Google Home Speaker vs. Amazon Echo Dot Max: I compared $99 smart hubs by specs

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Highlights taken by ZDNET

• The new Google Home speaker arrives on June 25 for $99.
• It competes directly with the $99 Amazon Echo Dot Max.
• Google may be smarter, while Amazon may sound better.

Google recently announced a new Google Home speakerwhich will go on sale officially on June 25. This is a $100 smart speaker that will come with Gemini Home AI power on board, 360-degree sound, and the ability to double as a smart home hub.

The speaker competes directly with the newcomer Amazon Echo Dot Maxa $100 smart speaker (though currently on sale for $65) that comes with Alexa+ built-in. Alexa+ is Amazon’s take on an AI-powered virtual assistant, like Gemini, that can handle complex tasks, answer questions, and generate content.

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Considering that both speakers are similar in price and features, the question of which is better is inevitable. Since the Google Home Speaker isn’t officially available until next week, we’ll compare the specifications of each device to help you decide.

Next-level AI assistants

Considering that both the Google Home Speaker and the Echo Dot Max include productive AI assistants, which have already improved significantly from the command-and-response format used by the old Alexa and “Hey Google,” it’s worth distinguishing how each assistant works and responds to your commands.

I’ve used both Gemini for Home and Alexa+, and both are capable home assistants. Although I haven’t used a Google Home speaker yet, Gemini Home in the Google Home app is less chatty than Alexa+ in my interactions, giving me better, more complete answers and more information to answer common questions while making fewer mistakes.

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Google is investing more in consumer-facing AI and productivity AI tools than Amazon. It’s only natural that, given how much Google supports emerging AI technologies, Gemini can handle complex requests, understand mid-sentence corrections (which Alexa+ doesn’t know), and answer multi-step questions by quickly consulting using several pieces of information in sequence.

How the audio performance compares

Another big difference we expect between the Echo Dot Max and the Google Home speaker is that Amazon tends to put more emphasis on audio performance than Google does with its smart speakers. Both speakers offer a redesigned sound experience compared to older generations, but the Echo Dot Max features improved sound with a dual-speaker design and stronger bass than the older Echo Dot.

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In comparison, Google doesn’t focus too much on its audio specifications, simply saying that the Google Home Speaker offers balanced 360-degree sound for podcasts and music. While I will certainly test these speakers side-by-side when I have the chance, I hope that the Echo Dot Max, designed to deliver a superior sound experience with booming, room-filling sound, may win this battle.

Smart home integration

On the smart home front, it’s easy to recommend the Google Home Speaker if you mainly use Google products and the Echo Dot Max if you mainly use Amazon Alexa smart home products, but this will make it easier to compare.

The Amazon Echo Dot Max speaker doubles as a Matter hub, just like the Google Home speaker. While you can connect brand-compatible smart home devices to both speakers, you can also connect other brands that weren’t previously compatible with Matter.

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In line with Google’s trend, the Google Home speaker doubles as a Thread border router, which means you can use it with Matter over Thread, not just Matter over Wi-Fi like the Echo Dot Max speaker. This can improve local connectivity and add another node to the Smart home’s Thread network.

With the Google Home speaker powered by the new Gemini Home, you can easily get information about Nest cameras in or around your home, such as asking Gemini for a home summary or searching your Nest camera history. Alexa can also do this with Ring cameras, but both Google and Amazon need to be registered with your home security system.

Home entertainment integration

Historically, these small speakers were often used for home entertainment systems. As for sound and integration, the Google Home Speaker works with Google TV Streamer to act as a speaker for your television. However, between the Echo Dot Max and the Google Home Speaker, the Amazon speaker offers a comprehensive home theater integration.

Amazon supports multiple configurations of Echo speakers, including a stereo pair, 2.1 audio, complete wireless home theater, and Dolby Atmos-capable audio. Google lets you pair two Google Home Speakers with a Google TV Streamer to create a mini home theater with stereo sound.

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Amazon offers a wide variety of Echo speakers, including a wireless subwoofer (Echo Sub) for high-quality sound when combined with the Echo Studio and Fire TV sound bar.

Author’s choice

I even checked the Google Home speakerI cannot in good conscience come to a decision as to which wise speaker is the better choice between him and the speaker. Amazon Echo Dot Max. Based on the specifications and what we already know, the Google Home Speaker appears to be a good option for users who primarily need a smart speaker to talk to and give commands. The Echo Dot Max, however, appears to be a speaker for those who primarily want to listen to it.