TOP 12 best smart speakers: rating 2024-2025 and which one is the best to choose with Alice for home

A smart speaker is not just a small speaker for playing music, but a device equipped with a mini-computer.

Therefore, you should choose such an assistant immediately for many parameters.

We have studied the results of sales and inquiries for 2024-2025 and are ready to talk about the best models.

To do this, it was necessary to analyze information from manufacturers and customer reviews.

Rating of the TOP 12 best smart speakers for 2024-2025

This rating includes the best smart speakers that received the most positive feedback from users and experts.

How to choose a smart speaker?

If you decide to buy a smart speaker, then when choosing this little helper, be sure to study the points described below:

• Feeding method. If you need a mobile gadget, then choose a model that can run on battery power. However, users note that at the moment, those speakers that work from the network are faster and more accurate.
• Number of speakers and their power. The larger the room in which the speaker will operate, the more speakers you will need. Now on the market there are models from 1 to 6 pieces.
• Voice assistant. Russian voice commands understand only domestic products. Therefore, if you are not strong in English, namely voice control is the most important thing for you, give up foreign samples.
• Microphones. They take command and there should be several of them. It has been experimentally proven that models with one microphone are more likely to make mistakes.
• Compatibility. The speaker should be compatible with the smart home ecosystem you use.

TOP 5 best smart speakers with Alice

Yandex.Station

At the very beginning of the rating, one cannot fail to mention the most popular smart speaker from Yandex. This is the best a similar device that can be offered to the user in 2024-2025. The company is constantly improving its development, taking into account the comments and wishes of customers.

The mains wire is detached from the speaker, so it can be placed anywhere in your house, moved from room to room or taken out to the balcony.

The voice assistant will recommend music based on your previous questions, turn on your favorite song, tell you about the weather, find an answer to a question on the Internet, read a fairy tale, and if you use the HDMI connector, then the video will be shown to you on one of the possible sites: KinoPoisk, Yandex .Air, YouTube.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Alice.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem — Smart home from Yandex.
• Runs on mains and battery.
• Power (total) - 50 watts.
• Frequency range - 50 Hz to 20 kHz

Yandex.Station Mini

How is a younger sister different from an older one? More compact size and no HDMI connector, designed to work with video content.

Otherwise, the developers have retained all the main functions. That is, the mini-version will set a timer, tell you about the weather or look for a delicious recipe for dinner, turn on the music, add your favorite song to your favorites. It will also analyze your taste and, based on an abstract request, select the most interesting single for you.

Interestingly, the station can be controlled not only by voice, but also by gestures. and if you activate the function on the command “Alice, give a sound”, then with the help of gestures it will be possible to play a melody, like on a theremin.

The microphone is very sensitive, picks up voice well and recognizes commands. Well, he also loves to chat with the owner.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Alice.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem — Smart home from Yandex.
• Works from the network.
• Power (total) - 3 watts.
• Frequency range - 20 Hz-20 kHz.

JBL Link Portable with Alice

The peculiarity of this device from JBL is that the column is a kind of hybrid.

It can work over Wi-Fi as a smart assistant and remote control for the smart home ecosystem, or become an ordinary portable speaker for outdoor recreation with friends. In this case, it is connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth.

As already mentioned, this is not just a device for playing music, the column works with the Google Assistant or Alice. And it is also waterproof and is not afraid of rain, splashes and dust. If we compare it with competitors, then in terms of price and functionality, this is one of the best options among hybrids.

In the package you will find a charging station (up to 8 hours of battery life). The sound is deep, with well-defined bass, and the sound waves travel 360 degrees.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Alice.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem — Yandex Smart Home.
• Works from a battery.
• Power (total) - 20 watts.
• Frequency range - 65-20,000 Hz.

LG Xboom AI ThinQ WK7Y

When polling users about their smart speakers, many called this model from LG. Xboom AI ThinQ WK7Y is the result of years of development and experimentation.

Qualitatively assembled case from excellent materials, balanced system, high sound quality. Moreover, he understands Russian speech, and is friends with Yandex. It can become the control center of a smart home, controlling the operation of other devices or indulge you with music and entertain you with playful chatter with a snarky Alice.

The speaker has very sensitive microphones, so it easily recognizes the voice, even if the room is quite noisy. But with the placement of the speakers, the developers missed a little - they are not placed in a circle, and therefore you have to spend some time to find the perfect place for good sound.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Alice.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem - Smart home from Yandex.
• Works from the network.
• Power (total) - 30 watts.

Prestigio Smartmate Lighthouse Edition

Affordable, very beautiful outwardly smart speaker from this company rightfully occupies a place in our rating smart speakers due to high-quality sound and work both from the battery (within 8-9 hours, depending on the volume) and from the network.

In addition, there is a smart remote control that adapts the owner's voice commands to the TV or split system via a powerful and modern infrared port.

It's the perfect home assistant to play your favorite music, play an audio story for your child, or answer a flurry of children's questions. To do this, just activate the "Lighthouse for Children" function and transfer control to the baby.

Voice control of connected home appliances is also available. For example, you can activate a robot vacuum cleaner, turn on a night light, or turn on the temperature of an air conditioner.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Alice.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem — Smart home from Yandex.
• Runs on mains and batteries.
• Power (total) - 6 watts.
• Frequency range - 180 Hz - 16 kHz.

TOP 2 best smart speakers with Marusya

Mail.ru Group Capsule

At some point, Mail.ru wanted to be noted among smart speakers and did not want to work with Alice. Then the developers came up with their own voice assistant and called Marusya.

