The Best Google Assistant Speakers for Your Home
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. We prefer Google. Its Assistant answers questions more accurately, it has a simpler setup process, and it connects to a growing number of smart home devices. 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.
Be 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. We also have many other buying guides, including the Best Smart Displays, Best Smart Speakers and Best Alexa Speakers.
Updated December 2020: We've added Lenovo's Smart Clock Essential and the Google Nest Audio. We've also removed the discontinued JBL Link View and fixed prices throughout.
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- Photograph: Google
Best for Basics
Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen.)The Nest Mini is the successor to the original Google Home Mini, though you'll be hard-pressed to find any visual changes. You do get improved audio quality, specifically stronger bass and better voice recognition, and the device is wall-mountable so you can save some space on the credenza. The volume controls light up as you approach the Mini and, perhaps best of all, the speaker is made with sustainable materials: The fabric around the top is 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, and the external enclosure is made with around 35 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
If you're looking for the most affordable way to smarten up your home, the Nest Mini is where you should start. It's definitely worth a few bucks more than the original version, which is still available at some retailers. But if you're planning to stream music a lot, this isn't the option we recommend, because the Nest Mini doesn't get very loud. It's a little bigger than a hockey puck.
- Photograph: Sonos
Best for Sound
Sonos One (Gen 2)The second-generation Sonos One is a great option for people who want good audio quality but don't want to spend several hundred dollars on speakers. You get capacitive touch controls on the top, including a mute switch for when you want to ensure privacy. It also always makes a pleasant tone when Google Assistant is activated, so you know when it's listening.
You can pair another Sonos One to get multiroom stereo sound, and if you have other Sonos speakers in your home, like the company's soundbars or larger speakers, it can seamlessly connect to them. The Sonos Move (8/10, WIRED recommends) is also a nice option from Sonos (and it's portable!), but it's twice the price.
Read our Sonos guide to learn more.
- Photograph: Google
Best Bang for Your Buck
Google Nest AudioThe Nest Audio is impressive for its price (8/10, WIRED Recommends). This midsize speaker replaces the Google Home from 2016, and it improves on it with louder sound and deeper bass. It still won't take up too much room, and its discreet design allows it to blend into your home. The long power cable helps, making it easy to place anywhere. Best of all, if you pair two of these together, WIRED reviewer Parker Hall says you get some of the best stereo sound for the money. There's a physical switch to turn off the mic.
- Photograph: Sonos
Best Soundbar
Sonos Arc SoundbarThe Sonos One sounds great, but if it's in your budget to spring for the company's Arc Soundbar (9/10 WIRED Recommends), you'll really step up your sound quality a notch. It has built-in voice support for Google Assistant (plus Alexa and Siri). The four far-field microphones can pick up a voice over the TV, so you can tell it to pause or lower the volume. It's not the only soundbar with voice-assistant capabilities, but the Arc sounds downright excellent with Dolby Atmos support, and it will receive updates for probably the next decade. The only downside is the price.
The Sonos Beam (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a smaller option with great sound for half the price.
- Photograph: Best Buy
Best Smart Display
Google Nest Hub MaxAssistant-powered speakers are limited to sound, which is why smart displays are becoming more common. You get similar audio quality plus a screen to see things like the weather forecast, rather than just hear it. 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). When not in use the screen doubles as a digital photo frame, cycling images from Google Photos.
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. It now also supports group video calls with Duo and Google Meet. The camera can identify people in the household, so when you step in front of it, you'll see a personalized calendar. It can also recognize your palm, for when you want to pause music or videos hands-free. Best of all, there's a physical switch on the back that turns off the mic and camera.
If the 10-inch size is too big, the 7-inch Nest Hub is a nice option. 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.
- Photograph: Lenovo
A Display for the Kitchen
Lenovo Smart DisplayLenovo's Smart Display (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is an excellent alternative to the Google-made one above, and it comes in three sizes. Its speakers sound decent, there's a camera for video calls, and it has a privacy shutter! Plus, the 8- and 10-inch models can stand vertically or horizontally.
The 10 incher takes up a fair bit of room, so if you're looking for a smaller screen without compromising on features (like cameras), go for the 7- or 8-inch options.
- Photograph: Lenovo
Best for Bedrooms
Lenovo Smart ClockIf you want a small display that's focused on telling the time above all, Lenovo's Smart Clock (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the way to go. It's limited compared to other smart displays because it won't show you any videos, and there's no camera for video calling. Lenovo added the ability to see albums from Google Photos, and you can still see visual responses, like when you ask it the weather, but it prioritizes the clock, so you can reliably see the time when you wake up in the morning. If you use it to set alarms, it will eventually start suggesting alarm times.
When the alarm is ringing, just say "stop" and the blaring sounds will cease—no "hey Google" needed. For a more tactile touch, thump the top of the clock to trigger snooze mode. What's nice is the variety of clock designs you can choose from. If you don't want a display, see the Smart Clock Essential below.
- Photograph: Best Buy
A Simpler Bedroom Clock
Lenovo Smart Clock EssentialIf you don't need a fancy display at all, Lenovo's Smart Clock Essential is a capable alarm clock. Its small size and basic functions make it best for use on a bedside table. After all, it looks like a classic digital clock with a simple LED screen showing the time and weather. However, there's built-in Google Assistant—you can ask it to set an alarm for tomorrow, tell you the weather, or turn off your smart lights (you can turn off the microphone with a switch on top too). There's a nightlight on the back that will dimly illuminate the area so you can find your way in the dark, but it's not so bright that you'll wake up someone else in the room.
- Photograph: Bose
Another Portable Alternative
Bose Portable Home SpeakerThe Bose Portable Home Speaker is for people who want a take-anywhere speaker that prioritizes sound quality. The 360-degree speakers toss sound in all directions, and there's solid bass response. The built-in handle makes it easy to carry around, and the battery lasts more than 10 hours on a charge. It connects to your Wi-Fi network, which is how you can talk to Google Assistant, but if you leave the house with it, you can connect to it via Bluetooth through your phone to stream music. It's one of the prettier portable speakers on our list.
The device's controls sit at the top, and there's a Mute switch for privacy. It has only an IPX4 rating, making it splashproof but not fully waterproof like the JBL. That makes it fine to put in the bathroom if you want to jam out in the shower, but this isn't the speaker to take to the beach. It's also quite expensive.
- Photograph: Amazon
Most Stylish
Klipsch The Three SpeakerIf you prioritize looks above everything else and want your smart speaker to draw eyes in the home, then you can't go wrong with Klipsch's The Three. It's one of the most expensive smart speakers we've tested, but its mixture of wood veneer, fabric, and metal switches and knobs makes it easily the most stylish. It sounds pretty good too, though you will need to make some room for its boxy, chunky design.
This model is no longer available on Amazon, and we haven't tested the newer, cheaper Three II model yet, but Klipsch is consistently good, and this one looks nearly identical to the original Three.
- Photograph: Polk
More Good Sound
Polk Audio Assist Smart SpeakerIf you see Polk's Assist speaker for less than $150, buy it. It's one of the best midrange Google speakers around, and it's a step up from the original Google Home. It's powerful enough to play music, and there's something charming about it. I particularly like the 10 light-up orbs to display volume—a step up from the four orbs on most Google speakers, like the Nest Mini. Polk prides itself on usability and simplicity, and it shows. The Assist isn't the best-sounding speaker, but I keep it around anyway.
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