The big commercial hit of the year is undoubtedly represented by the Smart Speakers, the devices that include an artificial intelligence inside which you can talk to ask for information and to carry out various types of actions.
While before the voice assistants were only apps inside smartphones (such as Siri on iPhone or Google Assistant on Android), now they have been inserted into smart devices that work independently and are able to interact with any other compatible device in the home.
When it comes to smart speakers and home helpers, two are the best choices you can make: Google Home with Google Assistant or Amazon Echo with Alexa Assistant, both released in Italy a few months ago.
These are very similar devices, both in form and in functions, but with an important difference that concerns precisely the ability of the virtual assistant to answer questions and voice commands.
In the comparison between Google Home and Amazon Echo Dot it is therefore necessary to understand if the Google assistant or Alexa is smarter, when one or the other is stronger and which device to choose and buy.
READ ALSO: Amazon Echo functions with Alexa, the intelligent virtual assistant
READ ALSO: What Google Home can do: voice assistant, music and home automation
1) Price
In this article we compare the Google Home Mini, on sale on the Google site for 30 Euros on offer (otherwise they are 60) and the Third Generation Amazon Echo Dot, on sale on Amazon for 35 Euros on offer (otherwise they are also 60 ).
Keep in mind that the more expensive versions of these smart speakers are only larger speakers that feel louder, but with the same artificial intelligence.
Personally I believe that the Home Mini and Echo Dot models are preferable, at least in this phase, to try out how a smart speaker works without spending too much money.
In addition, both devices can be connected to more powerful audio systems, if you really want to hear the music at high volume.
2) Hardware features
Similar price and similar hardware features.
On the Echo Dot, in fact, there are seven far-field microphones, advanced Bluetooth audio support and a 3.5 mm audio jack to connect external speakers via cable.
On the Google Home, however, there is no Audio Jack and there are only two far-field microphones.
This means that the Amazon speaker is better at understanding voice commands even if we don't speak to him closely.
From the point of view of form and aesthetics, perhaps we should give an extra point to the Google Home which is more refined than the Amazon Echo Dot, however very cute and discreet and available in various colors.
3) Music
The main function of a Smart Speaker is certainly that of listening to music and both devices, the Google and the Amazon, transmit streaming music from Google Play Music and Amazon Music respectively. Amazon Music is free in a limited version for Amazon Prime customers on Echo. On Google Home, however, you can listen to music for free using Youtube Music.
Both speakers support Spotify Premium and can stream music from Italian radios using the TuneIn app, which is free in any case.
4) Books
While both can read books aloud, Alexa is clearly ahead in this sector because it can draw from the Kindle library, the most widely supplied in the world.
5) Movies and videos
Google Home is capable of controlling playback on Chromecast devices.
Alexa is able to manage the Fire TV and the Amazon streaming service (although in the Italian version I have not found this function at the moment)
4) Artificial Intelligence: Alexa vs Google
The comparison between the two vocal assistants is certainly a challenge to the death that would require a parallel on each posisible question to understand who answers more precisely and also who gives more interesting and valid information.
Speaking in general and with the due premise that with software updates and improvements things can change at any time, we can still notice some relevant differences.
Alexa from Amazon is, at the moment, a more colloquial and familiar voice, more pleasant to talk to us and also nice.
The Google assistant, however, is capable of answering multiple complex questions because it can search the internet, which is not possible with Alexa.
Google Assistant is able to better understand mixed syntax and more complex requests.
With Google, commands can also be grouped into one sentence.
With Alexa you have to give one command at a time, waiting for him to answer before giving him another.
One of the best things the speaker can do with Google Assistant is that information is shared with the Android smartphone and the whole Google world is connected to it.
In fact, if you use Google Gmail, the calendar and other apps, they can be integrated into the Google Home Mini.
Both systems can automate operations based on precise commands, with Routines (this function has been recently added on Google Home) that allow you to set a series of actions with a single voice command.
