Without question, the Amazon Echo and Google Home are two of the best smart speakers on the market. That means when it comes time to decide which option to purchase, the decision isn’t an easy one.
Fortunately, we compared the two devices in hopes of making it at least a little easier to choose one.
Both smart speakers provide answers to questions, control certain home devices, set alarms and timers, and more. Each device is genuinely an assistant in digital form, waiting for you to give voice commands. But how do they differ? Let’s find out.
Google Home Details
The shape of the original Google Home resembles a humidifier and sits 5.62 inches tall and 3.79 inches in diameter. The top of the cylinder is white, and the fabric bottom is gray. If you’d like a more colorful base, you can choose from metal/carbon, coral fabric, and copper to purchase separately.
Also available is the Google Home Max, Google Home Mini, or Google Home Hub. As their names suggest, the Max is larger and the Mini is smaller. The Google Home Hub includes a 7-inch touchscreen. With the display, you can watch videos and view pictures. If you have a video doorbell that is compatible with the Hub, you can also see who is at your door. You can make video calls with the Hub but because it doesn’t have a camera, you will be able to see the person you are calling, but they will only be able to see your profile picture.
The Google Home will set you back a bit more, with a retail price of $129. However, Google recently lowered the price to $99.
Amazon Echo Details
The original Amazon echo is cylindrical and is available in five colors: charcoal, oak, walnut, heather, or sandstone.
Instead of the original Echo, you can purchase the smaller Echo Dot or the larger Echo Show. There is even an Echo Spot, which is the smaller version of the Show. The Echo Show is comparable to the Google Home Hub.
The Echo Show and Echo Spot have screens and are both able to make video calls, show you who is at your door if you have a video doorbell, and more.
A significant difference between the Google Home Hub and the Amazon Echo Show is that the show is capable of two-way video calling.
The Amazon Echo costs $100 but is often on sale for around $70.
Amazon Echo & Google Home Voice Assistants
For a genuinely futuristic feel, both devices include a virtual assistant. The Amazon Echo has Alexa, while the Google Home has the appropriately named Google Assistant.
For the Echo, Alexa’s voice can be changed to different accents or languages. Alexa is able to control connected smart devices, tell you the weather, play games, set reminders, and much more.
With the Google Assistant, you can also change the voice to a different language, or you can change it to a male voice. The Google Assistant is also bilingual so that you can speak to it in two different languages and it will understand you. If you are in need of translation services, Good Assistant can use its interpreter mode and act as a live translator.
Which Digital Assistant Is Right For You?
Because both the Amazon Echo and Google Home are capable of doing so much to make your life easier, it’s hard to say which one is the better choice. While there are more options with the Amazon Echo and it costs less overall, the Google Home Voice Assistant seems to be more knowledgeable when it comes to providing information.
If you are interested in using your digital assistant for video calls, the Echo’s two-way video calling feature is indeed more appealing.
Both provide convenience with a fun twist and can work wonders at assisting with small tasks. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether the Amazon Echo or Google Home is right for you.
