Key takeaways
- Pick the assistant that fits your phone and smart home devices.
- Bigger speakers sound much better for music.
- A screen helps with recipes, cameras and video calls.
In this article
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Before you spend money on smart speakers, it helps to know which specs actually change how you use them every day. Here is our short, practical checklist for buying smart speakers in the US.
What to check before you buy
- Pick the assistant that fits your phone and smart home devices.
- Bigger speakers sound much better for music.
- A screen helps with recipes, cameras and video calls.
How much to spend
The smart speakers we rate range from about $29 (Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)) to about $480 (Sonos Era 300). Compact smart speakers are heavily discounted during big sales.
The mistake to avoid
Placing speakers where they can hear the TV and trigger by mistake.
Our shortlist
If you want to skip the research, these are the smart speakers we would buy in the US:
- Sonos Era 100 ($179 – $219) – Check Price on Amazon
- Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) ($29 – $49) – Check Price on Amazon
- Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) ($130 – $150) – Check Price on Amazon
See every pick, with pros and cons, in Best Smart Speakers (2026): What to Buy and What to Skip.
When to buy
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Compare more options
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Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right smart speakers?
Pick the assistant that fits your phone and smart home devices. Bigger speakers sound much better for music.
How much should I spend on smart speakers in the US?
The models we rate range from about $29 to about $480. Compact smart speakers are heavily discounted during big sales.
What is the biggest mistake when buying smart speakers?
Placing speakers where they can hear the TV and trigger by mistake.
When should I buy smart speakers in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.