“Alexa, play my favorite song”, “Hey Siri, can you show me the way home?”

While it seems that we are talking to an invisible person, that is not the case. With the increasing popularity of virtual assistants including Alexa and Siri, the smart speakers market has expanded consistently over the past few years. 

Besides, as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve and mature rapidly, we are seeing an influx of smart products that come with an in-built virtual assistant. 

We are going to take a closer look at one of these smart products in this article today – smart speakers. 

Smart speakers are in trend and the sales are only growing each. As per the current trends, we do not see any reasons why smart speakers will not be in vogue in the years to come. 

But what are smart speakers? What do they do and what are the top smart speakers for 2022?

Let’s take a look at some of the best smart speakers you should consider buying in 2022. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon makes it simpler for smart home devices to inform customers about low supply levels

What are smart speakers?

Smart speakers are audio and voice command devices that come with a built-in virtual assistant. The virtual assistant enables you to play your favorite songs, podcasts, videos and use keywords to extract information from the web. 

The best smart speakers come with a built-in voice assistant which allows you to perform the different tasks mentioned above. 

Voice assistants can do a lot more than play your favorite songs. They can also take you through the latest headlines, set an alarm, and also some of your questions. 

Whether you like Siri, Google Assistant, or Siri, there is a smart speaker just for you. 

Today, there are a host of smart speakers that have hit the market from top brands including Google, Amazon, and more. Over the past few years, even third-party brands including Sonos and Bose have attracted a significant customer base. 

The combination of new market entrants along with established brands, and the emergence of new technologies have shaped the smart speakers market in recent years.

Currently, we have a dazzling array of smart speakers in the market. Check out our list of some of the best smart speakers for 2022.

Best smart speakers in 2022

1. Sonos One

Sonos One

If you are looking for a speaker with surreal sound and quality, Sonos One should be your first choice. The device’s unreal sound quality has left a lot of users wishing that Sonos One was a larger device. 

Just like other Sonos devices, you can link pair two Sonos One’s for a true stereo sound, and also connect them Sonos speakers inside your house. 

The rich sound of these amazing speakers coupled with the mic’s ability to pick up commands from a distance makes it one of the top smart speakers in 2022. 

Sonos One specifications:

  • Voice assistant: Google Assistant or Alexa
  • Physical controls: Volume control, previous/next track, microphone mute, play/pause
  • Power: Mains

Why you should buy Sonos One?

  • Rich and amazing sound
  • The mic picks up voice commands even from a distance
  • Access to both Alexa and Google Assistant

Why you can give Sonos One a miss?

  • Steep pricing compared to some other alternatives

2. Apple HomePod mini

Apple Homepod mini

If you are looking to explore and try your hand at Apple’s smart ecosystem or have an Apply Music subscription, these smart speakers are highly recommended. 

In fact, what surprises a lot of people is the cost of these amazing smartspeakers. It provides top-notch sound quality for just under $100 or AU$ 150. 

In addition, it is the only smart speaker which has Siri built-in as Apple stopped producing HomePod in 2021. 

The only downside of purchasing these speakers is that if you do not have an Apple Music subscription, you have very few options when it comes to music streaming. 

For instance, you cannot ask the virtual assistant to play music or podcasts on Spotify. Moreover, there are very few smart home products that work with this smart speaker in comparison to that available for Google Assistant and Alexa-enabled speakers. 

If audio quality and performance, the Apple HomePod mini are second to none. 

Apple HomePod mini specifications:

  • Voice assistant: Siri
  • Physical controls: Volume control, play/pause, previous/next track, summon Siri
  • Power: Mains

Why you should buy an Apple HomePod mini?

  • Neat, tidy, and sleep design
  • It is the only smart speaker that comes with Siri built-in
  • Sound performance and quality

Why you can give the Apple HomePod mini a miss?

  • You need an Apple Music subscription to use these speakers optimally
  • These speakers are compatible with very limited smart home devices

3. Amazon Echo Studio

The Amazon Echo Studio is the company’s premium smart speakers that are essentially designed for those who want the cinema experience in the comfort of their homes. 

These are some of the most powerful smart speakers in the market which you can easily set up with the Alexa app to create a surreal experience. 

However, to utilize the product to its full potential, you will need an Amazon Music HD subscription. 

Another factor that makes these speakers so attractive is their affordability in comparison to other smart speakers such as Sonos. 

Amazon Echo Studio specifications:

  • Voice assistant: Alexa
  • Physical controls: Volume control, microphone mute, play/pause
  • Power: Mains

Why you should buy Amazon Echo Studio?

  • The sound quality is one of the best in this range
  • You can combine two sets of these smart speakers to take your home cinema experience to the next level

Why you can give the Amazon Echo Studio a miss?

  • These smart speakers are large in size
  • You need a subscription for 3D audio

How can you choose the best smart speakers in 2022

Before you decide which speakers to pick, determine how and where you are going to use them. If you are looking for a smart speaker that nestles in your living room and plays music at your beck and call, you should be eyeing speakers with good audio quality. 

SEE ALSO: 7 Smart home technology trends to watch out for in 2021

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Feature Image Source: Image by ben don from Pixabay

Image 1 Source: Sonos 

Image 2 Source: Apple