The best Google Assistant smart speakers in 2023

If you prefer to call upon Google Assistant when asking about the weather or getting directions (or have it on your phone), you need a solid, smart speaker that can natively support that virtual assistant. After all, Google Assistant is compatible with more devices than Siri, more socially adept than Alexa, and generally better than Bixby.

The easiest choice would be to pick one of Google’s first-party speakers, so we’ve even included two solid options on this list, as the tech giant does a good job with much of their own Google Assistant-focused hardware. However, Google devices aren’t perfect. You might find yourself wondering what other options allow you to control smart lights with Google Assistant while offering better audio performance or more unique features. To that end, we’ve gathered this selection to help you find what’s best for your needs.

The best speakers to use with Google Assistant

Smart speakers can get pretty expensive, but Google keeps it simple with Nest Audio. At only $99 and still filled with a bunch of features, the Google Nest Audio represents the best speaker on this list by far. The audio quality outmatches other speakers in this price range, providing robust, well-balanced sound across the whole room. The three far-field microphone array allows for a highly responsive device. On-device processing provides improved and expedited Google Assistant commands, especially for music, for an even more seamless experience.

The Google Nest Audio isn’t perfect, though; many users note the occasional issue with Bluetooth connectivity. Plus, the lack of an aux input is always a bummer, but far from a deal-breaker, especially with an Android phone that could so easily cast to it. Overall, you can’t beat the quality of the Google Nest Audio, and if you’re wary about straying from Google’s home base, we highly recommend this speaker.

Sonos Move

Premium pick

Best pick when you don’t want to compromise

Portability, an 11-hour battery life with an easy-to-use charging dock, and water resistance mean you won’t have to worry about a splash ruining your extremely expensive smart speaker. Although it costs four times the Google Nest Audio, if you really want a portable smart speaker that doesn’t compromise on features and functionality, the Sonos Move is absolutely the way to go.

Pros

• Portable with 11-hour battery life
• Water-resistant with an IP56 rating
• Automatic Trueplay feature for best sound quality

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Pretty big for a portable speaker

Speaker portability is an underrated feature when it comes to this kind of technology, and the Sonos Move provides it in spades. With an 11-hour battery life and an easy-to-use charging dock, it truly combines the premium smart speaker experience with the location flexibility of a handheld device. It is pretty large for a portable speaker, but it comes equipped with a handy indent for easy carrying. And because it’s only six pounds, you shouldn’t have too much trouble lugging it to the backyard. Plus, it’s water-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about a splash ruining your extremely expensive smart speaker.

Did we mention that this smart speaker costs almost $400, nearly four times as much as the Nest Audio? If you want a portable smart speaker that doesn’t compromise on features and functionality, and you have some extra money lying around, the Sonos Move is the way to go.

JBL Link Portable

Best value

Perfect combination of performance and price

Everybody loves a good compromise, and the JBL Link Portable is exactly that: a solid middle ground between premium features and portable ease of use. It doesn’t have the sound quality of some of the more expensive, larger options on this list, but it’s more than respectable, particularly for the smaller size of the speaker. It also weighs barely more than a pound, is completely waterproof, and has an 8-hour battery life; these are just some of the reasons the JBL Link Portable provides the all-in-one device you need for an all-around smart speaker experience.

Pros

• Sleek, portable design
• Solid sound quality
• Waterproof with IPX7 rating

Cons

• No JBL Connect support
• No auxiliary input

The JBL Link Portable is not only easy to use but has most of the features that you could want, especially if there are any poolside parties in your future. Yes, this speaker is fully waterproof. It also only weighs a pound, though that doesn’t mean you should toss it around like a football. However, that does make this a great travel companion, so you can pump out the music no matter where you are. Of course, it’s not the best sounding speaker on this list, as some of the bigger and more expensive options perform better. However, it still sounds pretty good, especially considering its size.

The charging port is accessible, and with 8-hour battery life, this speaker should be able to handle any hang. However, it is missing the auxiliary input, which will put a damper on things when someone else wants a turn with the music. Plus, no JBL Connect app support means no customizable audio settings. All that aside, though, the JBL Link Portable provides the all-in-one device you need for an all-around smart speaker experience.

Source:Sony

Sony SRS-RA3000 Reality Audio Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth Speaker

Best large speaker

For when you need room-filling sound

Sony’s SRS-RA3000 is a smart speaker that you can use with Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Bluetooth to provide rich, full sound that Amazon and Google seldom achieve.

