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If you need help on a step, just ask, and the Home Hub will find relevant instructions or a YouTube video. The latest Echo Dot, meanwhile, keeps its spherical design closely related to the larger Echo fourth-gen model. At about four inches high and four inches wide, it’s not quite as good at concealing itself as the Nest Mini, but you’ll still be able to put it just about anywhere. There are some basic button controls on top of the speaker, including a mic-off button and an indicator around the base.
An auxiliary input allows you to play other audio sources by connecting them through a simple audio connection like a 3.5mm jack, i.e for MP3 or portable DVD/CD player. Devices with a subwoofer have a higher quality, deeper bass. If you have a second speaker of the same type, you can pair them together to create a stereo sound setup. If you're going for pure sonic superiority between the Echo and Google Home ranges however, opt for the Google Home Max. Its bass is well tuned, its mids and highs well defined, and its top volume levels loud without verging into highly distorted territory. Alexa's Drop In feature only works with other Alexa-enabled devices.
Voice assistants and smart features
Both Alexa and Google Assistant use their respective screens to great effect in the kitchen. Smart speakers can read out the steps of a recipe, but smart displays keep the list front and center after they read it out. The Echo Show lets you multitask and watch videos or play music, then hop back to where you left off. The Home Hub and others with Google Assistant do that too, plus they keep the ingredient list on the side for your reference.
You're interested in upgrading your home with a ton of cool connected tech, but you've waited a few years just to let all the early bugs get ironed out. Now, it's 2018 and you're ready to start upgrading your house to smart home status. Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. The Echo Show 8 also has a full web browser built in, with access to the open web, so if an app or service you want to use isn't available as a native app, you can often access it using the browser. The Nest Hub still doesn't offer a standalone browser, although there are some wonky workarounds.
What's the difference between Echo and Google Home?
It is developed by Qualcomm, and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps. The higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble. And, despite its looks, the Echo Show sounds better than the Echo Plus and Echo, though not so dramatically as to forgive it some of its other failings. There's no right or wrong approach really – Google's is simpler, but Alexa's encourages faster and broader development and support from third-parties. If this describes you, your patience has rewarded you with the second generation Echo Plus.
You’ll need to set up your Home Hub with your Duo phone number. Because the Home Hub doesn’t have a camera, you can’t use it to have a true two-way video call, although Google notes that you can use the camera on your connected phone or tablet. If that’s the case, however, there’s no need to use the Home Hub at all. AirPlay allows wireless connection of Apple devices with external screens or speakers. You may stream computer screen, video and music from iOS devices, play games like on consoles or present your slideshows easily on your TV. With beefed-up sound at the price of a standard Echo model it's well worth looking at the third-gen Echo if you're thinking of buying a new smart speaker.
Which are the best smart speakers?
Echo Plus has the same Alexa features as the other newer Echo devices. He's reviewed everything from vacuum cleaners to beer brewing robots in pursuit of the perfect smart home. He wants the smart home to make him feel powerful, and it's getting there. The best Google Home accessories include smart locks by August, Nest thermostat, Philips light bulbs, and the SmartThings hub. When looking at the physical features on the device, the Echo Show has more to offer. The bigger the screen size is, the better the user experience.
That's a tough question because they're both similar and we find it difficult to pick between the two. Which one you decide to go with may well depend on which you personally prefer and what kind of products you're using than which is technically 'better'. Both the Show 8 and the Nest Hub have intuitive smart home control panels that are easy to use, but the Nest Hub's control center is organized slightly better, especially after a recent update to the UI. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
The Nest Mini second-gen model has kept its puck-like shape, measuring in at a little less than four inches across and 1.65 inches high. That’s small enough to fit just about anywhere, and it comes in several colors to more easily match surroundings if you want it to. There are a series of LED indicator lights on top and tap controls for volume along with a mic switch, but there’s not much else to this tiny speaker. Among the smart displays that do include a webcam, some lack a physical shutter to cover the camera. The Echo Show 8, however, has both, which does mitigate privacy concerns somewhat. The upside, of course, is that you can video chat with the Echo Show 8, which you can't do on the Nest Hub.
It's the first product to come out under the converged brand name of Google and smart home security brand Nest. Having said that, Alexa tends to be better when it comes to support for a wider range of devices, as well as better smart home integration. So if you have a lot of smart home devices already, Alexa might be your best bet. However, the Mini has never really been able to compete with the Echo Dot on a sound level, and that’s still the case with the last few generations of the Dot, which has really surpassed itself in audio level. The fifth-gen Echo Dot includes improved bass with a 1.73-inch front-firing speaker. It’s quite impressive just how well this speaker can fill a small room or office with sound.
The most significant difference is that Google Nest Hub DOES NOT have a camera for video calling but it does have voice calling. You CAN watch your video doorbell camera and also the Google-owned YouTubeTV on screen, as well as display web pages. And, you can rotate your photos on the video display by linking it to your Google Photos account, so serves as a marvelous smart picture frame.
Chromecast built-in is a technology that allows users to stream entertainment and apps from their phone, tablet, or laptop, straight to the Chromecast-enabled device. Recently Google launched a follow up to its smallest smart speaker; the Google Nest Mini comes with three speakers (that's one more than the original), and is made from recycled materials. With Google Assistant, your Google Home can control your Philips Hue lightbulbs, Honeywell thermostat, Nest security camera, and smart TV (as long as it's compatible). Check out our roundup of things Google Assistant can do for more info, or head to the Google Assistant partners page for all the brands Google Home can work with. As we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices.
The Nest Hub has held the crown as CNET's best smart display for a while, and it won't relinquish the title any easier with the updated second-generation Nest Hub. Both have some smarts thanks to Alexa, but are meant more as video chatting devices and the touchscreen isn't as well rounded as those above. For it to work, everyone must enable the correct permissions first. Once that happens, you can “drop in” on your living room, family room, or your mom’s kitchen. If the devices support video, the intercom experience will be similar to having a video call.
The new Echo Plus is shorter and more compact while still packing in the all-important Zigbee hub that makes it the best starting point for converting your house into a smart home.
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