Editors' note, February 2, 2017: This piece has been updated with new details now that we're back from CES. My overall assessment remains the same.
Given the surprising success of the Amazon Echo -- a smart speaker that responds to your voice commands, plays music, and controls your smart home -- competition was inevitable. With Google Home entering the arena, complete with the backing of the company's ubiquitous search engine, the Echo's place on top is no longer secure.
Now, Google Home has been out for a couple of months and we have full rated reviews of both it and the Echo. Like the Echo, the Home functions as a source of entertainment, a personal assistant, and a smart home controller. You can buy the Home now for $130. The Echo costs $180. You can also get Amazon's assistant Alexa in a smaller package that you can plug into your own sound system -- called the Amazon Echo Dot for $50.
Before we tested the Home, I expected it to win for entertainment and as a personal assistant, and I expected Alexa to win as a smart home controller. Let's see if that holds true.
Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
| Google Home | Amazon Echo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $130 | $180 |
| Responds to voice commands | Yes | Yes |
| Always listening | Yes | Yes |
| Wake word | Okay Google or Hey Google | Alexa, Echo, or Amazon |
| Music streaming options | Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn | Amazon Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, others |
| Smart home partnerships | Nest, SmartThings, Philips Hue, Belkin WeMo, Honeywell, IFTTT | Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, SmartThings, Wink, Insteon, Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Lifx, Big Ass Fans, IFTTT, Control4, Crestron, other devices via skills |
| Customizable appearance | Yes | No |
| Output to stereo system | Yes, via Chromecast | No (yes with Amazon Dot) |
| Synced audio playback to multiple devices | Yes, to any Google Cast device | No |
| Personal assistant highlights | Search Google, get a personalized daily briefing, check traffic, check your calendar, make a shopping list, check flight status, track a package | Add items to calendar, make a shopping list, make a to do list, check flight status, track a package |
| Other features | Cast to your TV with Chromecast, launch and control YouTube or Netflix via Chromecast | Order a pizza, play a game, arrange an Uber pickup. Echo has an ever-growing list of thousands of skills and counting |
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