In the past few years, technology has not only improved but has also become smarter and made things easier and trouble-free in our lives. In the field of technology, smartphones are considered to be one of the biggest innovations. However, with the advancements in technology, we have started witnessing the evolution of other new products. One such innovation is smart speakers. These are not only wireless and Bluetooth-enabled but now also feature AI-enabled voice assistants and sophisticated design to enhance customer experience.

Popular voice assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, Cortana, and Alexa have become our trusted digital helpers. With just a command, these play music of our choice, set time according to our preference, and also help children with their homework. As the AI-enabled voice assistant ecosystem is expanding, a huge variety of smart speakers are now available in a wide range of prices.

Before focusing on the latest AI-enabled smart speakers available, let us first check out the essential features that one must look for while buying a smart speaker.

Sound quality. This is the most important criterion for any speaker, be it a smart speaker or a normal music speaker. If you are planning to buy a smart speaker only for giving commands and listening to the news, you can opt for a budget smart speaker. But if you also want a good sound quality with high bass, you should opt for premium smart speakers. Their sound quality and reaction to commands are better as compared to a budget smart speaker.

Trouble-free use. This involves accessibility, set-up, and how the speaker reacts to your commands under various environments. Speakers with a low budget and low review scores respond much later even in quiet rooms, and sometimes you may even need to repeat your command several times. A good smart speaker can respond to your command even in a bigger room. But, as of now, even a premium smart speaker cannot respond well in a noisy environment.

Services and command. A good smart speaker with sophisticated technology and AI can hold better conversation after you ask your first question. For example, if you ask to show a nearby continental restaurant, the reply can be followed by the question when it will open. This feature is not available in a low-cost smart speaker. In terms of services, a few smart speakers can be connected to Spotify, Netflix, ABC news, Amazon Prime, and many more. You can command directly from your speaker or connect to Bluetooth.

Now, let’s find out some of the top smart speakers available in the Indian market with latest technologies.

Invoxia Triby. Crafted by Invoxia, Triby is one of the first ‘Alexa-enabled’ devices built with AVS, which means that you can do almost everything with Alexa on Triby that you can do with Alexa on Echo. It is a new connected family-friendly kitchen device that magnetically sticks to the fridge and can play music, make calls, display messages, and is voice-activated. You can address Alexa through Triby using the wake word ‘Alexa.’
For instance, simply say ‘Alexa, play Adele’ and Triby can play Adele from Prime Music. In addition, it can make calls over VoIP or with a paired smartphone from 4.5 metres away.
Price: ₹14,500

Amazon Echo (3rd Gen). Launched by Amazon, this speaker features Dolby for 360 degrees audio with crisp vocals and dynamic bass response. With built-in voice assistant Alexa, this speaker responds to commands for music, news, trivia, scores, weather, alarms, kids rhymes, and stories. Users can access songs in various regional languages such as Hindi, English, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Kannada, and more. With your voice, you can control your smart lights, AC, geyser, or water pump.
Price: ₹8,249

Apple HomePod. Coupled with Apple music and voice assistant Siri, this unique speaker offers high-quality audio. It is an 18cm tall speaker that is furnished with custom Apple-engineered audio technology and state-of-the-art software. Its high-excursion woofer offers a high-quality bass.

A six-microphone array along with an internal bass-EQ microphone analyses and compensates for the effect of the room on the bass response, providing rich and consistent sound. After HomePod recognises the wake word ‘Hey
Siri,’ whatever you say is encrypted and sent anonymously to Apple servers without being tied to your Apple ID. It is powered by an A8 chipset for enhanced performance.
Price: ₹19,900

Google Nest Hub Max. It has a smart display, initially unveiled under Home Hub by Google. It features a 25.4cm (10-inch) HD screen with stereo speakers. The device can be used for checking the weather, traffic, news, recipes, jokes, games, riddles, and more. It features a wide-angle camera coupled with 127 degrees field-of-view that can be used for video calls via Google’s Duo service. It is backed by nifty video processing smarts, allowing the display to automatically focus and zoom in on an individual while he/she is moving in the room. It is a combo of smart speaker and smart display coupled with Google photos
Price: ₹7,999

Google Home Mini. Right from finding your phone to keeping your family entertained, Google Home Mini is here to offer all the help you need. This powerful little helper will answer all your questions as it is equipped with features such as Google Search, Maps, and much more. You can even control your other smart devices at home with your voice. It can also play music from popular streaming platforms. Apart from this, it works with up to six users with personalised settings.
Price: Starts at ₹2,299 (Flipkart exclusive only)

Marshall Uxbridge Voice. Launched this year, Uxbridge Voice is engineered to create a thunderous sound from its compact frame. Just ask Alexa to play music from the most popular streaming services, and you’re all set to experience your favourite music on just one command.

You can connect with Wi-Fi, Airplay 2, SpotifyConnect, or Bluetooth. You can get answers, manage everyday tasks, and easily control smart devices around your home just by using your voice. Alexa can help you listen to your favourite song, turn up the volume, find a dinner recipe, or check your commute to work. You can even dim the lights, ask for the latest news, or check what’s on TV, all with a single voice command. You can use the rocker buttons on your speaker’s top panel to adjust your sound according to the room you’re in.
Price: ₹14,967+tax

—Nijhum Rudra