Smart Speakers Vs. Smart Displays: Which Is Right For You?
If you're looking for an audio assistant for your home or office, you're in luck. There's a growing number of options, including portable options like Amazon Echos, Nest speakers, smart soundbars, and even Sonos Move.
But one decision quickly becomes important: Do you want a simple sound-centric smart speaker, or a smart display that includes a touchscreen with additional features? Let's compare the two options with what they offer and which is the smart choice for you.
size and style
Smart speakers don't necessarily have a touchscreen, so their models are usually smaller and more compact. They come in many design variations, from the Orb-like 4th Gen Echo to the obelisk-shaped Nest Audio . They can come in smaller versions like the Nest Mini or HomePod Mini, and some are even portable with a rechargeable battery so you can take them with you.
Smart displays forego these options in favor of touchscreens. It's a powerful feature, but it limits the design and makes experiences like the rotating Echo Show 10 (or Facebook/Meta Portal devices) cumbersome rather than not. They are also not available in portable models.
Winner : Smart Speaker
Voice
Another advantage of the clever speaker design is more space for the speakers and easier installation options. This enables Amazon's 360-degree sound design for the Echo, or the tweeter and woofer arrays found in speakers like the Apple HomePod or Echo Studio. This often results in loud noises, making smart speakers a great option for pumping up a room full of tunes.
Smart displays, on the other hand, tend to hide the speakers at the base, where they still do a good job of playing music but can't compete with smart speakers. Attempts like the Echo Show 10, which places the screen above the speaker base, are better, but generally smart displays lag behind on the audio side.
Winner : Smart Speaker
Intelligent functions and interactions
Smart speakers and smart displays come with a voice assistant, usually Google Assistant or Alexa (or both in some cases), although the HomePod range also offers Siri. The voice assistants themselves are essentially the same. You can issue the same commands, ask the same questions, and do everything from setting timers to starting voice calls.
But that's where the touchscreen comes in handy. They add another level of performance that smart speakers just can't match. You can stream videos, which allows you to watch live videos, YouTube music videos, your favorite shows (mostly supported by many streaming apps), news and more. You can also view visual results from the web and choose options to continue reading. Since smart displays are usually equipped with a camera, you can opt for video chat instead of voice chat. While voice assistants can provide interactive games with any device, smart displays offer more sophisticated gameplay thanks to the many options that touchscreens offer. And when not in use, the touchscreen can display a slideshow of photos, tell you the weather, and more.
Winner : Smart Display
facility and location
Where do you place your voice assistant? Smart speakers and smart displays have clear advantages here. Smart speakers are generally more versatile. They don't need to be around to make sound, so they can be placed on bookshelves, desks, hallways, etc. Smaller versions can make great bedside alarms (the newer Echo Dot even has an LED clock) or a desktop voice assistant.
Smart displays need to be close enough to touch the screen and see clearly, but you also want to close them. They work best as a kitchen table, desk, focal point, etc. The screens have also been enlarged, making the current Echo Show 15 large enough to be mounted on a wall as a portrait. You can also mount multiple smart speakers on the wall, but the effect is not the same.
Winner : Tie
privacy
Privacy is always a big issue with voice assistants; Can you trust the device to protect your personal information? Worse, is it possible for a smart speaker or smart display to spy on you, record your voice, or record a video of its surroundings without prompting you?
Luckily, voice assistants are programmed to only record commands after you say "Alexa" or "Hey Google," and you can control whether or not those recordings are saved. Barring speakers or screen breakers (don't buy these second-hand), the device is unlikely to be "spied on". The closest thing is something like Alexa's Drop In feature, which allows select friends and family to make calls on Echo devices, and you can always turn off the option.
But manufacturers know that's not enough. Today's smart displays also have buttons and bezels, so you can manually turn off microphones and cameras so they can't be used even if the software tries to turn them on.
Winner : Tie
price and availability
If you want to save, which device is best for you? Traditional smart speakers typically cost around $100, although there are exceptions like the Apple HomePod, which sold for well over that price (and was later discontinued). Mini versions of smart speakers can range from $50 ( second -gen Nest Mini) to $100 (HomePod Mini) and are the best way to save when you're looking for a bargain.
Meanwhile, smart displays can start at around $100 (second-gen Nest Hub ) and range up to $250 for something like the Echo Show 15. A watch or similar, limited model.
Winner : Smart Speaker
Which smartphone has the edge?
Smart displays are simply the best solution for certain situations, such as B. a kitchen companion, a desktop device you work on to stream shows or an interactive center for children and adults. If you like video chatting or want to live stream footage from your security cameras, these are an added value.
But for many other uses, smart speakers win. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, are generally less expensive, and tend to have better speaker designs. You can place them almost anywhere within earshot.
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