While the Google assistant we can say that he has a general culture of being able to search the internet is certainly relevant, Alexa has the ability to expand his functions thanks to the so-called Skills, which are a bit like the platform apps or the extensions of a browser.
In practice, new Skills can be installed on Alexa to be able, for example, to find cooking recipes, to listen to sounds of nature, to listen to Ansa news, for TV guides and much more.
With Skills, Alexa becomes potentially universal in her abilities.
5) Home automation
Thanks to the skills and the ability of the Echo Dot and Alexa to expand, it becomes an almost universal home automation device manager that works to turn bulbs on and off with your voice, activate and deactivate electrical outlets, control the thermostat, cameras and others devices of almost every brand.
6) Phone calls and messages
In addition to music, a basic function of every Smart Speaker is to be able to make hands-free phone calls.
In this The Amazon Echo Dot has a great advantage, that of calling for free the phone of other users who have installed the Alexa app.
In addition, the Amazon Echo also allows you to send free voice messages to other Echo users, which is currently not possible with Google Home.
Alexa then creates a telephone network similar to that of Skype, where calls and messages are free for registered users.
There is also recent news of an integration between Skype and Amazon Echo, which will become active next year.
Conclusion
In this brief comparison we can see how Alexa of Amazon is, for the moment, better at managing Smart Home devices and Skills, while Google Home is more informed in answering general questions and various curiosities and allows you to integrate the Android smartphone, Gmail and other Google services in a personalized way.
Alexa also allows you to make free calls and has the audio jack to connect to external speakers without the need for bluetooth.
For these reasons, if you were undecided about which Smart Speaker to take and had no particular preferences regarding the brand, the Echo Dot would be the one to prefer because it is more promising and more complete in functionality.
those who are particularly attached to Google products, however, may prefer the Google Home, in order to integrate it with other apps and devices.
Personally I think that the Smart Speaker with intelligent virtual assistant, whatever the choice between Amazon Alexa or Google Home, is not something you can feel the need, but once at home it becomes truly essential and also makes you want to have more than one in each room.
I also think that for this Christmas there will be no more appreciated gift.
While before the voice assistants were only apps inside smartphones (such as Siri on iPhone or Google Assistant on Android), now they have been inserted into smart devices that work independently and are able to interact with any other compatible device in the home.
When it comes to smart speakers and home helpers, two are the best choices you can make: Google Home with Google Assistant or Amazon Echo with Alexa Assistant, both released in Italy a few months ago.
These are very similar devices, both in form and in functions, but with an important difference that concerns precisely the ability of the virtual assistant to answer questions and voice commands.
In the comparison between Google Home and Amazon Echo Dot it is therefore necessary to understand if the Google assistant or Alexa is smarter, when one or the other is stronger and which device to choose and buy.
READ ALSO: Amazon Echo functions with Alexa, the intelligent virtual assistant
READ ALSO: What Google Home can do: voice assistant, music and home automation
1) Price
In this article we compare the Google Home Mini, on sale on the Google site for 30 Euros on offer (otherwise they are 60) and the Third Generation Amazon Echo Dot, on sale on Amazon for 35 Euros on offer (otherwise they are also 60 ).
Keep in mind that the more expensive versions of these smart speakers are only larger speakers that feel louder, but with the same artificial intelligence.
Personally I believe that the Home Mini and Echo Dot models are preferable, at least in this phase, to try out how a smart speaker works without spending too much money.
In addition, both devices can be connected to more powerful audio systems, if you really want to hear the music at high volume.
2) Hardware features
Similar price and similar hardware features.
On the Echo Dot, in fact, there are seven far-field microphones, advanced Bluetooth audio support and a 3.5 mm audio jack to connect external speakers via cable.
On the Google Home, however, there is no Audio Jack and there are only two far-field microphones.
This means that the Amazon speaker is better at understanding voice commands even if we don't speak to him closely.
From the point of view of form and aesthetics, perhaps we should give an extra point to the Google Home which is more refined than the Amazon Echo Dot, however very cute and discreet and available in various colors.
