Gone are those days when Amazon was the primary dominator in the smart home speakers market. The product is no longer meant for niche consumers either. Companies like Apple and Google have forayed into this sector and are doing quite well. It goes without saying that Amazon’s Echo was the original smart-home device in the market. But it now faces tough competition from Google Home and Apple’s recently-launched HomePod.
Design
When it comes to aesthetics, there is not much difference one can find between Google Home and Apple’s HomePod. Both their products share the bulb-like build and come in two primary colors.
The width and length on both the products are similar too. Amazon’s Echo, however, stands out when it comes to the design factor. The smart-home speaker by Amazon is taller. It further features a distinctive cylinder-like shape topped with LED lights. Users can control the speaker using a remote and built-in microphone for controlling Alexa makes things more convenient.
Audio experience
All three companies have their proprietary music services in place. Amazon has Prime Music, Google consists of Play and Apple’s iTunes has been in existence for a long time. Therefore, that is out the question of comparison. The good thing about Google Home is that it supports third-party services like Spotify too.
The same is applicable when it comes to Amazon Echo. Apple is still getting there when it comes to integration with other services.
Connectivity
There is definitely an upper-hand when it comes to Google Home. The product allows users to transfer (both) video and audio files to users’ other products like TV. Apple and Amazon may not necessarily include this ability.
The Bluetooth connection on Google Home is also pretty decent. Users can ask Home to play music on other speakers. Users simply need to ensure that the speakers are connected to the main system. The same facility is not included in Amazon Echo. One would probably have to connect the both manually using the 3.5mm port.
Services
Google Home offers a wide variety of services. The list includes Maps, Translate, and Calendar among others. Amazon Echo includes much more than one can imagine. Apart from the basic services, the company allows users to order from fast-food chains like Pizza Hut and Just Eat directly. Apple still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to this.
Price
Google Home is probably the cheapest, as it comes for a price of $129. This is followed by Amazon Echo, which costs around $180. Apple’s HomePod is the most expensive as it is available for a price of $349, noted Tech Radar.
