Best Smart Speakers for 2026: Big Sound and So Much More
CNET tested smart speaker audio, voice assistants, and sensors to find the best for your home. Our experts recommend the top smart speakers for 2026, including the Amazon Echo Studio, Wiim Sound, and Google Home Speaker.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
CNET's experts tested smart speakers for audio quality, voice assistants, and sensors to find the best for your home. The top picks for 2026 include the Amazon Echo Studio, Wiim Sound, and Google Home Speaker.
Imagine you want to listen to music in your home, but you don't want to use a bunch of separate devices. A smart speaker is a device that can play music, answer questions, and control other smart devices in your home. It's like a magic speaker that can do lots of things!
Analysis
Best Smart Speaker Overall: Amazon Echo Studio
The Amazon Echo Studio is a top pick for 2026, offering large sound with Dolby Atmos support and Alexa's excellent compatibility options with smart home devices. However, it's expensive compared to other Echos and has grown slightly more limited over time in terms of Echo privacy options.
Best Smart Speaker for Streaming: Wiim Sound
The Wiim Sound impressed our experts with its excellent audio quality, particularly with streaming services such as Spotify. It's designed to work well with common streaming services and offers versatile little touchscreen with instant presets and deeper audio customization options.
Best Budget Smart Speaker: Amazon Echo Spot
The Amazon Echo Spot is a budget-friendly option that works great on a desk or bedside table. It's affordable, can connect to smart home devices, and has good sound for its size. However, it's too small if you want to fill a room with sound.
Why You Can Trust CNET
CNET staff, not advertisers or business interests, determine how we review products and services. We test products in our lab space and consider factors such as price, voice assistant, room size, entertainment system, portability, and linking options.
Key points
- CNET tested smart speakers for audio quality, voice assistants, and sensors to find the best for your home.
- The top picks for 2026 include the Amazon Echo Studio, Wiim Sound, and Google Home Speaker.
- Smart speakers are becoming increasingly popular, and choosing the right one can be overwhelming.
- CNET's expert recommendations can help you make an informed decision.
If you choose the right smart speaker, you can enjoy high-quality audio, control your smart home devices, and access a wide range of music and information services. You can also expect to see improvements in smart speaker technology, such as better sound quality and more features.
However, some smart speakers may have limitations, such as poor sound quality or limited compatibility with other devices. Additionally, some smart speakers may collect and share your personal data, which can be a concern for some users.
