Best smart speakers 2020: it's an Alexa and Google Assistant showdown

published 27 February 2020

The best smart speakers 2020 come in all shapes and sizes. This is true whether you remember when all speakers did was play music from your hi-fi, or find yourself expecting every subwoofer you encounter to warn you to get the washing in because it’s going to rain soon.

UPDATED:Before you buy one of the best smart speakers on our list, know that research suggests they might be listening to us more than we think. According to a report from Forbes, Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa could be falsely activated more than 19 times a day. Of course that's not bound to bother some of us, but it might be worth thinking about or unplugging now and again if you have one in your home.

Link a smart speaker to other smart home kit and it will soon be dimming your lights as you drift off, or turning up the heating on a chilly day, while ordering loo roll for you. Or play trivia games with you on a rainy afternoon.

Despite this functionality, most of us primarily use a smart speaker for listening to music. It need to sound great, whether plonked in the middle of a room or parked in a corner. Looks are a key consideration too, with fewer people wanting their tech to look like am obvious gadget.

Finally, when you’re buying a smart speaker, consider which digital assistant – Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri – will be the invisible genie granting your every wish. Some of your existing tech may integrate more easily than others.

Vote for your favourite smart speaker.

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Best smart speakers

Spare grand in your pocket? Steer away from black, white and grey boxes and towards the beautifully designed Beosound 1 speaker.Not only does it promise to deliver 360-degree audio, its aluminum exterior and range of finishes set it apart. Inside you’ll find Google Assistant, plus integrated access to Spotify, Deezer QPlay, and TuneIn. The Beosound 1 connects wirelessly to other B&O products for multi-room sound. And because it’s battery powered, you can even take it into the garden.

It’s been a mere three years since the compact and affordable Echo Dot rolled its way into our lives. Entry-level it may be but this third generation brings lots to the party.That includes better sound than the second-gen, a tweaked design that makes it look less like an oversized hockey puck, and more like its fabric-covered competitors, and a choice of three shades of grey. It’s a great budget-friendly way to try Alexa and the increasing range of skills.

The Amazon Echo Show 5 is here and we've had a play with it. This five-inch beauty is a significant update to the original Echo Show, with Amazon redesigning the device from the ground up. It's a lot sleeker, looks like something you would definitely want on your bed stand and has a number of interesting new features, including the ability to call mobiles and landlines throughout the world and an auto dimming function on the display. You can also physically hide the camera if you are worried about any security issues.

Since launching at more than double the price, the LG WK7 is now under £100. It's brilliant value for what’s packed inside: Google Assistant, high resolution sound by audio specialist Meridian, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for easy peasy streaming, and Chromecast.There are also a couple of different modes to twiddle with the sound, if you prefer more bass or clearer vocals. But even without these, by smart speaker standards, it’s great for listening to your favourite tunes.

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