The resulting column looks quite original, elongated, with a luminous ring in the center. From this highlight, you can understand how many tasks Marusya is currently processing and how carefully she will listen to the question from the owner. True, the brightness level cannot be adjusted yet.

Control is via voice or touch panel. At the same time, commands are recognized well, without any problems. But the voice of a person, if there is extraneous noise, young Marusya still does not catch it clearly enough.

By the way, if the speaker is gently stroked, it starts to purr. Such a cute touch has delighted many users. At the moment, the column does not have a connection to foreign and Russian music platforms and plays music only on the basis of a paid Vkontakte subscription. By the way, upon purchase, the company gives three months of using this service.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Mail.ru Marusya.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem - Smart home from Mail.ru.
• Works from the network.
• Power (total) - 30 watts.
• Frequency range - 50-20,000 Hz.

Prestigio Smartvoice

Compact and lightweight (just over 170 grams) smart speaker with Marusya voice assistant. Accepts voice commands, 4 microphones quickly pick up the owner's voice. There is also a control panel on the top cover.

The sound is quite clear, without interference even at maximum volume, with a pronounced bass. Quickly finds the network signal and keeps it at the same level, so the operation of the speaker is almost uninterrupted.

At the same time, the gadget is connected to both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which means it can be considered a hybrid and act as a regular portable speaker connected to a smartphone.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Marusya.
• Russian language.
• Ecosystem - Smart Home Mail.ru.
• Works from the network.
• Power (total) - 5 watts.
• Frequency range - 180 Hz-18 kHz

TOP 5 best smart speakers in terms of price / quality ratio

Apple HomePod

One of the most popular smart speakers in 2024-2025 was the model from Apple. Experts and users in one vote give high marks for quality sound.

The sound is deep and voluminous, the voices of the performers are not distorted and sound natural, and everything is fine in bass. Therefore, it can be safely recommended to lovers of any musical direction.

Another advantage of the model is that it is very easy to connect and customize. Siri instantly learns to recognize the voice of the owner of the device and isolates it even from the farthest corner of the room.

But it was impossible to do without shortcomings. The fact is that the column is able to work only with services native to the brand, and they have much less capabilities than the same Google Assistant.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Apple Siri.
• English language.
• Works from — from a network.
• Power (total) - 40 watts.
• The frequency range is from 60 to 20 thousand Hz.

Harman/Kardon Citation One

One of the most inexpensive smart speaker models from this company for 2024-2025. Management is carried out Google Assistant voice commands, and communication is supported via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless channels.

Music lovers note that the sound of the speaker is at a decent level, clear, loud enough and voluminous. At the same time, the basses are deep, and the high notes really ring.

By connecting the column to the network, you can immediately start working with it. The fact is that Google Assistant instantly detects the device, asks for a Wi-Fi password, and then asks for a little workout. To do this, you only need to chat a little with the new tenant of your house so that he learns to recognize your voice and understand commands.

It's nice that there is access to a large number of music platforms that work with this assistant.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Google Assistant.
• English language.
• Works from a battery.
• Power (total) - 40 watts.
• Frequency range - from 40 to 20,000 Hz.

Xiaomi Mi AI Mini Speaker

Sometimes it seems that brand developers sit in a meeting and approach the expansion of the range like this: “We will do more and better, but we will ask for little money.”

This is a very reliable, well-built gadget with an amazing volume level and six microphones that instantly pick up the owner's voice. Instant connection with other brand gadgets, can be controlled through the application on the phone. And the price is much lower than similar competitors.

But the problem still exists. The column is not suitable for the Russian market, as it only recognizes Chinese.

But surprisingly - the demand for it is very high precisely due to the possibility of control via the phone. Because the sound quality and volume really deserve respect.

Main characteristics:

1. Voice assistant - Xiaomi Smart Assistant.
2. The language is Chinese.
3. Ecosystem - Xiaomi.
4. Works from a network.
5. Power (total) - 5 watts.
6. Frequency range - from 60 to 18 thousand Hz

Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)

Another representative of a small and budget smart speaker. However, the compact dimensions did not affect its functionality.

If you have connected the Google Home ecosystem, then this baby will quickly connect to the interface and manage all the devices necessary for everyday life. In addition, the column can work with a huge number of streaming audio platforms.

The sound is reproduced very clear and deep, worked out at all frequencies. The column will find the desired song on the Internet or the desired audiobook in the library. There is a LED backlight, the setup takes just a few minutes. Works with various models of smartphones and computers.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Google Assistant.
• English language.
• Ecosystem - Google Home.
• Works from — from a network.
• Power (total) - 5 watts.
• The frequency range is from 50 Hz to 20 thousand Hz.

Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen

This is the third version of the smart speaker from this company. The model was released in 2019 and for some time was in the shadows and did not even appear in Russian stores. Prior to this, the gadget could only be ordered on foreign sites of online stores.

In fact, this is a very compact speaker, which, if necessary, can even be put in a deep pocket. Its weight does not exceed 300 grams. The small size affected the power of the device, so the developers installed only one stereo speaker, but as many as four microphones. At the same time, the sound quality is very decent, as is the volume.

Quickly responds to voice commands, can work in a smart home system and control connected devices. Also at the top of the column is a small panel with buttons. Or you can download a special application to your smartphone.

Main characteristics:

• Voice assistant - Amazon Alexa.
• English language.
• Works from — from a network.
• Power (total) - 1.2 watts.
• Frequency range - from 20 Hz to 20,000 kHz.

What is the best voice assistant?

If we talk about the possibilities in general, then the best voice assistant is Google Assistant.

But for full-fledged voice control without knowledge of English, it is better to choose a smart speaker with a domestic representative - Alice or Marusya. By the way, the latter even knows how to purr.

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