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There’s everything from tube status updates to bedtime stories in the mix. The power of Google means that you can ask for directions or traffic reports to anywhere, with the results being pulled from Google Maps. In comparison, the Echo can only give you traffic information to one address that you enter into the Alexa app.
It seems the best way to watch other services using Alexa is to get a Fire TV streaming device for your TV, which offers more streaming integrations than Google. Alexa doesn't place your devices on a single screen like Google—it uses buckets to categorize your smart devices. This is a bit clunkier than Google Home, since you need to select a category first before controlling an individual device.
Google Home vs Amazon Echo – Music and video
The profile contains details like calendars, photos, payment details, flight preferences, default media services, and many more. While we haven’t mentioned it much here, Apple’s HomeKit is the other major player in the world of smart home platforms. This is the ideal pick if you want to control your smart home from your iPhone or iPad, and it works with a fair few third-party devices along with the Apple 4K TV and HomePod Mini. If you’re surrounded by Apple tech at home, it’s the obvious choice but it doesn’t integrate with as many smart home devices as Google or Alexa do. For a full list of compatible gadgets, check out this page on Apple’s website – and the roundup of our favourite HomeKit devices here. This is a capable 7-inch smart display that is ideal for controlling your home from your bedside.
The Nest Audio lacks a bit of bass, while the Echo doesn't have much treble finesse, but both still offer high-quality sound considering their size and price. I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I’ve reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. Both devices have a calling feature and that feature relies on voice recognition.
Amazon Alexa vs. Google Home: Which Smart Home Ecosystem Is Best?
The white area is sloped forms the top of the Google Home embarking LED lights to indicate that the device is on, and can listen to your voice commands. Google Home doesn’t have the same level of third-party support as Alexa, but for the vast majority of users it’ll do everything that you need it to. Google Assistant also better ties into Google’s own apps and services -- so if you’re an Android user and use Google Assistant on other devices, the Home is the way to go. Both devices allow you to give voice commands that will let you turn the thermostat up or down, turn on the lights, lock a door, and much more. Best of all, they both work with some of today’s most popular products, including Nest thermostats, Philips Hue lights, and more. It's because voice assistants have to choose one reply within a few seconds.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication. The new Google Nest Mini is set to sound even better too, withy the inclusion of an extra speaker. There's no right or wrong approach really – Google's is simpler, but Alexa's encourages faster and broader development and support from third-parties. Alexa's Drop In feature only works with other Alexa-enabled devices.
Similar Apps To Consider
You can make free phone calls using Alexa and Google Assistant to anyone in your contacts list, a business, or by speaking the phone number directly. Calling also works on smart speakers and displays using Drop In and Google Duo. We suggest starting with a cheap smart speaker to decide if you like voice controls in the first place. At around $50 each, the Google Nest Mini and Echo Dot are excellent options for beginners.
Google Assistant can handle up to three actions in a single voice command. Saying "Hey Google, turn off the lamp and lock the door" is much faster than making separate requests like on Alexa. You can view all of your Google Assistant lists and notes at assistant.google.com/lists/mainview.
With the budget options, you might not get the best in bass and sound quality, but it isn't any less smart. Google's Home ecosystem is backed by a vast array of Google-branded smart devices. The company's open-door policy towards collaboration leaves room for exciting possibilities within your smart home. This ensures that each user accessing an Alexa unit can get a uniquely tuned smart home experience.
Google’s largest and most powerful smart display is the best one we’ve tested for Google Assistant. It has a clear screen, a built-in camera and we were impressed that its facial recognition means it can personalise the reminders and messages you see when you look at the screen. It’s bigger and chunkier, but if you’re after the best-sounding Alexa-enabled speaker for premium music streaming, go for this.
If you’re looking for the specifics that set them apart, then this breakdown will help you decide which system is right for you. If you're interested, we have a lot more to say about these companies. Check out our related articles below to explore what they can do and see our favorite devices for each.
Most recently, Google released the Nest Hub Max, putting Google Assistant in a 10-inch smart display. It's the first product to come out under the converged brand name of Google and smart home security brand Nest. Like the Echo Dot, the speaker is puck shaped, if a little more pebble-like with softer edges, and has a top side covered in a fabric speaker mesh. You can pick up the Google Home Mini in a range of colors, with four flashing LED lights illustrating when it's listening to your commands and showing the volume level.
Apple's HomeKit tilts towards a direction different from what Alexa and Google Home ecosystems offer. It is less concerned with countertop supremacy and wide coverage and more focused on security and reliability. As a result, the HomeKit ecosystem is somewhat limited, reminiscent of Apple's traditional closed-door policy towards innovation.
With beefed-up sound at the price of a standard Echo model it's well worth looking at the third-gen Echo if you're thinking of buying a new smart speaker. However, lots of users who have put the two devices head-to-head believe Google Assistant could be the smarter of the two. Learning experience, and wider variety of voices than Alexa, it has the biggest potential for the future. Every device that you assign to a room will react as part of that room. For example, if you have a smart plug and smart lights in the family room and tell the virtual assistant to turn off the family room, everything will turn off. It places all of your devices on the app's home screen so you can quickly navigate to the one you want to control.
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