Recently, the man in charge, ol’ Len, had his 37th birthday, we think, and for it, he got yet another smart speaker that he’s now popped into NAG HQ so he can listen to the very same thing he was listening to at home as he walks through the doors of the office.
This got me thinking back to when I wanted to do that for my house, but I just couldn’t find the right ones to do the job.
So, just so you don’t pull a Cody, here are three different smart speakers you can add to your space to create a smart, tech-savvy area for you to enjoy, whether it’s where you work, play, or laze about on the couch all day.
Apple Homepod Mini
Price: R2,499
Yes, this is the smart speaker we have at the NAG offices, and yes, you will need an iPhone or iPad to get it all set up, but ever since we’ve had one blasting tunes from 9-5, and blasting Dolly herself, it’s got me wondering if I should have a couple of these connected to my own home network.
If you’re an Apple user, this product is definitely the one for you. It creates a seamless environment connecting all your Apple devices to one another. From watching the NAG podcast on your couch, having your Homepod mini playing the sound there, you can easily walk out of the room and have the audio change to your phone, and then connect to the Homepod in the toilet to continue enjoying the show.
It has a nifty little intercom feature, so you can have discussions throughout the house without leaving your seat, and best of all, it has a fantastic sound profile.
You can also program it to run scheduled tasks, like playing the radio in the morning, reminding you to wash your hands before lunch, or turn off your smart lights before bed.
Google Nest Hub
Price: R2,499
Now, I’ve opted for the bigger of the Google speakers here. One, because this is one that I actually want in my house, and two, because it’s the same price as the tiny Apple one. #AppleTax (Don’t tell any of the other staff I said that.)
The Google Nest Hub offers the same sort of smart features you get with the Apple Home kit, but it’s accessible via almost any phone you have. From iPhone to Android, and perhaps with a bit of sideloading, even a Huawei.
The Hub itself also has a built-in display, which allows for a lot more functionality. Here you can view your tasks for the day in the morning, check out the weather for the day to see if you need to pack that umbrella, or even watch a video or two on YouTube.
I love the idea of this one being on my bedside table as a modern-day alarm clock, offering smart features right by my bed as I’m ready to hit the sack or prepare for another day of writing the best content in the world.
Amazon Echo Dot
Price: R1,289
Now, if you’re looking for something that has Google’s features under the hood, with a similar design to the Apple Homepod Mini, and a few extra features, then you’ll want to aim for the Amazon Echo Dot.
With built-in Alexa, this little device also has access to all the same smart features as the other two, with voice control over your devices, scheduled reminders that come through the speaker, and a handy little joke-teller should you get bored.
It’s priced between the two smaller devices from both Google and Apple, but it offers a much larger speaker than the smaller Google Nest and has better microphone capabilities.
It also allows you to separate yourself from the Google ecosystem, which always changes up their features, like we are all some type of lab experiment for the Google Home system.
At the end of the day, though, no matter which smart speaker you end up going with, all of them will add similar features to the environment you place them in. Easy access to news, audio and more, all at a simple voice command, and the ability to slowly turn your house into one worthy of a Star Wars feature film.
