WIRED just updated its comprehensive smart speaker buying guide, and their verdict might surprise some folks. After testing dozens of devices across all major ecosystems, the Google Nest Audio takes the crown as the best overall smart speaker for 2025, beating Amazon's Echo lineup and Apple's HomePods. The timing is particularly interesting as both Google and Amazon are rolling out major AI-powered upgrades to their voice assistants.
The smart speaker wars just got more interesting. WIRED's updated 2025 buying guide delivers some unexpected recommendations that could reshape how consumers think about voice assistants and smart home ecosystems.
The biggest surprise? Google's Nest Audio claimed the top spot over Amazon's typically dominant Echo lineup. "Overall, Google Assistant is our go-to smart speaker and helper of choice," WIRED's reviewers concluded after extensive testing. The $75 Nest Audio impressed testers with its compact design and room-filling sound, particularly when paired as a stereo setup for under $200.
But the real story isn't just hardware - it's the dramatic shift happening in voice assistant technology. Google is rolling out Gemini for Home, a complete replacement for Google Assistant that promises advanced AI capabilities while remaining free. Meanwhile, Amazon is charging toward a subscription model with Alexa+, priced at $20 per month after early access ends.
"This second generation of the Alexa voice assistant is more conversational, similar to an experience with AI assistants like ChatGPT," the review noted. But there's a catch - Alexa+ requires all voice recordings be sent to Amazon's cloud, eliminating the previous local processing option that privacy-conscious users relied on.
The hardware landscape is shifting too. Amazon unveiled four new Echo devices at its recent hardware event, including the Echo Dot Max ($100) and a third-generation Echo Studio ($220). The Echo Dot Max promises "three times the bass" and double speaker arrays compared to the current fifth-generation model that WIRED named best budget speaker.
Google isn't sitting idle either. The company announced its first new flagship speaker in years - confusingly named the Google Home Speaker, the same as the original 2016 model. Due spring 2025 for $99, it resembles a taller Nest Mini but will serve as Google's premium offering.
The guide reveals some harsh truths about ecosystem limitations. HomePod lineup continues to struggle with "muddy midrange" audio quality and limited smart home compatibility. Even the $99 HomePod Mini gets a lukewarm recommendation: "You can get a full-size Nest or Echo speaker for the same money, and you should."