Google Assistant can do all kinds of stuff – play music, check the weather forecast, control your smart home – but one thing it can’t do (at least not impartially) is tell you which smart speaker to buy. Fortunately, we’re here to do that for you instead.
While not being as imaginatively named as Alexa or Siri, Google Assistant is still a major player in the smart speaker game. Picking a Google product will tie you quite firmly to the brand, but if you're already using Google devices and services such as Pixel phones, Nest products and/or Gmail, Maps and Calendar, a speaker with Google Assistant onboard might make most sense for you.
To help narrow down your options we’ve put together this buying guide, which picks out the best Google Assistant speakers for various uses. All of the models below have been tested in our dedicated listening facilities and in reviewers' homes, so we have first-hand experience of how they perform in daily use, how effective Google Assistant is, and how they sound.
If you want to know more about how we test there's an explainer at the bottom of the page, or simply scroll down to see our pick of the best Google-equipped smart speakers you can buy today.
- In the US? Check out our list of the best Bluetooth speakers under $100
The quick list
Below we've provided you with a breakdown of all the Google speakers on this list with a short summary of their strengths and weaknesses. If you want more information, click the photo of the speaker and you'll be taken to a more in-depth breakdown of its tech specs, features and performance.
With dual voice assistants, streaming over Bluetooth and wifi, plus portability if you need it, the Authentics 300 is a handsome jack-of-all-trades.
If you need portability and Google in one package, the original Sonos Move fits the bill.
It isn't particularly sound-focused, but a decent screen plus Google Assistant gives the Nest Hub strong credentials at a fine price.
I'm a senior staff writer who loves a good home speaker, especially one with smart capabilities baked in, meaning I've had first-hand experience with the majority of entries on this list. I'm looking for ease of use, a voice assistant that's helpful and responsive and, of course, sound quality that's great with all kinds of music, too. If you want the lowdown on the best Google-enabled speakers around, I'm here to make things a lot simpler.
Best Google Assistant speaker overall
It feels like it's increasingly rare for a mainstream smart speaker to boast multiple third-party voice assistants, yet the burly JBL Authentics 300 gives you the best of two high-quality worlds by packing in two simultaneous AI helpers: Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Both work side by side and can be switched between pretty much on the fly, making the Authentics 300 a versatile hub for two excellent hands-free aides.
It's versatile in other ways, too. Not only do you have Alexa and Google coexisting in one handsome, well-made package, but you're also treated to a multitude of use cases within a single box.
If you want portability, there's a carry handle and around 6 hours of battery life for taking your JBL out and about or transporting it from room to room, while a loud, full sound and access to mains power means that you can use your smart speaker as a burly boombox without fear that it can't fill all manner of domestic spaces.
Streaming options are various, too, as you can use wi-fi or Bluetooth (we find the former to be a little crisper and clearer) or hook up to your source player via the provided aux-in port.
It won't let you down sonically, either, and while the Authentics 300 can be a little too keen as it occasionally strays into the realm of brashness, there's plenty to like about the JBL's robustness, punch and undeniable sense of effervescence. If you want something a little bigger, check out the Authentics 500 in our also consider section below.
Read our full JBL Authentics 300 review
We've written above about the JBL Authentics 300's excellent versatility, and with two coexisting voice assistants alongside multiple streaming options, that's certainly true. Be warned, though, that while the 300 is portable, it doesn't have a provided IP rating, so we'd advise against using it outdoors unless you're confident the weather is going to hold. Plus, it's pretty hefty at just under 5kg, making the term "portable" somewhat relative.
Best portable Google Assistant speaker
Sonos’s first portable speaker was succeeded by the Move 2 in 2023, but like the rest of its newer products the sequel has been relieved of its Google Assistant duties, so if you want one that offers Google’s AI helper alongside Alexa you’ll need to track down an original Move.
Most places only have the Google-less Move 2 in stock, but if you can track down an original (and there are still some out there), you’ll get a portable speaker that offers both wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity (albeit without aptX), multi-room streaming functionality, and that all-important Google Assistant access.
