The next major battleground in the emerging smart home speaker realm appears to be better audio.
And, with Apple’s HomePod and the forthcoming Sonos with Alexa speaker pushing towards the higher-end sound, it appears like Google Home may be stepping up to the plate too.
9to5Google reports the Google Home Max (apparently a tentative name) speaker will arrive with stereo speakers within a single unit.
Related: Google Home Mini latest
The site’s sources say design and materials are “premium,” presumedly meaning a higher price point.
With Google hosting a Pixel event on October 4, there’s a chance we might see this product sooner rather than later.
Recent leaks saw the appearance of a smaller Google Home Mini speaker, in the same spirit as the Amazon Echo Dot.
Mini and Max make a nice pair, going by the names, so perhaps they’ll both make an appearance next week?
Sound’s good
Both the Amazon Echo and Google Home arrived with audio capabilities that underwhelmed compared to comparatively-priced, dedicated wireless speakers.
While they boast far more functionality, relying on the Home or Echo as the primary music speaker is less appealing.
Apple and Sonos appear as if they’re trying to rectify that and it’s probably only a matter of time before Amazon and Google do likewise.
Are you happy enough with the sound from your Google Home or Amazon Echo speaker? Or would a Sonos with Alexa or HomePod with Siri be a perfect solution? Share your thoughts below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
