The best Alexa speaker overall
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: The Sonos One is the best smart speaker out there today. The device works with Alexa, to be sure, plus it’s getting Google Assistant support before the end of the year, and it works with Apple’s AirPlay 2 for the iPhone users out there. In other words, while you may buy the speaker for its Alexa support, you’ll be getting a ton of other smart features, too.
You can ask Alexa questions, have her play music, set reminders, buy items on Amazon, check your shipments, control your compatible smart home gadgets, and more on the Sonos One.
Smart features aside, the Sonos One is also an excellent-sounding speaker. It boasts plenty of volume without distorting, plus you’ll get plenty of bass response for a speaker this size and price, so if bass is important to you, this is the speaker to get. That doesn’t mean it does away with the high-end response, either. There’s plenty of clarity in the high end, helping things like cymbals shimmer, and vocals cut through a mix.
The reviews of the Sonos One are pretty great, too. Engadget scored it a 9/10, while TechRadar went a step further and gave it an impressive 9.5/10.
That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, though. Disadvantages of the speaker include the fact that Sonos has yet to push the Google Assistant update to the speaker, and that the app is a little buggy. The speaker is also a little more expensive than some of the other speakers on this list.
Pros: Great sound quality, tons of smart features, well-designed
Cons: A little expensive, buggy app
Buy the Sonos One on Amazon for $198.95The best portable Alexa speaker
If you’re looking for something a little more portable, then the UE Megablast speaker is the way to go. The speaker has consistently rated among the best portable speakers out there, and the fact that it boasts Alexa support is really the icing on the cake.
You can ask Alexa questions, have her play music, set reminders, buy items on Amazon, check your shipments, control your compatible smart home gadgets, and more on the UE Megablast.
There are a few things that make this such a great speaker. For starters, it’s got a nice design and comes in a range of different colors. On top of that, however, the speaker also sounds great, offering plenty of bass response and a nice, cutting sound to seriously deliver the music no matter where you are.
There’s also the fact that the speaker is well-built for portable use. For example, it offers a hefty 12 hours of battery life, plus it’s nice and water-resistant with a rating of IP67. That makes it great for taking to the beach without having to worry about it getting too wet.
There, of course, a few downsides to the speaker. For starters, while the Alexa integration is pretty good, it doesn’t work all that well when you’re not connected to Wi-Fi, and its Wi-Fi connection isn’t always the best. Still, despite the downsides, it’s gotten some pretty sweet reviews. Pocket-Lint and PCMag both scored it 4/5, which is pretty impressive.
Pros: Good battery life, nice sound quality, relatively durable
Cons: Some Wi-Fi issues, Alexa doesn’t work all that well when not on Wi-Fi
Buy the UE Megablast on Amazon for $192.77The best stylish Alexa speaker
Whether you’re looking for an Alexa-enabled speaker to use at home or one that can travel, the Cavalier Maverick delivers on both fronts — and unlike most speakers, this is one that you’ll want to show off, thanks to its visually appealing design.
Its hipster vibe is just present enough that you may be convinced to do away with your record player to save a little space, but subtle enough to go with any room’s style if hipster isn’t your thing. It comes in two different color schemes: black and silver, and indigo and tan, which allows it to mesh well with any space.
I was able to test the Maverick for myself and immediately appreciated the craftsmanship. Genuine wood, distressed leather, metal, and custom knit fabric come together to form a speaker that lives up to the promise of “looking as good as it sounds.”
Once I downloaded the Cavalier app, I had the Maverick set up and connected to our Wi-Fi in less than 10 minutes. If you want to take advantage of the Alexa-enabled voice control feature, you’ll also need to download the Amazon Alexa app. Both apps are nicely laid out and easy to use.
The Maverick can easily be controlled via the Cavalier app, voice commands issued to Alexa, or with the smart button located on top of the speaker.
My favorite way to control the speaker was with Alexa, and as an Amazon Prime user, I could play songs right from my library. It's also compatible with Pandora, Spotify, and iHeart Radio, in case you don't use Prime Music. Thanks to the Spotify Connect integration, you can also control your music directly through the Spotify app if you so choose.
The Alexa-enabled voice control also came in handy when I wanted to know what the weather was, wanted to set a reminder, or wanted the latest news updates. This speaker is a great alternative to the Amazon Echo if you’re looking for something a little more stylish and that can travel with you throughout your home.
