If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED
Best for Basics
Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen.)
Best Bang for Your Buck
Google Nest Audio
Best for Sound
Sonos One (Gen 2)
Best Soundbar
Sonos Arc Soundbar
There are several voice assistants locked in a tug-of-war over who controls the smart speakers in your home: Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri. We prefer Google. Its Assistant answers questions more accurately, has a simpler setup process, and it connects to a growing number of smart home devices. All the devices below have built-in Google Assistant, so you can ask it anything you’d search for on Google, or ask it to control smart home products like robot vacuums, smart plugs, lights, and TVs.
Be sure to check out our handy guide on how to maintain your privacy as much as possible while still enjoying the luxuries of smart assistants. We also have many other buying guides, including the Best Smart Displays, Best Smart Speakers, and Best Alexa Speakers.
Updated July 2023: We’ve added the Google Pixel Tablet. We’ve also removed a few picks as Google is no longer providing software updates to some third-party displays.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
-
Photograph: Google
Best for Basics
Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen.)
The 2nd-gen Nest Mini (7/10, WIRED Review) is the successor to the original Google Home Mini, though you’ll be hard-pressed to find any visual changes. You do get improved audio quality, specifically stronger bass, and better voice recognition, plus the device is wall-mountable so you can save some space on the credenza. The volume controls light up as you approach the Mini and, perhaps best of all, the speaker is made with sustainable materials: The fabric around the top is 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, and the external enclosure is made with around 35 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
If you’re looking for the most affordable way to smarten up your home, the Nest Mini is where you should start. But if you’re planning to stream music a lot, this isn’t the option we recommend, because the Nest Mini doesn’t get too loud. It’s a little bigger than a hockey puck.
-
Photograph: Google
Best Bang for Your Buck
Google Nest Audio
The Nest Audio is impressive for its price (8/10, WIRED Recommends). This midsize speaker replaces the Google Home from 2016, and it improves on it with louder sound and deeper bass. It still won’t take up too much room, and its discreet design allows it to blend into your home. The long power cable helps, making it easy to place anywhere. Best of all, if you pair two of these together, WIRED reviewer Parker Hall says you get some of the best stereo sound for the money. There’s a physical switch to turn off the mic.
-
Photograph: Sonos
Best for Sound
Sonos One (Gen 2)
The second-generation Sonos One is a great option for people who want excellent audio quality but don’t want to spend several hundred dollars on speakers. You get capacitive touch controls on the top, including a mute switch for when you want to ensure privacy. It also always makes a pleasant tone when Google Assistant is activated, so you know when it’s listening. You can pair another Sonos One to get multiroom stereo sound, and if you have other Sonos speakers in your home, like the company’s soundbars, it can seamlessly connect to them. The Sonos Move (8/10, WIRED recommends) is a nice upgrade from Sonos (and it’s portable!), but it’s twice the price.
Sonos also has new Era speakers, but these don’t support Google Assistant for voice control. You can still control the Era models with a separate Google speaker (like the ones in this guide), but it’s not as easy as using the Sonos One. Check out our Best Sonos Speakers guide for more.
-
Photograph: Sonos
Best Soundbar
Sonos Arc Soundbar
The Sonos One sounds great, but if it’s in your budget, spring for the company’s Arc Soundbar (9/10 WIRED Recommends) and you’ll really step up your sound quality a notch. It has built-in voice support for Google Assistant (plus Alexa and Siri). The four far-field microphones can pick up a voice over the TV, so you can tell it to pause or lower the volume. It’s not the only soundbar with voice-assistant capabilities, but the Arc sounds downright excellent with Dolby Atmos support, and it will receive updates for probably the next decade. The only downside is the price.
The Sonos Beam (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a smaller option with great sound for half the price. Read our Best Soundbars guide for more recommendations.
