Do you want to move your speaker around or mount it on a wall?
Do you want your smart speaker to connect to your entertainment hub?
What sort of space do you want to fill with sound?
Which voice assistant do you use, and what assistant do your smart devices support?
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Smart speakers act as handy home hubs, playing music or listening to voice commands from anywhere in the home. The latest AI advances have also given these speakers new tools to play with. They're especially useful home additions if you can link music streaming and other services, as well as smart home devices.
CNET's other experienced editors and I have tested the latest Wi-fi smart speakers from top brands, trying them in different spots around our homes and cranking up the volume to see what works. Here are the best models I recommend for different purposes. Also, if you're shopping during this Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale season, you'll find deals to get them without breaking the bank.
What's the best smart speaker overall?
Activating the mic button Ty Pendlebury/CNET
Amazon's latest primary smart speaker is the 2025 Echo Studio, designed for Dolby Atmos and ready for the Alexa Plus AI. While you'll need a high-quality streaming service to take advantage of the Echo Studio's sound, its one of the better-sounding smart speakers available, and I enjoy the upgrades that Alexa Plus brings. Alexa's smart home compatibility also remains the best in the game at this time. It's a little pricey at over $200, but I have seen big discounts for Black Friday and other events.
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