3) Music
The main function of a Smart Speaker is certainly that of listening to music and both devices, the Google and the Amazon, transmit streaming music from Google Play Music and Amazon Music respectively. Amazon Music is free in a limited version for Amazon Prime customers on Echo. On Google Home, however, you can listen to music for free using Youtube Music.
Both speakers support Spotify Premium and can stream music from Italian radios using the TuneIn app, which is free in any case.
4) Books
While both can read books aloud, Alexa is clearly ahead in this sector because it can draw from the Kindle library, the most widely supplied in the world.
5) Movies and videos
Google Home is capable of controlling playback on Chromecast devices.
Alexa is able to manage the Fire TV and the Amazon streaming service (although in the Italian version I have not found this function at the moment)
4) Artificial Intelligence: Alexa vs Google
The comparison between the two vocal assistants is certainly a challenge to the death that would require a parallel on each posisible question to understand who answers more precisely and also who gives more interesting and valid information.
Speaking in general and with the due premise that with software updates and improvements things can change at any time, we can still notice some relevant differences.
Alexa from Amazon is, at the moment, a more colloquial and familiar voice, more pleasant to talk to us and also nice.
The Google assistant, however, is capable of answering multiple complex questions because it can search the internet, which is not possible with Alexa.
Google Assistant is able to better understand mixed syntax and more complex requests.
With Google, commands can also be grouped into one sentence.
With Alexa you have to give one command at a time, waiting for him to answer before giving him another.
One of the best things the speaker can do with Google Assistant is that information is shared with the Android smartphone and the whole Google world is connected to it.
In fact, if you use Google Gmail, the calendar and other apps, they can be integrated into the Google Home Mini.
Both systems can automate operations based on precise commands, with Routines (this function has been recently added on Google Home) that allow you to set a series of actions with a single voice command.
While the Google assistant we can say that he has a general culture of being able to search the internet is certainly relevant, Alexa has the ability to expand his functions thanks to the so-called Skills, which are a bit like the platform apps or the extensions of a browser.
In practice, new Skills can be installed on Alexa to be able, for example, to find cooking recipes, to listen to sounds of nature, to listen to Ansa news, for TV guides and much more.
With Skills, Alexa becomes potentially universal in her abilities.
5) Home automation
Thanks to the skills and the ability of the Echo Dot and Alexa to expand, it becomes an almost universal home automation device manager that works to turn bulbs on and off with your voice, activate and deactivate electrical outlets, control the thermostat, cameras and others devices of almost every brand.
6) Phone calls and messages
In addition to music, a basic function of every Smart Speaker is to be able to make hands-free phone calls.
In this The Amazon Echo Dot has a great advantage, that of calling for free the phone of other users who have installed the Alexa app.
In addition, the Amazon Echo also allows you to send free voice messages to other Echo users, which is currently not possible with Google Home.
Alexa then creates a telephone network similar to that of Skype, where calls and messages are free for registered users.
There is also recent news of an integration between Skype and Amazon Echo, which will become active next year.
Conclusion
In this brief comparison we can see how Alexa of Amazon is, for the moment, better at managing Smart Home devices and Skills, while Google Home is more informed in answering general questions and various curiosities and allows you to integrate the Android smartphone, Gmail and other Google services in a personalized way.
Alexa also allows you to make free calls and has the audio jack to connect to external speakers without the need for bluetooth.
For these reasons, if you were undecided about which Smart Speaker to take and had no particular preferences regarding the brand, the Echo Dot would be the one to prefer because it is more promising and more complete in functionality.
those who are particularly attached to Google products, however, may prefer the Google Home, in order to integrate it with other apps and devices.
Personally I think that the Smart Speaker with intelligent virtual assistant, whatever the choice between Amazon Alexa or Google Home, is not something you can feel the need, but once at home it becomes truly essential and also makes you want to have more than one in each room.
I also think that for this Christmas there will be no more appreciated gift.
