell me what the weather forecast is for tomorrow”, you’ll find that it’ll only deal with one of the things you’ve asked. When it comes to routines on Alexa and Google Home, they are much more limited. These limitations are mostly due to the implementation by each device manufacturer. For example, I can easily arm my SimpliSafe alarm system with Alexa or Google Home.
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Let's break down the most important aspects to help you decide. Unsurprisingly, in the specific area of ordering things online, the Echo speakers win out because they are intertwined with the world’s largest online marketplace.
Overall Sound
One simple test we tried was to use speakers from each company playing music in the bathroom while taking a shower, with each speaker set to full volume and placed in the same spot. (What can we say, who doesn’t love music while in the shower?) For this test, we used the lowest-end speakers, the Echo Dot and the Google Home Mini. While the music from the Echo Dot was blurred and somewhat drowned out by the running water, the Google Nest Mini came through loud and clear — it was so clear and loud that we didn’t even need maximum volume. Google’s largest and most powerful smart display is the best one we’ve tested for Google Assistant. It has a clear screen, a built-in camera and we were impressed that its facial recognition means it can personalise the reminders and messages you see when you look at the screen. Google’s answer to the Echo Dot, this is a small and discreet speaker that’s affordable and capable of handling all your requests.
The screen, however, massively increases its expense, so bear that in mind – if you don't want a screen, the Echo Dot with Clock is an attractive option. Most recently, Google released the Nest Hub Max, putting Google Assistant in a 10-inch smart display. It's the first product to come out under the converged brand name of Google and smart home security brand Nest.
Product Ecosystem
This means that the number of compatible services, devices, platforms, and products is greater with Alexa than with Google Assistant. It still helps you manage your smart devices, turn the TV on and off, or remotely control your PC. The possibilities with Alexa are practically unlimited, while with the Google assistant, the options fall short. However, many people may wonder, “But what’s the difference? ” Here, we tried to compare the differences between these two big smart speakers by classification. The good news is that smart home platforms keep getting better each year.
You can pick up the Google Home Mini in a range of colors, with four flashing LED lights illustrating when it's listening to your commands and showing the volume level. With beefed-up sound at the price of a standard Echo model it's well worth looking at the third-gen Echo if you're thinking of buying a new smart speaker. However, lots of users who have put the two devices head-to-head believe Google Assistant could be the smarter of the two. Learning experience, and wider variety of voices than Alexa, it has the biggest potential for the future. Both Alexa and Google Assistant let you combine your devices into rooms, so you can say commands like, "turn on the living room lights." They both also support Routines, which let you combine multiple actions into one command. For general smart home Alexa was touted as better, when I invested 4 years ago.
How Do Smart Speakers Sound?
While desktop computers are definitely necessary for extensive research, working on projects, online shopping (the list goes on…), answers simple questions are the voice assistant’s specialty. Google Home’s greatest benefit is having its incredible predictive intelligence, Google Assistant, running the show. You can ask Google just about anything and get a detailed answer that will most likely be exactly what you’re looking for. The Google Hub is especially great for this—displaying full text answers including step-by-step instructions and recipes.
Both devices offer a relatively comparable variety of services, features and skills. But there are a few key differences that seem to sway some consumers to one side versus the other. For the midrange models, the Echo and Nest Audio sound similar, with generally good audio quality that can easily fill a room. The Nest Audio lacks a bit of bass, while the Echo doesn't have much treble finesse, but both still offer high-quality sound considering their size and price.
HomeKit really shines when it comes to “Automations” because it’s not limited as limited by the devices in question. If the device works with HomeKit, then in most cases it can become part of an Automation or a Scene. Keep in mind that, with both Alexa and Google Assistant, third-party speaker manufacturers are increasingly choosing to integrate the voice helpers into their own products.
The bad news is that you would be hard-pressed to go with only one. It’s not impossible to pick just one and use that one, but then you may not get all the best features and accessories. I decided that HomeKit would be the one that I would focus on the most. Voice assistants can change the environment in the household, making less of a need for continual desktop computer use.
There's no right or wrong approach really – Google's is simpler, but Alexa's encourages faster and broader development and support from third-parties. Alexa's Drop In feature only works with other Alexa-enabled devices. You can also connect your Google Home to your TV and other devices with Chromecast.
Fortunately, both companies are making great strides to work with as many products as possible and you can usually find the same apps/skills on both platforms. Also since both Google Home and Alexa offer smart speakers with displays on them, you say things like “Alexa, show me the front door” to see your Ring doorbell camera. While I don’t have an Apple HomePod (Apple’s premium smart speaker), I’m not sure that I’d be able to set up the equivalent HomeKit Automation. I just can’t bring myself to buy a HomePod unless I catch one on sale at a price that’s too hard to pass up. HomePod is an awesome speaker for music but is way behind in what it can do compared to Alexa and Google Home.
Google/Alexa are voice inputs that will do generally the same thing. I won’t lie - I want my robots to have little personalities. I have both in my house, because I was gifted Alexa and I use Google for music. Unfortunately, using "OK Google" as a wake word is a hard no for me.
But she does just fine with all my devices, and the automation is good enough I sometimes do stuff in that environment instead of SmartThings. I also have a lot that I do in both, through virtual switches. Closely related to the product ecosystem is integration, which needs to be on point if you want to make your home smart.
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (4th Gen) Review
We’d recommend this for a hallway side table or tabletop as it’s not going to deliver booming sound for music but is still ideal for your voice requests. The Echo Show is great for staying in touch with friends and family, as you can call anyone who has the Alexa app or another Echo device. With its 5.5-inch display, you can use it to show family photos, view weather forecasts, and watch TV programmes. We tried each assistant in our daily life and got them running our lights and plugs, and we sifted through the prices, specs and capabilities of each option and its range of speakers too. If your HomeKit compatible camera or thermostat also supports motion/occupancy detection, then you’ll be able to automate things to come on or go off based on if someone is in the room or moving. If my back patio camera detects motion at night then it turns on inside lights in that part of the house.
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