Apple HomePod: the 3 best alternatives

The HomePod is the first smart speaker that you can use with Apple's Siri voice assistant. But there are a number of alternatives that work with your iOS devices. We present the three best alternatives here.

The classic HomePod alternative: Amazon Echo

The Amazon Echo laid the foundation for a number of completely new technology products: the so-called smart speakers. Equipped with the in-house voice assistant Alexa, the Echo masters an impressive number of commands and is likely to be the first choice for many users to this day.

• The Alexa voice control is already quite mature and can respond to a wide range of questions and tasks. Alexa mostly uses Wikipedia for knowledge questions, and you can add additional skills via an app.
• Of course, you can also use the Amazon Echo as a wireless speaker. The quality is sufficient for a quiet background sound, but you shouldn't expect crisp basses. Unlike the HomePod, you can play Spotify music, which should be a big plus for many users.
• You get the Amazon in different versions. The cheapest option starts at a price of 99 euros and therefore only costs a fraction of the HomePod. The small Amazon Echo Dot, which is connected to independent speakers via Bluetooth or AUX, even costs only 49 euros. If you want the best possible integrated sound, you can grab the Echo Plus for 149 euros.

Google Home - Best Voice Assistant

With the Google Home, Google has launched its own smart speaker that is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

• The voice control from Google turns out to be very mature in many tests. Here the little speaker has the nose in front of Alexa and Siri.
• Like the Amazon Echo, the integrated speakers in Google Home are ideal for soft background sound and play even more clearly. The playback of Spotify is also on board. However, the Google Home does not come close to the sound quality of the HomePod.
• You have to put 149 euros on the table for the Google Home. It costs as much as the best Amazon Echo, but still less than half the Apple HomePod. When purchasing, you can choose between the colors black, brown, gray and rose. The attachment is white in all cases.

Alternative to HomePod: Sonos combines Alexa and Siri

If you definitely want to use the Siri Apple voice control, you are still not limited to the HomePod. You can control Sonos smart speakers with both Alexa and Siri. You decide spontaneously which of the two assistants you want to use.

• Thanks to Alexa, you have a tried and tested voice control on board in the Sonos devices. It reliably fulfills the most important tasks and can even be expanded using the app. You can also use Siri, but you must have an iOS device connected to the speaker.
• Of course, you can also use the Sonos Smart Speakers as wireless speakers. You can also buy several of the devices, pair them and distribute them in the apartment. Classic services such as Spotify, Apple Music and Co. can be used as playback sources. You can also easily transmit the sound from video streaming services such as Netflix or YouTube.
• The most popular smart speaker from Sonos is currently the Sonos One. You currently have to pay 205 euros for the device.

At 349 euros, the Apple HomePod is far more expensive than its competitors, but it shines with an extraordinarily good sound. In the next post, we will show you how you can further adjust it to your personal taste using an equalizer.