Amazon Echo VS Google Home – Which one is good?
There are plenty of smart speakers to choose from. Smart speakers have different features and sound projection ability. Are you confused on which one to choose between Amazon Echo (2nd) and Google Home? These two smart speakers are from established companies with excellent reputation.
We will help you make the right choice after exploring the main aspects of these two speakers. This entails power of their speaker, design and connectivity, among others. You should choose a smart speaker that meets your individual’s needs.
Smart speakers stand out from other speakers because of their portability. Users can easily carry their smart speakers around. This ensures they can enjoy music at different locations.
 |  |
|---|---|
| Amazon Echo | Google Home |
| Buy Now | Buy Now |
| PROS | PROS |
| It is portable. It is affordable. It has Amazon Alexa. It has a stylish look. | It can be connected to Bluetooth. It uses Google Voice assistant. It can be connected to the internet. |
| CONS | CONS |
| It has a weak bass. It sound appears distorted on full volume. | Its sound isn’t that powerful. |
Amazon Echo
Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker is among the new generation smart speakers that have voice assistants. This smart speaker is fitted with Amazon Alexa voice assistant. You can play music, get answers to questions, get weather update and news alerts through your voice.
This smart speaker can also be connected to a wireless internet connection. You are more likely to enjoy using Amazon Echo smart speaker if it is connected to the internet. You can stream music from various platforms like iheartRadio, spotify, Amazon music, TuneIn and Pandora, among others.
Amazon Echo smart speaker has a Bluetooth that can pair with devices within 50 meters radius. You will be in a position to play music on your speaker from the paired device. The Amazon Echo smart speaker can be used as one of the multiple speakers in multi-room sharing. Multi-room sharing allows you to play the same song in different rooms with multiple speakers.
This smart speaker supports calls and messages when your phone is connected through Bluetooth. Amazon Echo smart speaker also has an audio output jack that can be connected to other devices such as home theater receiver, speaker or sound bar. This speaker should be connected to power anytime you want to use because it doesn’t have a battery.
Google Home
Google Home smart speaker also doesn’t have a battery. This means it should be connected to socket anytime you want to enjoy music. Google Home assistant comes with Google voice assistant that takes voice commands. This means you can operate your speaker with your voice without physically touching it. You can use Google voice assistant to stream music when connected to the internet. The voice assistant regularly keeps on updating its software for better performance.
This smart speaker can be connected to other devices through Bluetooth. You will be in a position to play music from any of the paired device. Google Home smart speaker can be connected to wireless internet connection. You can stream music from different online platforms when connected to the internet. This smart speaker can also be used in multi-room sharing.
Design
The Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker has a cylindrical look. This shape gives users and easy time carrying it around. You will notice the sides of this speaker are covered by a fabric. The fabric comes in six different colors. It can be silver, charcoal, walnut; sandstone, oak or gray.
The top of Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker has some buttons. Google Home smart speaker operates by standing upright. This makes the buttons at the top visible and easy to use. Action button, microphone mute button and two volume buttons are well arranged at the top.
You may see a glowing blue light at the top of your Amazon Echo smart speaker smart speaker. The glowing light is an indication that Amazon Alexa is keenly listening. Use the mute button if you don’t want to use Amazon Alexa voice assistant. There is an audio output jack that can be used to connect with other devices such as home theatre receiver, speaker and sound bar. The audio output jack is next to the power connector. This smart speaker comes with in-built microphones that assists Amazon Alexa clearly get voice commands. There is also an in-built woofer and tweeter.
The Google Home smart speaker also looks like a cylinder. That’s why it is placed straight upwards when playing music. This speaker is white at the top half and gray color at the bottom half. Google Home smart speaker has a sensitive top part that is circular. You can use the top part to adjust volume and to either play/pause song.
There may be also a series of colors illuminating at the top part of the speaker. This is an indication that Google voice assistant is actively listening. You can touch the top part to mute Google voice assistant. There is also a power cord at the bottom part of the speaker. You can charge your Google Home smart speaker without changing its position.
Audio
You can play a variety of audio formats with your Amazon Echo smart speaker. MP3, FLAC, DSD, GG Vorbis, WAV, ALAC and AIFF are some audio formats you can play with Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker. Amazon Echo smart speaker comes with Dolby processing feature. This feature improves the sound quality anytime you play music.
Amazon Echo smart speaker uses an integrated amplifier that is always active. This assures you of quality sound projection anytime you play music. The amplifier gives users the chance to listen to the high and low tones in a song. Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker projects sound 360 degrees inside a room. The music in a room will be well distributed at any given time.
Amazon Echo smart speaker can be used in multi-room sharing. It can be used as one of the speakers in a room connected together. Multi-room sharing delivers stereo like sound. You can also play the same song in all the connected rooms. This smart speaker also has drivers that use down-firing dome technology. These drivers are woofer driver and tweeter drivers.
