The Best Smart Speakers of 2023

If you’re looking for the best sound quality in a midrange smart speaker with useful features, and you don’t mind being stuck with Alexa, the Echo Studio is a great choice for sound. It functions as a Matter controller for Matter smart home devices and can also control Zigbee smart home devices, adding to its already impressive portfolio. Overall, we think the size is too big for every day use, but if you're looking to rock out with your smart speaker, the Echo Studio is a stellar choice.

As noted, this speaker is considerably larger than all the others we tested, but the additional size allows for deeper bass, better clarity, and immersive sound. The Studio is also unique in this space as it is designed to deliver 3D sound, thanks to its Dolby Atmos compatibility, including an upward-firing driver that bounces sound off your ceiling to better immerse you.

Usually, we think of surround sound in reference to movies. But, there is an entire genre of music that takes advantage of technology like that in the Echo Studio to deliver sound that seems to come from everywhere–even above you, though at the present it's limited to a small list of artists and streaming services, such as Amazon Music Unlimited.

While it doesn't work as an eero Wi-Fi extender, like other Amazon Echo smart speakers, and it doesn't have built in sensors for temperature and humidity, the Echo Studio makes for a great sounding smart home hub.

A smaller version of the Echo, the fifth-gen Amazon Echo Dot looks has a modern and minimal aesthetic as a fabric-covered orb smart speaker.

The status light ring is still around the base of said orb, making it easy to see when you have an Alexa notification or when Alexa is activated. It supports Matter, doubles as an eero Wi-Fi extender for up to 1,000 square feet, and also has built-in temperature and motion sensors for Alexa routines and added security.

The sound on the Echo (5th gen) sounds great for a speaker its size, offering deep bass and bigger sound.

It also comes in a version with an LED display on the front that shows the time, weather, and song titles when you ask.

Read our full review of the Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen).

It’s not often a speaker comes out that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with sound, but that’s exactly what Sonos has done with the Era 300. It’s the first spatial audio offering from Sonos, and while Dolby Atmos music is still a niche market, the depth of sound it delivers is remarkable. Not just for Atmos, either.

The Sonos 300 is one of the best sounding Bluetooth speakers on the market, with rich and full response that is far bigger than you’d expect from a speaker of its size.

The Sonos Era 300 looks unlike any other smart speaker—a design built out of function while keeping an attractive and unique profile. Its cinched shape houses six speakers aimed in different directions with capacitive controls on the top for transport and volume control.

Love it or hate it, the Era 300 requires the use of the Sonos app for setup and to get full functionality out of the speaker—including access to dozens of streaming apps, whole-home integration, and Alexa or Sonos Voice Control smart assistant setup.

There’s a wealth of functionality at the detriment of being a bit unintuitive to use. The smart assistant is quick and responsive, though, and the built-in mics (which can be turned off with a switch on the speaker) are able to hear commands from across the room.

Read our full Sonos Era 300 review

Google’s smallest smart speaker is the perfect entry point for someone who is new to smart home or wants to have several smart speakers throughout the house. While it won't compare favorably to some of the larger (and pricier) speakers on our list, the latest version of the Mini has surprisingly good sound for such a small package. It also works as a Matter controller to support your Matter smart home devices.

Most notably, the speaker is one of the most affordable you’ll find, even when it’s not on sale. If you're looking for easy access to Google Assistant without spending much cash, the Nest Mini is the way to go.

The Mini sounds bigger than its size. It’s probably more reasonable to compare this speaker's sound with that of the 4th-gen Echo than with the Echo Dot, the latter of which is about the same size as the HomePod Mini.

The HomePod Mini is also a great smart speaker for Apple smart homes. It has a built-in temperature and humidity sensor that can be used to execute routines and automations, and the Mini also supports Matter.

Most people who are interested in smart home technology would be better served opting for an Echo or Nest Audio, either of which offer great sound and far more smart home options, for the exact same price as the Mini. Or, you could pay half of that and get an Echo Dot or Nest Mini.

However, if you use Siri often on your iPhone or iPad and don’t mind looking a little harder for compatible smart tech, you might really love the HomePod Mini.

Apple’s products tend to work really nicely together, and they do what they do very well. If you’re OK with fully committing to the Apple HomeKit ecosystem, then don’t hesitate. The HomePod Mini is for you.

Read our full review of the HomePod Mini

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a wireless speaker pumps out a lot of sound for its size, and it manages to balance portability and durability surprisingly well. It operates via the Bose app and can work with either Alexa or Google Assistant.

The swivel handle on top makes it very easy to carry, and with its water-resistant design, this speaker is at home outdoors or poolside.

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker's battery lasts for several hours of high-volume music, and if you have another Bose speaker at home, it is capable of being grouped for multi-room music. The optional charging cradle also makes it super easy to grab on the way out the door.

The Portable Smart Speaker has a sturdy, thoughtful design, and it's a pleasure to use in any situation.

Read our full review of the Bose Portable Smart Speaker

The Sonos Move is the first offering from the brand that supports Bluetooth streaming. This is a big deal, because it opens up a world of streaming possibilities that aren't supported by Sonos' app.

The Move has impressive sound, a very handy charging base, good battery life, and of course it fits into the much-beloved Sonos ecosystem to interface with speakers like the Ikea-branded Symfonisk, and even the Sonos Arc Dolby Atmos soundbar.

One gripe we have about the speaker compared to the Bose Portable Home is that the Move doesn't feel particularly rugged. It’s heavy, so it feels like one good drop on a hard surface would do some serious damage. It has a cutout on the back that allows you to get a solid grip on the speaker if you’re carrying it around, but it’s not as secure in the hand as the Bose Portable Home’s top handle.

In addition, the price is considerably higher than the others we tested, and while Sonos speakers are quite popular, we feel the Sonos ecosystem can be a little finicky if you don’t have it set up just right.

Like other Sonos speakers, it doesn’t offer all of the smart home features that dedicated smart home ecosystem speakers, like the Apple HomePod, Nest Audio, and Amazon Echo, do.

While the Marshall brand is associated with guitar amps and bass cabinets, its recent offering to the smart speaker market shows that it's serious about competing with established smart speaker brands like Sonos. The Uxbridge Voice can be purchased with either Alexa or Google Assistant preinstalled, and the sound quality is alright.

It's the aesthetic of this speaker that really sets it apart from the crowd. Like the rest of the Marshall speaker lineup, it's designed to look like a vintage amp, and even the controls on top for volume, treble, and bass look a bit like guitar frets.

We love the look of this smart speaker, but it’s not for everybody. And if sound quality is at the top of your smart speaker wish list, you might be slightly disappointed with this one. Marshall does offer the Action II Voice and Stanmore II Voice, the latter of which is an absolute belter. Both come with voice assistants and considerably more power, though they're a lot larger than your average smart speaker.