Smart speakers
Smart speakers with a voice assistant, judged on sound, the assistant and smart-home control.
The best smart speaker, according to professional reviewers, is the Sonos Era 100: critic score 88 out of 100 from 8 reviews, 8 of them positive. Most praised: sound quality and connectivity. Most common complaint: price.
- 1Sonos Era 10088
- 2Sonos Era 30085
- 3Apple HomePod mini80
- 4Amazon Echo Studio (2025)79
- 5Amazon Echo Dot Max72
Sonos Era 100
8 professional reviewers tested the Sonos Era 100, and 8 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and connectivity. Most common complaint: price.
The catch: There is no Google Assistant, and line-in needs a paid adapter.
5 of these 8 outlets print no score. We estimated theirs from the review text and corrected for the known tendency of estimates to run high.
We earn a commission if you buy through this link. It never changes a score.
Not the Sonos Era 100? Pick by situation
How do they compare?
| Product | Score | Reviews | Agreement | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Era 100 | 88 | 8 | High | Best overall |
| Sonos Era 300 | 85 | 17 | Medium | Best for Dolby Atmos |
| Apple HomePod mini | 80 | 14 | Medium | Best for Apple users |
| Amazon Echo Studio (2025) | 79 | 4 (early) | Medium | Best for Alexa smart homes |
| Amazon Echo Dot Max | 72 | 4 (early) | Low | Best small Alexa speaker |
Not scored yet
We publish a score only once at least 4 professional reviews of the exact model exist.
- Apple HomePod (2nd generation) · 2 of 4 reviews needed
Common questions
What is the best smart speaker?
The Sonos Era 100, with a critic score of 88 from 8 professional reviews. Most praised: sound quality and connectivity. Most common complaint: price.
Sonos Era 100 vs Sonos Era 300: which is better?
Critics score the Sonos Era 100 88 and the Sonos Era 300 85. We list the Sonos Era 300 under “Best for Dolby Atmos”. Its main drawback: it is expensive, and Atmos tracks are hard to find.
Which smart speakers do critics disagree on?
The Amazon Echo Dot Max (scores from 50 to 80).