Smart homes and voice assistants are a match made in heaven and a better love story than Twilight. These handy devices made a big splash these past few years and more and more people have started to implement them in their homes. And why shouldn’t they? After all, voice assistants can play music, adjust lighting, change the thermostat, or even make our grocery lists!
I don’t even recall the last time I woke up without asking Amazon Alexa to play some music or to give me updates on the weather report, so I’ll know what to be prepared for. And, I’m certain I’m not the only one doing so.
Voice assistants have been around for a while now, with Apple's Siri being the first to arrive in 2011, and Amazon's Alexa following suit in 2014. However, for those unfamiliar, a voice assistant utilizes software to execute commands through voice control. Voice assistants also employ AI and machine learning to identify your voice and offer assistance whenever necessary.
But before we share the top five voice assistants out there, think about why you consider buying one of these. If you already own an assistant, maybe we will convince you to try something else. Who knows. So let’s get busy and explore the best voice assistants on the market!
Siri - the classic one
Everybody knows Siri! It’s such an iconic part of pop culture. But is it a great voice assistant? Compared to its competitors? It depends. Especially on what you are looking for. Siri is incorporated into all of Apple’s devices. iPad, iPhone, Macs, you name it. So, it’s compatible with Apple’s HomePod speaker. Siri is amazing because she has the ability to interpret natural language instructions, making it extremely easy to use.
But here’s what truly distinguishes Siri from other assistants: it was the first voice assistant that incorporated voice recognition! This implies that Siri can tailor responses based on who’s speaking. And if your friend says “Hey Siri” to your phone, it won’t recognize the voice unless you bypassed it in settings. It can also perform a variety of useful tasks, such as setting reminders, playing music, and managing your smart home gadgets. You can even ask her what’s the best film or album of the year!
If you already own an Apple device, Siri is the assistant for you. If not, you might keep reading and see what is next…
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Microsoft Cortana - is it a viable option?
This voice assistant can be the one if you are using Microsoft. However, when compared to other voice assistants available, Cortana doesn’t interact as well as it should. If you have Windows installed on your computer, you have this assistant too. So, you can give it a try to see for yourself. But remember this: one feature that distinguishes Cortana from its competitors is its capacity to integrate with other Microsoft products, such as Outlook and Office. This is a great feature, and it can streamline and improve our productivity.
Moreover, Cortana comes with the same features that make other voice assistants great. It can create a reminder, set appointments, and send e-mails. Still, she can get confused sometimes, proving that she is not the best-optimized assistant.
Samsung Bixby - can it compete with Siri?
If you are a fan of Samsung products, for sure it can! On the other hand, if you are an Apple enthusiast, there are few chances that Bixby will convince you to switch. Apple and Samsung purists are hard to convince. The coolest thing about Bixby is that it can be integrated with your smart TV and smart home. With a simple press on your Samsung TV remote, you can activate voice control and make the experience of navigating through your TV more entertaining.
As if that’s not enough, this voice assistant can complete tasks with just a voice command. It picks up requirements so easily. For example, you could ask Bixby to turn off all of the lights in your home. And in no time - you’re in the dark.
Here’s what you need to keep in mind. Bixby is great if you already have Samsung products, but it might also be a great option if you want to migrate from an already-owned voice assistant.
Google Assistant is a must-have!
And if you have never used it before, you are missing out! It’s built into every Android device and can be used with Google Home devices. Many people love this Google Assistant and prefer it over other options. And who can blame them? The assistant can perform a variety of tasks, including lights-management, and thermostat control, and it can even play music! You probably think, well, every device from here can do that. Yes, that’s true, but Google Assistant is much more fun to use and it’s better optimized! And, it also has voice recognition for your smart home.
Wait - there’s more. Google Assistant can also provide you with customized suggestions based on your behavior and previous encounters with Google products or search history. Yes, it’s another device it's yet another gadget that eavesdrops on your conversations and then astounds you by displaying a product that you recently talked about with your friends.
We saved the best for last - Amazon Alexa
Alexa is both intelligent and also provides smart home support. What more could you ask for? The catch here is that Amazon Alexa can be integrated with everything that exists in the Amazon ecosystem.
You can use her to order from Amazon, to get a recommendation of the best books on Audible or even to suggest to you what show to watch on Prime Video! She does the most! And of course - it’s great for smart homes and voice recognition. And it also has an app where you can control everything you want.
The thing with Amazon Alexa is that besides the mobile part, it offers everything else that the competition does. The plus thing is that it’s better optimized, sending you reminders and creating the best routines when needed.
There you have it! These are the best voice assistants on the market. We are curious about which one caught your eye. As you saw, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered before getting a voice assistant.
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