For a portable speaker the Move is a bit of a beast, measuring 24cm tall and weighing a hefty 3kg. That means it’s better suited to spending the majority of its life at home, but is also capable of decamping to the garden when the sun comes out. (If you want something genuinely travel-friendly the Alexa-only Sonos Roam is far smaller and lighter, but our list of the best Bluetooth speakers has even better options.)
That extra heft does translate to a weighty and full-bodied performance, with a broad and expansive sound that will carry regardless of where it's placed, thanks in no small part to Sonos’s TruePlay tech.
It’s not cheap, and if you’re not fully committed to Google Assistant the less moveable Apple HomePod sounds even better, but the first-gen Move is still capable of scratching a very particular itch.
Read our full Sonos Move review
Best Google Assistant speaker with screen
If you're after a smart speaker that has Google Assistant baked in, decent-sounding audio and the added convenience of a touchscreen, the Google Nest Hub might have everything you've been looking for.
To put the Nest Hub’s 7-inch (1024 x 600, 18cm) touchscreen into context, it's only marginally bigger than the one sported by the largest iPhone 12 Pro Max when measured across the diagonal.
It may be small but it's not stupid. There are plenty of music streaming and TV services available - including Channel 4, Deezer, Netflix and Disney Plus - but perhaps the most innovative inclusion is Google's Sleep Sensing tech, a motion-tracking system that analyses your slumber via motion detection, and combines it with light and temperature sensors to assess your nocturnal habits.
The Amazon Echo Show 10 provides a similar smart-speaker-with-screen alternative, but it's almost three times the price of the Google Nest Hub. Thanks to Disney Plus, Sleep Sensing tech and the delivery of a solid soundscape, the Nest Hub is a worthy proposition if it meets your criteria.
Read our full Google Nest Hub (2nd Generation) review
Also Consider
JBL Authentics 500: If you love the look and sound of the Authentics 300 but want to go even bigger and bolder, the 500 is the logical next step. It's not as portable as the 300, but you do get spatial audio capabilities, a bolder, louder sound and a heck of a lot more power.
LG Xboom Go XGBT: The portable XGBT doesn't have Google Assistant built-in, but if you hold down the play button you can use its onboard microphone to summon the AI helper (it'll work with Siri, too) from your connected phone. It's not the most refined-sounding speaker, but it is good at getting parties started thanks to its powerful, punchy sound and customisable lighting.
How to choose the best Google Assistant speaker for you
Size
Google Assistant speakers come in all shapes and sizes, so finding one to fit your space shouldn’t be a problem, but do bear in mind that its dimensions will have an impact on its ability to fill your room with sound. Size isn’t everything, but small speakers include smaller drivers that won’t be able to go very loud without distorting, so make sure you buy something suitable for the size of room you plan to put it in.
Connectivity
Google Assistant requires an internet connection to work, so by default you’ll have wi-fi onboard, but you might want to consider what other connectivity options you’ll have. Do you want Bluetooth as well in case your wi-fi goes down? Could a 3.5mm socket come in handy? And is there native support for your streaming service of choice?
Smart features
Considering you’re reading a guide to the best Google Assistant speakers it’s probably safe to assume you’re not looking for one with Alexa (although we have a list for smart speakers in general too), but that’s not the only smart aspect to consider when shopping for a smart speaker.
Some also support Matter and Thread, two relatively new wireless standards that make it easier to connect other smart home devices, so if you plan to use your speaker to do more than just play music and set timers it might be worth making sure both are supported.
Finally, most smart speakers rely purely on voice for communication, but if you think you might like to supplement that with some visual feedback there are some that now come with screens as well. On the whole we’ve found that these don’t sound as good as dedicated speakers, but they’re mostly meant to be used as a high-tech alternative to a kitchen radio or bedside alarm clock.
How we test Google Assistant speakers
The What Hi-Fi? team tests hundreds of products every year – and that includes wireless smart speakers. How do we come to our review verdicts and why should you trust them? Give us two minutes of your time...
