The 7 Best Smart Speakers - Fall 2023 Reviews

The best smart speaker that we've tested is the Sonos Era 300. Released in 2023, this premium device has built-in Alexa support for hands-free control. Available in either black or white, it boasts a sleek style that'll blend into your living room decor, which is especially handy if you want to use it as part of your home theater setup. That's right—this speaker connects to other Sonos devices in your home ecosystem and pairs with compatible Sonos soundbars for at-home surround sound. It's one of the only speakers we've tested with Dolby Atmos support, which is great if you want to watch movies in this format or listen to Dolby Atmos Music on compatible streaming platforms.

This speaker gives you access to lots of premium sound enhancement tools. Room correction is available to optimize the speaker's sound based on your room's unique acoustics—the full feature is only for iOS devices. However, Android users can still use a simpler alternative. Plus, bass and treble adjustments let you manually adjust for any changes in the sound. It's also the best-sounding smart speaker we've tested, which is great if you're an avid audiophile. This speaker is one of the best, so if you're looking for a simple plug-and-play device to listen to music, it's probably a little much. Still, it's worth a look.

The Sonos Move is a more affordable smart speaker that's a great alternative. Unlike the Sonos Era 300, this speaker doesn't support Dolby Atmos but has one major added perk. Since it's battery-powered, you can take this smart speaker on the go, which is great if you want to listen to your favorite tunes in your backyard. Its IP56 rating for dust and water resistance means it's certified for protection against direct contact with water for up to three minutes, so you can use it poolside. It's one of the few smart speakers we've tested to offer such outstanding portability.

This speaker is a solid pick for listening to everything from music to podcasts to audiobooks, and it offers many of the same features as its more premium cousin. You get access to the Trueplay room correction tool and can use the Sonos S2 app to adjust its bass and treble. With both Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, you get hands-free control, too. Audiophiles should note that unlike the Era 300, this speaker has to downmix stereo content into mono to play it. You notice that the sound feels less wide, and there isn't the same instrument separation between the left and right drivers. That said, if you're a more casual listener, it's not a huge deal—and as one of the most versatile smart speakers we've tested, this model is worth checking out.

If you want a premium speaker at a more affordable price, check out the Sonos Era 100. As its name suggests, it's the smaller, more price-friendly alternative to the bigger Sonos Era 300. Still, for the price, it offers many of the same features. With built-in Alexa, you can control the speaker using only your voice. Plus, through the Sonos S2 app, you can access Trueplay room correction and the bass and treble adjustments. It's easy to pair the speaker with other Sonos devices, too, so you can spread audio throughout your room or create a home theater setup with one of its compatible soundbars.

As a wired-only speaker, this device doesn't offer the same portability as the Sonos Move—it's not rated for dust or water resistance, either. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the Era 300, either. That said, if you want something to keep in your living room full-time, it offers impressive sound quality for the price. It's suitable for listening to many different music genres, and thanks to its stereo sound, you get a solid sense of separation between the left and right channels. Voices are especially clear, which is great for listening to pop and other vocal-centric genres. Overall, it's a versatile pick for smart speakers, and if you don't listen to much Atmos content, it may be a better deal for you.

Shopping on a tighter budget? Check out the Amazon Echo Studio. This stylish device has a wide array of smart speaker functionalities, including a built-in Zigbee hub. That means you can connect other compatible smart home devices like light bulbs or thermostats to the speaker and control them using Alexa. Plus, Alexa offers a great voice assistant performance, ensuring the speaker can hear your commands clearly and respond accordingly.

Whether listening to the classics or the latest pop hits, you enjoy clear reproduction of voices and instruments thanks to the speaker's balanced frequency response. If you want a different sound, you can switch it up using its bass and treble adjustments in the Amazon Alexa app. However, there's a little less bass mixed in than the Sonos Era 100, so you don't hear as much rumble in bass-centric tunes. That said, if you don't like a lot of EDM and hip-hop, you won't notice much difference. For a more budget-friendly price, it offers a great performance.

If you're on an even tighter budget, check out the Amazon Echo Gen 4. Its built-in Alexa does an excellent job understanding your commands, so you have no trouble controlling it from the comfort of your couch using only your voice. Like the Amazon Echo Studio, it has a built-in Zigbee hub, meaning you can control other smart home devices from the speaker. Its unique spherical design brings a stylish look to your home, with a ring of light underneath that flashes when you command it.

That said, for the price difference, the Echo Gen 4 doesn't perform quite as well as the Studio. Its default frequency response is fair, with clear reproduction of voices and lead instruments, but there's a little extra boominess in the bass that isn't ideal for everyone. You can still customize its sound with the Amazon Alexa app, which is nice. However, it still doesn't get as loud as the Studio, so it's best suited for listening in smaller-sized rooms. You can always check out the best Google Assistant speaker we've tested in the budget range, the Google Nest Audio, while Siri fans can look at the Apple HomePod mini. All three speakers perform similarly, but the Amazon speaker's voice assistant performance is a touch better overall.

The Amazon Echo Pop is an affordable smart speaker that's a great way to enter the space without breaking the bank. Available in several colors, this speaker boasts a small and compact footprint that suits smaller living spaces. Despite its wallet-friendly price, its voice assistant performance rivals that of more premium smart speakers on the market. The built-in Alexa can hear your commands clearly from across the room and pick out your voice through the noise of a party. You can mute the assistant for more private moments, too.

Given its small size, this speaker can't bring the same sound quality as the more premium speakers on this list. For example, it lacks the thump and rumble in the low-bass and doesn't get very loud. Still, it's more than suitable for listening to most vocal-centric content, like podcasts or the news. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, so it's easy to follow along with the conversation. It's a great way to bring smart technology into your home for an affordable price.

Many smart speakers are geared towards home use. What if you want to take your voice assistants on the go? The Sonos Roam is a great option for those who want a portable smart speaker. It's smaller and more lightweight than the Sonos Move, making it much more suitable for bringing along with you on the go. This speaker fits easily into your bag or backpack for your next trip outdoors. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, which is handy if you want to use it near the pool or just in your kitchen or bathroom. It lasts for over five hours off a single charge, too.

This speaker offers built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant. Both assistants have no trouble hearing your commands. Its sound is decent for listening to most music genres, too. However, it brings less low-bass than the larger and more premium Move. Again, the trade-off may be worth it if you want a smaller, more portable device. However, fans of thump and rumble might want to look at the Move instead.