How to choose the best smart speaker

In a world where refrigerators can order milk, phones can recognize faces, and watches can monitor sleep patterns, home speakers should be able to do more than just play music — a lot more. Everything from cars and vacuum cleaners to doorbells and thermostats is smart; speakers should be, too. Bose has three speakers and two soundbars on the market that are. Along with a premium listening experience, they offer all the modern features that make smart speakers so intelligent.

However, the best smart speakers aren’t just smart — they’re sensible, too. The following buying guide will help you choose the best smart home speaker based on your unique needs and lifestyle.

However, the best smart speakers aren’t just smart — they’re sensible, too. The following buying guide will help you choose the best smart home speaker based on your unique needs and lifestyle.

If your priority is entertaining, first consider sound quality. Whether you’re known for hosting friends or intimate dinner parties with your family, the Bose Smart Speaker 500 offers wall-to-wall stereo sound that’s engineered to fill any room. Inside the Bose Smart Speaker 500 are two custom drivers pointing in opposite directions that bounce the sound off your walls. The result? An incredibly wide stereo soundstage that’s perfect for any situation.

Other options are the Bose Home Speaker 300 and Bose Portable Smart Speaker. Both feature 360 degrees of astonishing Bose sound designed to radiate clear sound in all directions and are great for bass lovers, with a room-rattling backbone that is sure to impress.

Do you have backyard barbeques or patio parties? Perhaps you like going to the beach? Or maybe you’re an avid traveler who spends as much time in hotels as you do at home? If you want a smart speaker that can go with you wherever you go, try the Bose Portable Smart Speaker. It encompasses the freedom of a Bluetooth® speaker and the power of a smart speaker in a single product. When adventures arise, simply grab the speaker’s handle and go wherever the day takes you — from room to room or out into the great unknown.

As for its smart features, they’re available whenever the Bose Portable Smart Speaker is connected to Wi-Fi®. When there’s no Wi-Fi connection, the speaker acts like any other wireless Bluetooth speaker, which makes it the perfect speaker for anyone who lives life on the go.

And with up to 12 hours of battery life, you don’t have to worry about watching the clock or finding a power source. Nor do you have to worry about spilled drinks or rain clouds, as the Bose Portable Smart Speaker has a durable and water-resistant design that will stand up to many of life’s minor accidents.

And with up to 12 hours of battery life, you don’t have to worry about watching the clock or finding a power source. Nor do you have to worry about spilled drinks or rain clouds, as the Bose Portable Smart Speaker has a durable and water-resistant design that will stand up to many of life’s minor accidents.

Size is another important consideration. Do you have a spacious home? A big space deserves big sound. That’s where the Bose Smart Speaker 500 comes in. Or are you tight on space? Instead, consider the Bose Home Speaker 300, which is a more compact speaker. Measuring just over 6 inches, it delivers powerful audio, making it perfect for smaller rooms or spaces. Both smart speakers boast the same smart features, so you’re free to choose whichever one has the ideal dimensions for your space.

Last but not least — control. The final consideration when shopping for the best smart home speaker should be how you interact with the speaker. If ease of use is important to you, know that all Bose smart speakers work easily with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.* With built-in voice assistants, you’re just one simple voice command away from playing your favorite song or asking what the weather is. During the initial product setup, you can choose which voice assistant you’re most comfortable using. Even if your home is loud, don’t worry. Bose smart speakers have custom microphones designed to hear your voice even in the middle of a party. And for Apple users, Apple AirPlay 2 seamlessly integrates iOS technology.

If you’re a visual person, the best smart home speaker for you might be the Bose Smart Speaker 500. It features an LCD screen that shows you what’s playing and also doubles as a clock when nothing’s playing.

For the ultimate convenience, you can also use the Bose Music app to control your Bose smart speaker with your smartphone when it’s in reach. When it isn’t, the Bose smart speakers have multiple controls on top of the speakers themselves. Controls allow you to play, pause, or skip tracks and turn the volume up or down as needed. The Bose Smart Speaker 500 and Bose Home Speaker 300 also feature six programmable presets, so your favorites are only one touch away.

If you’re a visual person, the best smart home speaker for you might be the Bose Smart Speaker 500. It features an LCD screen that shows you what’s playing and also doubles as a clock when nothing’s playing.

For the ultimate convenience, you can also use the Bose Music app to control your Bose smart speaker with your smartphone when it’s in reach. When it isn’t, the Bose smart speakers have multiple controls on top of the speakers themselves. Controls allow you to play, pause, or skip tracks and turn the volume up or down as needed. The Bose Smart Speaker 500 and Bose Home Speaker 300 also feature six programmable presets, so your favorites are only one touch away.

Thanks to the rise of streaming services, at-home entertainment systems have a new audio-visual standard. If you’re looking for a cinematic home theater experience and a premium music-streaming experience, the best smart speaker for you might actually be a smart soundbar, like the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 or Bose Smart Soundbar 700. Both transform your living room into a movie theater when you want to watch the big screen, as well as deliver powerful audio when you just want to listen to your favorite music. And both have optional bass modules and rear surround sound speakers you can add to further enhance the experience. Whether you’re binge-watching the latest hit series, gathering for family movie night, or just jamming to your favorite tunes, a Bose smart soundbar is for you. Check out the Bose buying guide to soundbars to find out how to choose the best option for you.

^{*Voice services (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant) may vary and may not be available in all languages and countries. Bose smart products voice assistant availability.}

_{Product availability may vary by country.}

_{Product availability may vary by country.}