I was equally as impressed with the sound quality as I was with the design aesthetics. The sound is crisp and clear and easily filled our large living room. If you’re a fan of bass heavy music, you may find the bass a little lacking, but I personally had no issues with the sound. If you’re looking for an even more robust or whole-home sound experience, multiple Maverick speakers can be linked together, but the single speaker served our needs just fine.
As a Bluetooth speaker, the Maverick is also built to travel and comes with a sturdy carrying case for protection when you’re on the go. The battery life is decent, with up to nine hours of playing time.
The Maverick is definitely on the expensive side, but in my opinion, extras like the charging base, the carrying case, and the Alexa integration make this a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a speaker that’s both extremely functional and pleasing to look at.
Amazon reviewers agree, and love the superb sound quality, how easy it is to use, and the fantastic craftsmanship. — Kylie Joyner
Pros: Aesthetically pleasing design, crafted with high-quality materials, clear and crisp sound quality, portable, features Alexa integration with voice control, comes with charging base and carrying case
Cons: Expensive, bass is lacking a bit
Buy the Cavalier Maverick Speaker on Amazon for $249.99 — third-party sellers only Buy the Cavalier Maverick Speaker at Best Buy for $249.99The best Alexa sound bar
If you want Alexa in the living room, you don’t necessarily have to be limited to an Echo-sized device. Instead, you could go for a sound bar, like the Sonos Beam, which offers Alexa support, excellent speakers, and more.
There are plenty of things that make the Sonos Beam a great buy. For starters, like the Sonos One, it supports Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s AirPlay 2, and is getting Google Assistant support later in the year. On top of that, it boasts that awesome Sonos sound-quality. There’s plenty of low-end and tons of clarity in the high-end, making for a nice, crisp sound.
Of course, nothing’s perfect, and there are some downsides to the device. For starters, the Sonos Beam is pretty pricey, coming in at $399 for the sound bar alone, or more if you want rear speakers or a subwoofer, too. Despite that, however, the device has been getting excellent reviews. TechRadar scored it a massive 4.5, while WhatHiFi stepped things up to a whopping 5/5.
Pros: Excellent sound-quality, nicely, designed, very smart
Cons: Expensive
Buy the Sonos Beam on Amazon for $399The best budget Alexa speaker
Perhaps you’re simply looking to get the smarts of Alexa in your home but don’t care all that much about great sound quality because you have other speakers you listen to music on. If that’s the case, then the speaker to go for is the Eufy Genie.
In fact, even if you are an audiophile the Eufy Genie might be the way to go. That’s because of the fact that it has an aux port built right into it, so you can connect it your favorite great-sounding speakers to get a smart setup that also sounds amazing. Apart from that, you’ll enjoy all the benefits Alexa has to offer, including smart home control, music playing, and so on.
So what are the downsides to the device? Well, if you do use it as a standalone device, don’t expect it to sound great. On top of that, while it seems as though Eufy’s customer service seems to be pretty good, and many Amazon reviewers have been offered replacement devices, there may be some quality control issues.
Despite the issues, considering the fact that the Eufy Genie is so inexpensive, it’s well worth the cost for those want the intelligence Alexa has to offer.
Pros: Very inexpensive, all the perks Alexa has to offer, aux port for better speakers
Cons: Sound quality isn’t great, may be some quality control issues
Buy the Eufy Genie on Amazon for $17.99The best Alexa speaker for your bedroom
While most of these speakers could work perfectly fine in your bedroom, if you want something to truly be helpful in the early morning and late evening, then the iHome iAVS16 is the device to buy. Not only does the speaker offer Alexa support, but it also has a digital clock, weather information, and more.
There are plenty of things that make this speaker worth buying. For example, it’s a pretty well-designed and stylish speaker, and it has a USB port on the back for charging your phone or another device at night. There’s also a series of buttons on the top of the speaker, including one that can activate Alexa.
Apart from the Alexa support, the speaker doesn’t sound bad, just don’t expect it to really compare to the Sonos speakers. On top of that, there seem to be a few bugs and glitches, according to some Amazon reviews.
Pros: Versatile, USB port for charging, inexpensive
Cons: A little buggy, sound-quality doesn’t compare to more expensive options
Buy the iHome iAVS16 on Amazon for $129.99 (originally $149.99)