Pros

• Room-filling 360-degree sound
• Multi-room support
• Spotify Connect

Cons

• Expensive
• Bass is a bit overwhelming

At around $400, the Sony SRS-RA3000 is certainly one of the most expensive Google Assistant speakers out there. It’s also among the biggest. However, it offers a room-filling, bass-heavy sound that uses some proprietary technology as well as an Omni diffuser and dual passive radiators for that full aural experience no matter where you are in the room, even if you’re up on a ladder or lying on the floor.

It also supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, works directly with Spotify, and has a Chromecast built-in, so you can easily cast audio from your phone, tablet, or computer to the speaker. There’s also multiroom support, allowing you to use multiple speakers to play the same song throughout your home or even play different songs in each room.

Now, it’s hard to say that it’s worth the full price. However, you should be able to catch it on sale from time to time.

Source: Marshall

Marshall Uxbridge

Best multi-room speaker

Most versatile multi-room speaker

This classic-looking smart speaker comes equipped with either Alexa or Google Assistant, depending on the model you choose. It also offers a surprising amount of volume and can be linked with any other speaker with Chromecast built-in or Airplay 2 for a multi-room setup.

Pros

• Surprising amount of volume
• Versatility with multi-room setups
• Sharp looking

Cons

• Can get muddy
• Different versions with only support for a single voice assistant

Marshall may be better known for face-melting guitar amps going back to the sixties, but the company has branched out into personal audio over the last decade with some interesting offerings including the Uxbridge Voice. While you have to choose between the version with Google Assistant or Alexa (why you can’t get one with support for both doesn’t quite make sense), this smart speaker is worth consideration for a number of reasons.

To start, the Marshall Uxbridge is a sharp-looking speaker that harkens back to Marshall’s classic guitar amp designs, has physical tone controls, and packs a lot of volume. It also offers a decent amount of bass for its size, though it can sometimes get muddy. And, like plenty of smart speakers these days, you can use it as part of a multi-room setup. Unlike other multi-room-enabled smart speakers, you don’t need a bunch of the same model as it can pair with any Chromecast or Airplay 2-enabled speaker.

Belkin SoundForm Elite

Best for wireless charging

For those needing wireless charging

Everyone loves perks when it comes to premium tech, and the Belkin SoundForm Elite comes with one that will make everyone happy: a wireless charger. That’s right — this smart speaker comes with a handy 10W wireless charger that can keep your device pumping while you kick back and listen to some tunes.

Pros

• Wireless charger built-in
• Solid voice recognition

Cons

• Quite expensive
• Not good enough sound quality for price

An ideal feature that most portable speakers seem to skip is the inclusion of a wireless charger. Not the Belkin SoundForm Elite. It gives just enough juice to keep your smartphone charged for hours so that you don’t have to worry about it running out of battery in the middle of a backyard party. Of course, it’s a bit lower on our list as it’s somewhat flawed in execution.

The sound quality is underwhelming for the price you have to pay for this speaker. And, it’s a pretty high price tag as well, most likely due to the inclusion of that wireless charger. At times, the bass is too much, while the overall balance just feels somewhat off. You do get some solid voice recognition, though, thanks to the two microphones on the device, so at least there’s that.

Source:Bang&Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level

Best future-proof design

A smart speaker that will last years

If you find our other recommendations typical and boring and need something that stands out, then the Beosound Level from Danish brand Bang & Olufsen won’t disappoint you. Not only does it look and sound spectacular, but it also comes with a future-proof design that will make it last much longer than the competition.

Pros

• Striking design and sound quality
• Supports Airplay 2, Chromecast, and Bluetooth
• Future-proof

Cons

• Very expensive
• Wall mount costs extra

For something a bit more stylish, consider the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level. It’s a wireless speaker that delivers high-quality audio, has Google Assistant support, and can last up to 16 hours on a single charge, not to mention you get a nifty MagSafe-style charging puck to top it up. However, if you don’t have the charging puck on hand, there is a USB-C port on hand as well, as a backup.

You can wall mount it (needs a $99 mount), position it upright or lay it flat as a stationary speaker, or carry it around with you. As it’s rated IP54 for splash and dust resistance, you won’t have to worry too much about the elements.