The tweeter driver in Amazon Echo smart speaker produces a frequency of between 2,000- 20,000 Hz. These two drivers improve the quality of sound projection at any given time. Amazon Echo smart speaker has microphones that filter noise in backgrounds. This makes it easy for Amazon Alexa voice assistant to hear voice commands.
Google Home smart speaker comes with both full range driver and a passive radiator. The full range driver helps Google Home smart speaker play song in its maximum song without sound getting distorted.
You can also play variety of audio formats with Google Home smart speaker. MP3, Vorbis, WAV, AAC-LC, OPUS and HE-AAC are some formats you can play with your speaker. Google Home smart speaker has a maximum sampling rate of 96 kHz. This speaker comes with an integrated speaker that is always active.
Battery
Amazon Echo smart speaker favors indoor usage as it doesn’t have a battery. This means it should be connected to power anytime you want to use. It has a power cord that is 5 feet long. You can comfortably use your Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker without straining. The input voltage of this smart speaker is between 100-240V, 50 / 60 Hz. Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker also has an out voltage of 15V, 1.4 A.
The power cord is made from strong materials that are resistant to bending and breaking. You will have long term service, depending on how you use and maintain it.
Similarly, Google Home smart speaker should be plugged into the socket anytime you want to use it. This smart speaker requires a nominal voltage of AC 100-240 V. The frequency of Google Home smart speaker is 50-60 Hz. Impressively, the power cord of this speaker is 6.6 feet. This gives you the freedom of using your smart speaker in different rooms. It is also portable, making it easy to carry from one room to another.
Connection
The Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker has an audio output jack that can be connected to other devices like home theater receiver, sound bar and speaker. This gives you a diverse option in connection.
Amazon Echo smart speaker can be connected to a wireless internet connection. This speaker can stream music from 16 kbps and 384 kbps. You will be in a position to play music from different service providers. Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Amazon music and Audible are some service providers you can use to stream music.
This smart speaker can also be connected to some mobile phones through Bluetooth. The mobile device should be within 50 meters radius to be connected. You will be in a position to play songs from your phone if it is connected with Amazon Echo smart speaker through Bluetooth.
Google Home smart speaker allows users to enjoy unlimited music when connected to the internet. This smart speaker only supports a wireless internet connection. You will be in a position to stream music from platforms like YouTube music, Google play music, Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn, among others.
You can also connect Google Home speaker with other devices through Bluetooth. Any paired device can be used to play music on this smart speaker. Furthermore, most devices have Bluetooth.
Weight
Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker has a weight of 2.1 lbs. This automatically makes it a light smart speaker. Users will have an easy time carrying Amazon Echo smart speaker around. The dimensions for this speaker in terms of height, width and depth are 6*3.5*4. This also boosts to the portability and comfort when carrying Amazon Echo smart speaker.
The dimensions of Google Home smart speaker are height 5.75 inches, width 3.75 inches and depth 4 inches. Google Home smart speaker also has a weight of 1.35 lbs. users of this smart speaker can comfortably carry the speaker outside of the house.
Control
Amazon Echo (2nd) smart speaker can be controlled through Alexa application. It can be downloaded on phones with iOS and android operating systems. You can operate different things on your speaker using this smart speaker.
The use of physical buttons at the top of Amazon Echo smart speaker is another way you can operate it. There are four buttons at the top of this smart speaker you can use. The buttons should be manually operated.
Amazon Alexa voice assistant is another way you can operate Amazon Echo smart speaker. Alexa takes voice commands through the help of in-built microphones. You can use Amazon Alexa to play music, get answers to questions, get latest news and weather updates.
Google Home smart speaker can be controlled through Google Home application. Google Home application can be downloaded from Google store and app store. This application has a simple interface, making it easy to use.
You can also control this smart speaker through the buttons at the top. The buttons should be physically operated.
Google Home speaker has Google voice assistant that can be used to control the smart speaker. Its in-built microphones hear voice commands from various angles.
Mobile usage
The Amazon Echo smart speaker permits messages and calls to mobile phones paired to it through Bluetooth. Calls and messages can only go through to contacts saved in their contact list.
Google Home smart speaker only permits phone calls on mobile phones paired to it through Bluetooth. Phone calls are only permitted to numbers on contact list.
Verdict
Amazon Echo smart speaker is powerful when compared to Google Home smart speaker. It has a stylish look that makes the speaker stand out. Amazon Echo smart speaker also has a powerful sound projection when compared to Google Home smart speaker. You will also have different methods of controlling Amazon Echo smart speaker. The dimensions of this speaker also favor home usage because of its portability.
