Google Home vs. Amazon Echo: Comparison for Smart Homes

The battle for the best smart speakers for homes is tough; with recent developments between Google Home vs. Amazon Echo, it might be a challenge in choosing which is better for your home. In this blog, we’ll lay out a comparison guide between Google Home and Amazon Echo, also known as Amazon Alexa, to help you figure out which is best for your home, needs, and budget!

Thanks to technology, artificial intelligence can now transform your home. Both smart speakers are booming in the market. Obviously, it does make it easier and convenient for consumers to have these gadgets at home. From news, weather, conversion, facts, controlling the lights and devices in your home, and more; everything is just a “Hey Google...” or “Alexa...” away with these devices. Let’s now start off with the comparison.

A Little About Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo is a brand of smart speakers developed by Amazon. It was first introduced in late 2014 as a standalone Bluetooth speaker with a microphone and WiFi connection to the Amazon cloud.

Photo by Rahul Chakraborty on Unsplash

Alexa

Echo wakes up by saying “Alexa”--the virtual assistant. You can either change its name to Amazon, or Echo if you like. When the Echo hears the word, a blue ring top will light up which means Alexa is listening for your command or question.

Alexa can be put to use in many ways from kitchen topics, news, weather, and facts. It can also play music of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists from Apple Music, Spotify, or Amazon Music. Alexa can quickly set you up an alarm and timer, and call and read messages from your phone if you wish to.

One of the best controls Alexa can help you out with is Smart home control. Alexa can work with hundreds and thousands of devices such as Wi-Fi enabled appliances, home security systems, smart lights, thermostats, and more. It’ll make home living so much easier with just an “Alex, dim the lights in the living room,” or “Alexa, play the Final Table from Netflix.”

Types of Amazon Echo Devices

When Echo became a hit to consumers, Amazon began releasing more versions of Amazon Echo. Here is a list of the Amazon Echo devices and specs:

Amazon Echo

Photo by Rahul Chakraborty on Unsplash

• Size: 5.9” x 3.5” x 3.5”

• Sound: 2.5” woofer and 0.6” tweeter

• Bluetooth: Full support for streaming audio from a device to the Echo and voice control of mobile devices.

• WiFi: Dual-band WiFi supports 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5GHz networks)

• Power: Standard outlet

Amazon Echo Plus

Photo by PCMag.com

• Size: 9.3” x 3.3” x 3.3”

• Sound: 2.5” woofer and 0.8” tweeter

• Bluetooth: Full support for streaming audio from a device to the Echo and voice control of mobile devices.

• WiFi: Dual-band WiFi supports 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5GHz networks)

• Power: Standard outlet

Amazon Echo Dot

Photo by Amazon.com

• Size: 1.3” x 3.3” x 3.3”

• Sound: Single 0.6” speaker, 3.5 mm stereo jack for connection to external speaker

• Bluetooth: Full support for streaming audio from a device to the Echo and voice control of mobile devices.

• WiFi: 802.11a/b/g/n support, no ad-hoc/p2p network support

• Power: Standard outlet

Amazon Echo Show

Photo by PCMag.com

• Size: 7.4” x 7.4” x 3.5”

• Screen size: 7”

• Sound: Dual 2” speakers

• Camera: 5MP front-facing camera for video calls

• Bluetooth: Full support for streaming audio from a device to the Echo and voice control of mobile devices.

• WiFi: Dual-band WiFi supports 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 and 5GHz networks)

• Power: Standard outlet

A Little About Google Home

The Google Home smart speaker was released in the US on November 4, 2016, designed to compete with Amazon Echo. It can do functions that are similar to the Echo, but it’s primarily designed as a vehicle for Google Assistant.

Photo by BENCE BOROS on Unsplash

Google Assistant

This is the counterpart for Alexa. This is Google’s virtual helper that responds to your questions and commands. Does Google Home listen to you all the time? Sort of. But it does not record what you are saying until you speak its wake works of “OK, Google” or “Hey, Google…”

Google Assistant offers voice commands, searching, and activated device controls. Once allowed, Google Assistant can provide you online information, control your music, Chromecast, run timers and reminders, read your notifications to you, and control your smart home.

In the future, Google Assistant will soon be able to call and book appointments for you.

Types of Google Home Devices

Google Home has become a lot much better as a personal assistant since it was launched in 2016. Google Home devices are available in a range of sizes too. Here are the types of devices with their specs:

1. Google Home

fPhoto by Thomas Kolnowski on Unsplash

• Size: 142.8 x 96.4mm, 477g

• WiFi: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4-5GHz)

• Sound: 2 inch speaker drive, dual 2-inch passive radiators, dual microphone with far-field voice recognition.

2. Google Home Mini

• Size: 42 x 98mm, 173g

• Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4-5GHz), Bluetooth, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio

• Sound: 40mm speaker driver

3. Google Home Max

Image from Google Store

• Size: 336.6 x 190 x 154.4mm, 5.3kg

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz), Bluetooth 4.2, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, USB-C, 3.5mm auxiliary

• Sound:  2 x 4.5-inch dual voice coil woofers, 2 x 0.7-inch tweeters, six microphones with far-field voice recognition

• Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-core ARM

5. Google Nest Hub

• Size: 178 x 118 x 67.3mm, 480g

• Connectivity:  Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz), Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, 15 W adapter, DC power jack

• Sound: Full range speaker, two microphones with far-field voice recognition

• Screen: 7 inch display

• Processor:  1.5GHz Quad-core ARM

Now, both devices might come in as a tie with all their great features. We hope that this blog has helped you choose which is best for you. Which between the two do you prefer? Google Home or Amazon Echo?