Another highlight of the Level is future-proofing. As the speaker is designed to be used for years, the company has packed everything needed to enable music streaming on the device in a nice little module that you can replace if it gets outdated or breaks down. Plus, the company is promising to sell parts for the speaker, including batteries, for ten years after the last unit of this model is sold.

Source:Sonos

Sonos Roam

Best budget Sonos speaker

An inexpensive way into the Sonos ecosystem

The Sonos Roam offers a cheap way to enter the company’s ecosystem and delivers a great portable speaker experience. Sound quality is excellent, and the company’s TruePlay technology automatically adjusts the sound for the surrounding environment.

Pros

• Works well with other Sonos products
• Trueplay room correction feature
• Excellent audio quality

Cons

• No power adapter included
• Does not get very loud

Beyond Move, Sonos has another portable speaker in its portfolio that boasts support for Google Assistant: Roam. It not only offers a cheap way to enter the company’s ecosystem but also delivers a great portable speaker experience. Sound quality is excellent, and the company’s TruePlay technology automatically adjusts the sound for the surrounding environment.

Apart from Google Assistant, it also works with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, and the built-in mic has no trouble understanding you, even in noisy environments. Unfortunately, voice assistant only works when Roam is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and it won’t work over a Bluetooth connection through your phone, tablet, or laptop.

The Roam is also IP67 rated, so it’ll have no trouble dealing with water splashes in your bathroom or around the pool. Plus, the silicone material on the end caps helps it absorb the shock of any minor bumps and tumbles. In other features, the built-in battery can last up to ten hours, and you can juice up the speaker using the USB-C port or wirelessly over a Qi charger. All-in-all, Sonos Roam is a nice, little portable speaker that works as a smart speaker pretty well.

Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)

Entry level option

Most budget-friendly Google-branded speaker

While far from the best sounding speaker on this list, the Google Nest Mini is cheap and comes in handy for helping you get full coverage in your smart home. The impressive microphone recognition makes this even more apparent, and you won’t endure any overlapping responses with the Google software.

Pros

• Very affordable
• Simple setup process
• Excellent microphone recognition

Cons

• Poor sound quality
• No auxiliary input

Sometimes you’re just looking for an extension of your smart home setup, and that’s where a good Google Nest Mini comes in handy. These small, inconspicuous smart speakers will give you the full coverage needed to truly make you feel like you’re in a smart home. The impressive microphone recognition makes this even more apparent, and you won’t endure any overlapping responses with the Google software.

Full disclosure: the sound quality is outright bad, particularly compared to virtually any speaker on this list. However, the price reflects that at only half the cost of the Nest Audio. Combined with the lack of auxiliary input, you likely don’t want to make this your only option. However, if you need a secondary speaker to add to your array, the Nest Mini is an affordable option that will do precisely that.

What to look for in a Google Assistant smart speaker

There are a few essential criteria to consider when choosing a Google Assistant-compatible smart speaker for your home. First off, you’ll want to decide if you want only one speaker or a whole array, as some speakers are easier to connect than others. For example, Bose, Sonos, and Google are made to work in tandem with other speakers in their ecosystem, so it’s better to stick to the same brand whenever you can.

Portability is another factor to consider, as some smart speakers are more location flexible, whereas others are not going anywhere once installed. The Sonos Move and the JBL Link Portable are great examples of high-quality portable smart speakers. They offer robust smart speaker features while providing substantial portability thanks to lengthy battery lives and simple charging docks.

Finally, the price will likely be the biggest decider for most as the range is wide. Just on this small list, the price range goes from $50 to $1,850, each providing vast differences in aesthetic, sound quality, features, and overall functionality. Consider the value and not just the price, as a small bump in price can lead to a much better product depending on your specific needs. But if you are just jumping into the smart speaker space, it’s a good idea to start small and go big when you are sure that smart speakers are right for you. Priced under $100, Google’s Nest Audio is a great starter smart speaker.

Google Nest Audio

Best overall

Perfect smart speaker for Google Assistant users

The Google Nest Audio might be unassuming and easily tucked away, ready for that wake word, but it sounds far better than its surprisingly slim body has any right to sound. It’s also useful for controlling smart devices, so if yours is a Google Assistant-based household and you want to stop constantly using your phone to control your smart home, the Nest Audio smart speaker is an easy choice.