Google home vs Amazon Echo

Z

Zuluzebra

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I know many people ordered the home mini's from Google USA for around R500 (special still going) and Echo dot also going for 29.99.

I am looking for a couple of smart solutions to put throughout the house mainly for music, both can link the speakers but biggest advantage echo has is connecting to other bluetooth speakers (google home needs chomecast music to do this). Also a abenefit with Echo is the excellent IOT devices already being sold on Amazon - which I will slowly start integrating into my home as well.

Who owns what and what would you recommend?
 
I own a home mini, very happy with it. I also have a chromecast and "smart" plugs. I think it will depend on what you want to do. For general questions home is better, in fact much better. The echo has an advantage on skills and IoT support, but Google is catching up fast and will eventually surpass Amazon in my opinion. If you want music you will either have to get a chromecast or go for the Echo as the home mini speaker is decent but not nearly good enough for music. You can get the Max speaker though or even get the new Sonos speaker that will support home and echo.
 
I have a Home - ordered 2x Home Mini on special

Still want to get Chromecasts :(
 
XmanDZA said:
I own a home mini, very happy with it. I also have a chromecast and "smart" plugs. I think it will depend on what you want to do. For general questions home is better, in fact much better. The echo has an advantage on skills and IoT support, but Google is catching up fast and will eventually surpass Amazon in my opinion. If you want music you will either have to get a chromecast or go for the Echo as the home mini speaker is decent but not nearly good enough for music. You can get the Max speaker though or even get the new Sonos speaker that will support home and echo.
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I won't use the mini or dot as want to pair that with other speakers. The echo is nice as you can pair with other "cheapish" speakers for great output. I don't really care about things like "how far is the moon from Earth". Unfortunately I am in the Apple ecosystem at the moment, iphone, apple tv, apple watch, apple music etc. Can't move away from apple music as use the music on my watch every morning in gym which is amazing and flawless. Alexa can go into Tunein at least and other free stations. Google better with Deezer integration.

I was thinking of something like this, if I go alexa. Goes on special for 50$ almost every week - nice thing about this it has battery as well https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07288KLVY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2BXPLO2CUA5WI&psc=1

Then get 2 echo dots as well in other areas of the house.
 
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Its like you've made up your mind already that you want to get into the Alexa ecosystem.

At the end of the day they each have pros and cons and you need to chose the one that fits your use case the best.

For me, I'm balls deep in the Google EcoSystem from a music and content point of view so Google Home just made sense...
 
ToxicBunny said:
Its like you've made up your mind already that you want to get into the Alexa ecosystem.

At the end of the day they each have pros and cons and you need to chose the one that fits your use case the best.

For me, I'm balls deep in the Google EcoSystem from a music and content point of view so Google Home just made sense...
Click to expand...

I just have no idea if I order Echo if it will work here and how much tinkering is required
 
Chris_SA said:
I just have no idea if I order Echo if it will work here and how much tinkering is required
Click to expand...

It will work here..

Some functions will be limited possibly, but the music, etc etc parts will work.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Chromecast is life changing... Dunno why I didn't do it YEARS ago.
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I have apple tv in main tv room and then chromecast for tv in bedroom.

Reason I prefer apple tv over chromecast is mainly because of ux and remote. Don't like that I have to control everything with phone on chromecast.
 
MultiRoom audio...

Ok, I stand corrected, when I was researching, you couldn't do multi room audio with the Echo or any of its counterparts...

Google can group Chromecasts together though so you may have a bit more flexibility there than with the Echo's
 
ToxicBunny said:
Chromecast is life changing... Dunno why I didn't do it YEARS ago.
Click to expand...

ok so why do you say google home multi share is better?

My current situation, and the reason behind everything. My wife is pregnant and I am looking for a bigger house at the moment. We always have music on in the house although its through TV (apple tv music) I want to make sure that when baby comes he/she is exposed to as much music as possible, not TV.. Based on everything the dot is perfect to have in baby room to pay soothing music but then it can connect to other bluetooth speakers as kid grow older.

I will also then purchase the echo (new one about R1200 excl shipping) that I have in main living area. So that we always have music throughout the house, will eventually get another one for outside area but for now that is the thinking. I will as well get more IOT enabled lights, kitchen etc and based on Amazon prices - i believe Alexa is better fit (financially).

Coming to google home. I think the speaker is better than dot but definitely not made of music - you need to pair it up to bigger speaker or chromecast. Both have multi room and works fine from what I have seen/read.
 
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ToxicBunny said:
MultiRoom audio...

Ok, I stand corrected, when I was researching, you couldn't do multi room audio with the Echo or any of its counterparts...

Google can group Chromecasts together though so you may have a bit more flexibility there than with the Echo's
Click to expand...

Amazon groups them together no problem, see here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dTGqsnK9VA

You can name different setups etc, and just say "alex play outside"
 
Chris_SA said:
ok so why do you say google home multi share is better?

My current situation, and the reason behind everything. My wife is pregnant and I am looking for a bigger house at the moment. We always have music on in the house although its through TV (apple tv music) I want to make sure that when baby comes he/she is exposed to as much music as possible, not TV.. Based on everything the dot is perfect to have in baby room to pay soothing music but then it can connect to other bluetooth speakers as kid grow older.

I will also then purchase the echo (new one about R1200 excl shipping) that I have in main living area. So that we always have usic throughout the house, will evetually get another one for outside area but for now that is the thinking. I will as well get more IOT enabled lights, kitchen etc and based on Amazon prices - i believe Alexa is better fit (financially).

Coming to google home. I think the speaker is better than dot but definitely not made of music - you need to pair it up to bigger speaker or chromecast. Both have multi room and works fine from what I have seen/read.
Click to expand...

At the end of the day, when I made my decision Amazon didn't support multiroom, and I honestly think Googles implementation may be easier/better... but I dunno.

You seem to be sold on the Echo, so buy it... nobody is going to change your mind.
 
ToxicBunny said:
At the end of the day, when I made my decision Amazon didn't support multiroom, and I honestly think Googles implementation may be easier/better... but I dunno.

You seem to be sold on the Echo, so buy it... nobody is going to change your mind.
Click to expand...

Honestly still not sold. I have both the google shop open with 2 mini's in my basket and amazon with Dot and echo in my basket..

Maybe I should just get Mini and test it out first before going all in.
 
Chris_SA said:
Honestly still not sold. I have both the google shop open with 2 mini's in my basket and amazon with Dot and echo in my basket..

Maybe I should just get Mini and test it out first before going all in.
Click to expand...

I can't see how you're not sold.

You've only posted videos or defended the Amazon product here... it seems to me as if thats the product you WANT, but are looking for someone to justify it for you.
 
ToxicBunny said:
I can't see how you're not sold.

You've only posted videos or defended the Amazon product here... it seems to me as if thats the product you WANT, but are looking for someone to justify it for you.
Click to expand...

Just showing my research. Hence I am asking opinions from others :)
 
Chris_SA said:
Just showing my research. Hence I am asking opinions from others :)
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Fair enough...

And honest opinion from me (even though I've chosen the Google ecosystem myself), it seems the Amazon one best suits your use case and requirements.
 
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