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Alexa, one of the world's most popular digital assistants, is seemingly everywhere in 2019. Just about everything supports Alexa one way or another, including a big laundry list of smart speakers. Not sure which one(s) to buy? These are our favorites!
The one to get
Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen)
Staff pick
It may not have the greatest-sounding speaker on this list, but the Echo Dot is the best overall Alexa speaker for most people. Why? It's compact, looks good in just about any home, is affordable, and honestly doesn't sound half-bad for casual music and podcast streaming. You can also pair two of them together for stereo sound.
Most powerful Echo
Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen)
If you have deep pockets and want the best-possible Alexa experience around, you'll want to splurge for the Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen). Not only do you have access to all of your usual Alexa voice commands, but the 10.1-inch HD means you can also watch TV shows, follow song lyrics, see your weather forecast, make video calls, and much more.
Works with everything
Sonos One
The Sonos One may not look like anything special at first glance, but boy howdy is this is a great speaker. Not only does it sound utterly fantastic, but it works with pretty much everything. You can talk to Alexa without a problem, or if that's not your thing, you can use Google Assistant. It even supports AirPlay 2 for iPhone users and can be paired seamlessly with other Sonos speakers.
Alexa on the go
Ultimate Ears Megablast
Most Alexa-enabled speakers are stationary and need to be plugged in, but with the Megablast you get the convenience of a portable Bluetooth speaker with all the power of Alexa to take with you wherever you want (Wi-Fi connection required, of course). The battery lasts up to 12 hours on one charge, an IP67 rating offers dust/water resistance, and there are plenty of colors to choose from.
For your TV
Polk Audio Command Sound Bar
With the Polk Audio Command, you can upgrade your TV's built-in speakers while also integrating some Alexa smarts at the same time. Alexa works how you'd expect, allowing you to ask about the weather, control smart home gadgets, etc. The sound bar itself supports DTS and Dolby, comes with a wireless subwoofer, and is super easy to set up.
Built-in smart home hub
Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen)
Perhaps the best screen-less speaker in Amazon's Echo lineup, the Echo Plus brings a lot of stuff to the table. It has a lovely fabric design, excellent sound with powerful bass, and 360-degree audio. It even acts as a Zigbee smart home hub, meaning it can act as a hub for Zigbee-compatible lights, switches, and sensors.
The power of Bose
Bose Home Speaker 500
Bose, one of the leading audio brands in the world, has a pretty great Alexa speaker on its hands with the Home Speaker 500. This is one of the most expensive options on our list, but for the price, you're getting uncompromised stereo sound that can fill a room in an instant. It also has powerful mics and a unique built-in screen so you can see what song is playing.
Budget pick
Eufy Genie
For those of you that aren't concerned with speaker quality and just want to get Alexa in your home for as cheap as possible, the Eufy Genie is certainly worth a look. The plastic design isn't very inspired and it won't be your first choice for music listening, but it gets Alexa in your home at a price everyone can get behind. At the end of the day, that's all some people want.
Affordable display
Amazon Echo Show 5
With the Echo Show 5, you're essentially getting 80% of the Echo Show experience in a much smaller and more affordable package. The display is shrunk down to 5.5-inches with a lower resolution and the speaker isn't as impressive, but all of the core features remain the same and the lower price tag is just right. This one even has a physical cover for the video camera!
Compact soundbar
Sonos Beam
You wouldn't think the Sonos Beam could pack a big punch considering its small size, but man, would you be wrong. Despite being one of the smallest soundbars on the market, the Beam sounds downright fantastic with crisp, powerful sound no matter if you're watching movies or listening to music. In addition to Alexa, it also works with Google Assistant and AirPlay 2.
Big sound, small price
Jam Symphony
Getting a speaker that sounds good without spending a lot of money can be hard to do, but that's exactly what you get with the Jam Symphony. The Symphony kicks out 2.1 surround sound, meaning you can fill a small to medium room with just it and nothing else. It has Alexa built-in, can be paired with other Jam speakers, and is a breeze to set up.
Looks like nothing else
Marshall Action II
Some Alexa speakers clearly look like a piece of technology, but that's not at all the case with the Marshall Action II. This classy design is one of our favorites, and along with its striking aesthetic, the Action II also sounds fantastic with large sound in its small body. You'll also find physical control knobs to adjust the volume, bass, and treble.
The Echo Dot is the best choice for most people
Overall, we're inclined to give our top recommendation to the Amazon Echo Dot (3rd Gen).
There are plenty of Alexa-enabled speakers to choose from (this list is proof of that), but with the Echo Dot, you get a solid design, decent sound, and all the power of Alexa in a compact footprint. Add that together with a low price tag and you've got yourself a winner. Whether you're just starting out with Alexa or want to add it to more rooms of your home, the Echo Dot fits the bill really well.
Get the Echo Show for the best Alexa experience
There's no denying that the Echo Dot is a great choice, but what if you have more cash to spend? If that's the case, we'd say splurge for the Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen).
While the core Alexa experience remains the same, you get the added benefit of having a screen to go along with it. This means you can see a visual for weather forecasts, follow step-by-step recipes, browse the web, watch movies and TV shows, and plenty more.
Not only that, but the Echo Show also delivers truly great speakers and a video camera so you can video chat with friends and family whenever you want.
by Joe Maring