Smart speakers, like Google Home and Amazon Echo, are the hot tech item. The idea is that you can just talk to the device and it will perform certain tasks such as telling you weather, getting you directions, and playing music.
The great thing about these smart speakers is that you can use them for all sorts of things. Google and Amazon are constantly adding new features and functionality to their devices.
If you’re in the market for a smart speaker, you’re probably wondering what the differences are between the two most popular models: the Amazon Echo and the Google Home. Which of these two smart speakers is better?
We’re going to take a look at the features, pros, and cons of both devices to determine which smart speaker is best for you.
Both Google Home and Amazon Echo are controlled by your voice, which makes life a lot easier. You can tell either one to perform a certain task.
The Google Home is capable of controlling Nest products, including thermostats and cameras. The Amazon Echo can control some Wink products, such as lights and some types of thermostats.
Entertainment
Echo is capable of playing music from Amazon Prime Music and Spotify, which is a huge advantage if you use either of those services. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can stream Prime Music for free. If you use Spotify, you can play music for free using the free version of the app, but you’ll need to pay for a premium account to play anything on Spotify.
Google Home, on the other hand, can play music from a variety of services. It can play music from Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, and Pandora. You can also play music from other services by using a Google Home speaker as a Chromecast device.
The Echo has an advantage when it comes to audiobooks. You can only play audiobooks from Audible on the Google Home, but the Echo can play audiobooks from Audible, Libro.fm, and Overdrive.
Smart Home Integration
Talking about smart home integration, both smart speakers can interact with smart home devices and control them with your voice.
Google Home is capable of controlling Nest products, including thermostats and cameras. You can use your voice to adjust the temperature in the house, get a live video feed from your cameras, and view a video history of your Nest Cam.
The Amazon Echo can control some Wink products, such as lights and some types of thermostats. You can control lights using “Alexa, turn on/off the living room light.” You can also use the Amazon Echo to schedule lights to come on and off at a certain time.
Other Features
The Amazon Echo also has an advantage when it comes to connecting to other smart devices that use the Z-Wave protocol. The Echo is capable of connecting to Z-Wave smart devices, including locks and garage door openers.
The Google Home can connect to Nest and SmartThings devices. It’s also capable of connecting to any device that uses the IFTTT (If This Then That) protocol.
Both smart speakers can connect to smart home devices that use Wi-Fi. However, the Amazon Echo can connect to a wider range of smart home devices that use Wi-Fi.
The Echo is also capable of connecting to a larger number of smart home devices that use Bluetooth.
Which Speaker Is Best For You?
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll get a lot more use out of the Amazon Echo. It can play music from Amazon Prime Music and Spotify. It can connect to more smart home devices. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, this is the smart speaker for you.
If you’re interested in the Google Home, you’ll get more use out of it if you’re a Google user. It can play music from a larger number of services. It can connect to a larger number of smart home devices. However, it can’t play music from Amazon Prime Music or Spotify. If you’re interested in using a smart speaker with Google services, this is a great option.
We’re still in the early stages of smart speaker technology. We’re sure to see a lot more innovation in the coming years, especially as the competition heats up between Amazon and Google. For now, we’ve compared the two most popular smart speakers on the market to help you choose the best option for your needs.
