10 Best Smart Speakers 2025 in the United States

The Amazon Echo Spot is a compact smart speaker designed especially for nightstands, offices, or kitchens, with a built-in Alexa voice assistant that understands English and Spanish. Its standout feature is the customizable 2.83-inch touchscreen, which shows time, weather, song info, and offers easy control of smart home devices. You can personalize clock faces and colors, making it a handy bedside smart alarm clock with routines like waking you gently with music and light. Sound quality is surprisingly rich for its small size, providing clear vocals and decent bass from its 1.73-inch speaker. While it doesn’t have a camera, it includes a microphone with privacy controls like a mute button, so you can feel secure.

Connectivity supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth for streaming audio and connecting to other speakers, and compatibility with smart home protocols including Matter, making it versatile for controlling lights, thermostats, and more. The Echo Spot’s design is compact and lightweight, fitting well on small surfaces without being intrusive. Additional features include adaptive accessibility options, regular software security updates, and sustainability efforts using recycled materials.

The small speaker size means sound won’t be as powerful or full-bodied as larger smart speakers, so it’s better suited for personal use rather than filling a large room with music. Its screen resolution is modest, so visuals aren’t very sharp compared to bigger displays. Also, while Alexa offers many skills, some require subscriptions or extra fees. The Echo Spot is a strong choice if you want a smart speaker with a screen that fits neatly by your bed or desk, offers solid voice assistant functions, smart home control, and privacy features, but don’t expect booming sound or high-res video.

The Amazon Echo Dot (newest model) stands out with its enhanced sound quality, featuring clearer vocals and deeper bass, making it a great choice for music and audio content enthusiasts. Alexa's voice assistant functionality is robust, offering help with weather updates, timers, and answering questions. Additionally, the Echo Dot supports smart home integration, allowing users to control compatible devices and set up routines with built-in sensors for motion and temperature.

The device's privacy features, such as the mic off button and data protection measures, provide peace of mind for users concerned about privacy. The design is compact and modern, making it easy to fit into various room settings. Connectivity options are versatile, with support for dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, and even extension of wifi coverage with compatible eero networks.

However, it's worth noting that certain features and services may require subscriptions, and the device's compatibility with some Bluetooth speakers could be limited if they require PIN codes. The Echo Dot is also designed to last with guaranteed software security updates for at least four years. This smart speaker is ideal for those looking to enhance their home with a versatile, high-quality audio device that also acts as a central hub for smart home management.

The Amazon Echo Show 8 is a versatile smart speaker that excels in several areas. One of its standout features is the 8-inch HD touchscreen, which makes it easy to interact with the device, whether you're making video calls or viewing content like Prime Video and Netflix. The addition of spatial audio enhances the listening experience, providing room-filling sound that many users will appreciate. The 13 MP camera also delivers high-quality video calls, making it great for staying connected with friends and family.

A significant advantage of the Echo Show 8 is its smart home hub functionality. It supports a variety of devices via Zigbee, Matter, and Thread, allowing you to control compatible smart gadgets without needing a separate hub. This feature simplifies managing your smart home setup, and the voice control makes it even more convenient.

However, there are some limitations to consider. While the Echo Show 8 offers excellent functionality, it does require subscriptions for some streaming services. Additionally, the size might not be ideal for everyone, as it's heavier than some other smart speakers, which can limit where you might want to place it. The design is sleek and modern, but some users may prefer more compact options that can fit into smaller spaces. Privacy features are included, such as the ability to mute the microphone and camera, which is crucial for users concerned about their data security.

The Echo Show 8 is an excellent choice for those looking for a smart speaker that combines entertainment and smart home control, particularly if you value video calling and a vibrant display. However, potential buyers should weigh the size and subscription requirements against their specific needs.