The 7 Best Smart Speakers - Spring 2025

The best smart speaker we've tested is the JBL Authentics 500. This premium home speaker offers built-in support for two voice assistants, Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can use both simultaneously. It stands out from the crowd thanks to its impressive sound quality and stylish retro design, which is inspired by classic JBL speakers like the L100. This speaker also comes with many modern-day features, like Dolby Atmos support and a room calibration tool that is designed to optimize the speaker's sound based on the unique acoustics of your living room.

Thanks to its voice assistant support, you can activate this speaker using only your voice. It understands your commands clearly, even if you're in a noisy environment or on the other side of the room. In addition to excellent voice assistant support, it offers an impressive reproduction of voices and lead instruments, so you get a clear and balanced sound overall. The speaker's bass and treble knobs let you adjust the sound to your liking, and there's also a graphic EQ for this purpose in the JBL One app. Overall, this feature-packed speaker might be a little much for those who want a simpler smart speaker, but it stands out as among the best.

The Sonos Era 300 is a more affordable smart speaker that's a great alternative to the JBL Authentics 500. This premium device offers built-in Alexa support for hands-free control. Available in either black or white, it boasts a sleek style that'll blend into your living room decor, which is especially handy if you want to use it as part of your home theater setup. That's right—this speaker connects to other Sonos devices in your home ecosystem and pairs with compatible Sonos soundbars for at-home surround sound. It also comes with Dolby Atmos support, which is great if you want to watch movies in this format or listen to Dolby Atmos Music on compatible streaming platforms.

This speaker gives you access to lots of premium sound enhancement tools. Trueplay, the manufacturer's room correction tool, is available to optimize the speaker's sound based on your room's acoustics. The full feature is only available with iOS devices, but Android users can access a simpler alternative. If you prefer, bass and treble adjustments let you switch up the sound manually. It's also the best-sounding smart speaker we've tested, which audiophiles will appreciate. This smart speaker is still among the finest on the market, so it might feel excessive if you're looking for a simple plug-and-play device to listen to music. Still, it's worth a look.

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is one of the best voice assistant-equipped speakers you can get at a more affordable price than the Sonos Era 300. This stylish device has a wide array of smart speaker functionalities to make the most of your listening experience, including support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The Bose does an excellent job of understanding voice commands from far away and is great at separating your voice from any noise around you. It's also battery-powered, making it among the best portable smart speakers we've tested. Its IPX4 rating means it's not as weather resistant as the IP67-rated Sonos Roam 2, which we discuss further down the page, but the portability is nice to have, even if you're less likely to take the Bose on camping trips.

Whether listening to the classics or the latest pop hits, you'll enjoy a clear reproduction of voices and instruments thanks to the speaker's balanced mid-range. Out of the box, there's extra warmth in the bass, which disco fans might enjoy, but if you prefer a more controlled low-end, you can adjust the bass and treble sliders in the companion app. That said, the low-frequency extension doesn't get quite as deep as the Era 300's, so you won't feel as much rumble from 808 kick drums. Still, as its name suggests, this speaker offers something the Sonos doesn't: battery support. It also has a built-in handle, so you can easily carry it around from room to room.

If you want a premium speaker at a more accessible price, check out the Sonos Era 100. As its name suggests, it's the smaller, more cost-effective alternative to the Sonos Era 300. It comes with many of the same features, including built-in Alexa support, and you can pair it with other Sonos devices to spread audio throughout your room or create a home theater setup with one of its compatible soundbars. Unlike the Bose Portable Smart Speaker, the Era 100 lacks a battery, so you'll have to keep it plugged in. Still, Trueplay room correction is available, though only iOS users can access the full feature.

The main difference between this speaker and the Era 300 is that this model doesn't support Dolby Atmos Music. As a result, you can't take advantage of a more immersive sound with certain tracks on compatible platforms like TIDAL. It doesn't get as loud as the larger Era 300, either. Still, it's suitable for listening to many different music genres and gets loud enough to fill a typical living room with sound. Voices are especially clear, which is great for listening to pop and other vocal-centric genres. Overall, it's a versatile pick for smart speakers, and if you don't listen to much Atmos content, it may be a better deal for you.

If you're searching for a smart speaker on a budget, check out the Amazon Echo Gen 4. Its built-in Alexa does an excellent job understanding your commands, so you'll have no trouble controlling it from the comfort of your couch using only your voice. It also has a built-in Zigbee hub, meaning you can control other smart home devices from the speaker. Its unique spherical design brings a stylish look to your home. At the base of the speaker, a ring of light flashes when you give it a command.

That said, it's not quite as fun to listen to as the Sonos Era 100, because it doesn't get as loud, and there's a fair bit of compression at its max volume, which robs kick drums of thump and punch. That's to be expected, since the Amazon is smaller than the Era 100, but it's worth noting if you love to blast the latest dance hits while cooking or cleaning. Regardless of your preferences, you can customize its sound using the bass and treble sliders in the Amazon Alexa app.

If you're still deciding between voice assistants, you can check out the best Google Assistant speaker we've tested in the budget range, the Google Nest Audio, while Siri fans can look at the Apple HomePod mini. All three speakers perform similarly, but the Amazon speaker's voice assistant performance is a touch better overall.

The Amazon Echo Pop is an affordable smart speaker that's a great way to enter the space without breaking the bank. This speaker is available in several colors and boasts a compact footprint that suits smaller living spaces. Despite its wallet-friendly price, its voice assistant performance rivals that of more premium smart speakers. The built-in Alexa can hear your commands clearly from across the room and pick out your voice through the noise of a party. You can mute the assistant for more private moments, too.

This speaker can't deliver the same sound quality as the Amazon Echo Gen 4 or other more premium options on this list. For example, it lacks thump and rumble in the low-bass and doesn't get very loud. Still, it's more than suitable for listening to most vocal-centric content, like podcasts or the news. Dialogue is reproduced clearly, so it's easy to follow along with the conversation. It's a great way to bring smart technology into your home for an affordable price.

Most smart speakers on the market are geared towards in-home use, which is reflected in their wired-only designs. They aren't the most suitable for on-the-go listening since you must keep them plugged into a power outlet to use them. Fortunately, those who want to bring their smart features with them can opt for battery-powered models, like the Sonos Roam 2, the best portable smart speaker we've tested. This speaker is great for listening in your backyard or on your next camping trip, and it's small and lightweight enough to throw right into your bag or backpack. It's even rated IP67 for dust and water resistance to help protect it against the elements.

This speaker features some changes from its predecessor, the Sonos Roam/Roam SL. While it still has an excellent voice assistant performance, it's no longer compatible with Google Assistant; instead, it opts for built-in Alexa and Sonos Assistant. There's also a dedicated Bluetooth button now, so you don't accidentally power it down while trying to pair. Due to its smaller size, it doesn't get as loud as the more premium picks on our list, and it can't reproduce as much rumble in the bass. If you want a portable smart speaker with better bass and don't mind a larger, heavier speaker, the Sonos Move 2 may be a better option. Along with superior bass performance, its larger size also means it can get louder. It has a longer battery life, and its voice assistant performance is just as good, too.