V-Moda’s fantastic track record with headphones should already tell you that their first-ever Bluetooth speaker, the Remix, is a solid performer. It's also available in blue, red and silver colors for a little extra ($50) cost in addition to the standard slick black we tested. The Soundcore's compact, 6.75 x 2.25 x 2.25-inch design makes this speaker perfect for tossing into your bag for a quick road trip, and SharePlay allows multiple Soundcore speakers to be synced for an even bigger sound.
The speaker lasts up to a whopping 24 hours, thanks to Anker's best-in-class battery technology, and the Soundcore 3's dual tweeter drivers and central mid/bass woofer allied to a passive bass driver and Anker's BassUp technology, ensure you'll get powerful sound in any setting. For just over $50, this tiny powerhouse delivers loud, well-balanced sound within an IPX7-rated design that can survive water, dust, while the robust rubberised outer case takes care of protection from every day knocks. It's a little too small for our tastes, but the lack of a camera means it's a more privacy-friendly machine for the more private areas of your home.The Anker Soundcore 3 is an amazing little Bluetooth speaker for outdoor sounds. If the 10-inch size is too big, the 7-inch Nest Hub is a nice option. Best of all, there's a physical switch on the back that turns off the mic and camera. It can also recognize your palm, for when you want to pause music or videos hands-free. The camera can identify people in the household, so when you step in front of it, you'll see a personalized calendar. It now also supports group video calls with Duo and Google Meet. The Nest Hub Max doesn't look too techie, has good audio quality, and comes with a camera, so you can make video calls with Google's video-chatting service, Duo.
When not in use the screen doubles as a digital photo frame, cycling images from Google Photos. Google's 10-inch Nest Hub Max ( 8/10, WIRED Recommends) is big enough to use as a screen to watch shows or YouTube videos while washing the dishes (though Amazon Prime Video isn't available). You get similar audio quality plus a screen to see things like the weather forecast, rather than just hear it. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.Īssistant-powered speakers are limited to sound, which is why smart displays are becoming more common. This includes unlimited access to and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-Year Subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). We've also removed the discontinued JBL Link View and fixed prices throughout. Updated December 2020: We've added Lenovo's Smart Clock Essential and the Google Nest Audio. We also have many other buying guides, including the Best Smart Displays, Best Smart Speakers and Best Alexa Speakers.
All the devices below have Google Assistant built in, so you can ask it anything you'd search for on Google, or ask it to control smart home products like robot vacuums, smart plugs, lights, and TVs.īe sure to check out our handy guide on how to maintain your privacy as much as possible while still enjoying the luxuries of smart assistants. Its Assistant answers questions more accurately, it has a simpler setup process, and it connects to a growing number of smart home devices. There are two voice assistants locked in a tug-of-war over who controls the smart speakers in your house: Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant.