There's a reason Google's Assistant and Amazon's Alexa-powered devices are the two leading smart speaker product lines.
Both come in different form factors, and both function very well as virtual assistants, allowing you to control a variety of smart home devices and have direct access to a variety of other features and functions.
There are important differences between them, and we'll outline them for you. In this case, we'll be using Amazon Echo Studio and Google Nest Audio for a hardware comparison.
Use Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant.
Integrated into the Amazon ecosystem, great for shopping.
Excellent third-party skills support.
Use Google Assistant virtual assistant.
Amazing artificial intelligence with realistic voices and tons of accent options.
Support for third-party skills continues to grow.
Smart speakers from Google and Amazon are somewhat unique compared to most other types of electronics in that the hardware isn't updated often, but the underlying software is constantly changing. These platforms are powered by artificial intelligence, with Google Assistant on one side and Alexa on the other, and the development cycles for these virtual assistants are never-ending.
The Nest Audio and Echo Studio are pretty evenly matched in most respects, and the subtle differences in hardware are unlikely to matter to most people. AI-powered virtual assistants make each platform interesting, and this is where the most important differences come into play.
Alexa has historically been outgunned when it comes to skills, especially third-party Alexa skills that add extra functionality. However, Google has made enough progress in this department that you're better off checking whether each system has the specific skills you need rather than making a choice based on the number of skills each system offers.
Predictably, Alexa performs better for online shopping since it's so deeply connected to the Amazon ecosystem, while we're more impressed with Google's AI technology overall, including their speech recognition and speech generation.
Amazon Echo StudiosCylindrical; 8.1 x 6.9 inches
Two colors: Charcoal and Glacier.
Cylindrical; 6.89 x 4.89 inches
Five colors: Chalk, Charcoal, Sage, Sand and Sky.
Neither Google nor Amazon are physical product companies, they tend to show that through the overall design and aesthetics of their devices.
The Nest Audio and Echo Studio devices aren't ugly, and both companies are trying to make them easier to integrate into homes, but the designs aren't very inspired.
However, the Nest Audio takes up less shelf space and looks more elegant.
Google Nest AudioWorks with various music streaming services.
Bluetooth streaming available.
133mm woofer and 20mm tweeter.
Works with various music streaming services.
Bluetooth streaming available.
75mm woofer and 19mm tweeter.
For the average person, comparing speakers mainly depends on which music streaming service they use and how good they sound. In this case, you can't go wrong with either speaker.
The Nest Audio's woofer is smaller than the Echo Studio's, so you can opt for Amazon's speaker for better bass. However, both will work with basically any music streaming service. Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora are just a few examples.
Amazon Echo StudiosSeveral wake words, including Alexa, Echo, Amazon, and Computer.
Multiple voice options; choose from different accents, celebrity voices, and languages.
Historically a leader in third-party skills.
Get better at general knowledge, but still do better at shopping.
"Oka Google" and "Hey Google" wake words.
There are many voice and accent options, some sound better than others.
Lagging behind in skills, but closing the gap.
Drawing on Google’s extensive knowledge graph and powerful artificial intelligence technology.
The virtual assistants in Nest Audio and Echo Studio work well, with natural voice options and good speech recognition.
One big difference is that the Nest Audio only responds to two similar wake words, while the Echo Studio can be triggered by unique words like "computer" or "Amazon."
Both systems offer good voice recognition, although the Google Assistant-powered Nest Audio is better at answering general knowledge questions and parsing web-based queries.
Alexa gets stuck if you don't use specific wording and rely more on Wikipedia. You'll need to add a skill for some questions because Alexa simply can't answer them on its own.
Alexa has historically been a leader when it comes to third-party skills that offer additional functionality.
However, Google has closed the gap to the point where the distinction no longer matters.
If you need a virtual assistant to interact with a specific device or technology or perform a specific function, check which platform has the appropriate skills before choosing because it's no longer safe to assume that Alexa does and Google Assistant doesn't.
Amazon Echo StudiosExcellent compatibility with smart home devices.
Compatible with Fire TV.
Can "barge in" calls to other Echo devices and cell phones.
Excellent compatibility with smart home devices.
Compatible with Chromecast.
Broadcast messages and make phone calls.
Both Nest Audio and Echo Studio are perfect for building the backbone of your smart home. Echo Studio works with all Works with Alexa devices across protocols such as Matter and Zigbee. Google has a list of all the smart home companies that Nest Audio is compatible with; it's a good list.
It's worth checking to see if your existing smart home devices are compatible with Nest Audio before buying a speaker, but it can do almost anything Alexa can do when it comes to controlling lights, thermostats, garage doors, and other smart home tech.
Nest Audio works with Chromecast, while Fire TV works with Alexa. This is relevant if you've invested in smart TV hardware from either company.
The communication capabilities of both Nest Audio and Echo Studio are flexible. Whether broadcasting audio messages to other speakers in the same home or making hands-free calls over the Internet, these speakers have you covered. The Nest Audio uses Google Meet or Google Voice, while the Echo Studio can dial up to 10 numbers and make calls using any Alexa-enabled device. They are all solid choices for your smart home needs.
For raw connections, both Google and Amazon devices connect to your home Wi-Fi. We've found that Echo devices offer slightly more powerful connections and can work in places and distances that Google speakers can't.
Amazon had an early lead with better speech recognition and more support for third-party skills, but Google has closed the gap to the point where the difference isn't big enough to recommend one over the other.
Google Assistant is a slightly better and smarter virtual assistant. Alexa, meanwhile, works well enough in universal settings and excels at integrating with Amazon's online shopping experience.
The most important question when choosing between Nest Audio and Echo Studio is whether you are more deeply rooted in the Google or Amazon ecosystem. The most critical difference between the two assistants is how well they work with proprietary devices and services from Google and Amazon.
If you're new to smart homes and virtual assistants, but you're a regular Amazon customer with an Amazon Prime subscription, choosing Alexa, which offers a familiar and user-friendly experience, may be a safe and reassuring choice.
Otherwise, you'll have to decide whether you prefer the slightly better-looking Nest Audio, the Echo Studio's better connectivity, or whether any of the other features we highlighted help tip the scales in your favor.