We have dedicated facilities in London and Reading, where our team of expert reviewers handles every step of all our independent testing. This gives us complete control over all the products we test, ensuring consistency and impartiality.
When testing smart speakers, we download the accompanying app and test how well each speaker responds to voice commands, as well as how it handles third-party music app integration, such as BBC Sounds, Spotify, Tidal and internet radio. If possible, we also take smart speakers home to test how we would naturally use them in our daily lives, and test their connections, user-friendliness, and sound quality with a variety of music genres and sources.
All smart speakers are tested in comparison with rivals in the same price category (always five-star class leaders and often What Hi-Fi? Award-winners) and all our review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer. This helps to ensure neutrality and avoid any personal preference.
Finally, we choose the culmination of our efforts – the best products from all of our in-depth reviews – to feature in our Best Buys, which is where you are now. If you take the plunge and buy one of the products recommended above, or on any other Best Buy page, you can be assured you're getting a What Hi-Fi?-approved product.
Read all about how we test and review products right here.
FAQ
What does a smart speaker do and do I need one?
Our definition of a smart speaker generally revolves around whether or not it has voice control. If not, it's usually just categorised as a wireless speaker if it has wi-fi capabilities for streaming music from a device. Smart, AI-assistant voice control is becoming increasingly common across many of the world's most famous speaker brands, with Sonos, Apple and Amazon all desperate for a slice of the pie.
Do you need one? Well, if you like using voice commands to control music playback hands-free, and have a desire to get a speaker that will integrate into your existing smart ecosystem, it could be a clever choice.
Bear in mind, though, that mixing and matching speakers and ecosystems isn't all that easy, so it's best to pick a side – Amazon and Alexa, Apple or Siri – and see which units will integrate into that smart system. A Google Assistant speaker, for instance, won't play nice with Alexa products made by Amazon, say, as the brands are direct rivals and would rather you pledge your loyalty to them alone.
Is Google Assistant better than Alexa and Siri?
This depends on which ecosystem you are already using and what you'll be using voice commands it for, along with which third-party apps and smart home features each AI assistant works with.
We think Alexa and Siri have come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, to the extent that it's almost frightening how much they can do these days. We tend to find that better-sounding wireless speakers have Alexa or Siri built-in, making the extra voice control features a bonus.
Google Assistant is a solid option, though, and it has the world's most powerful search engine behind it. If it's an answer to any question you need answering, then Google will behave exactly like, well, a Google search (which is far more powerful than Siri's search engine).
Google's own products haven't impressed us on the sound quality side as much as its rivals, however, and it's not built into speakers as widely as Amazon's voice AI is. Sonos' newer speakers, for instance, no longer support Google Assistant.
Amazon has also recently unveiled a more powerful version of Alexa called Alexa+, but it is not available for testing at the time of writing.
Are Google Assistant speakers always listening?
In order for a smart speaker to respond to your voice commands the microphone must be active at all times, so technically it’s always listening, but it’s only listening for its own wake word (in this case: “OK Google”). If you’re not keen on that you probably don’t want a smart speaker, but most smart speakers also give you the option to disable the microphones.
Can Google Assistant speakers make phone calls?
It depends where in the world you live and the brand of the speaker you have. In the US it’s possible to make phone calls on a Google Assistant speaker as long as you have the number in the contacts synced with your Google Account. However, this is not available on Sonos or Bose speakers that support Google Assistant.
It’s still possible to make calls on Google Nest speakers in other countries, but you’ll need to use Google Meet to do it rather than a phone number.
Recent updates
March 11th 2025: Sonos One removed due to lack of availability, so the JBL Authentics 300 has been promoted to the best overall choice. Copy for the Sonos Move has been updated to reflect its limited availability and unsuitable products have been removed from the 'also consider' section. Also added two questions to the FAQ, refreshed the intro, and updated the advice on how to choose a Google Assistant speaker.
February 6th 2025: No new entries on the main list, but we've added the portable LG Xboom XG8T to our also consider section.
