A smart speaker connects you to a voice assistant, allowing for hands-free convenience. You can ask your smart home speaker to play specific songs, answer questions and control smart technology around your home such as a smart thermostat, smart lights and smart power strips.

While smart devices connect with an app on your phone, adding the option of controlling them through a smart speaker will make it even easier to keep your home running smoothly. Want to turn down the air conditioning? Just give a voice command to a smart speaker with Alexa. Want to dim the dining room lights with the power of your smart dimmer switch? Just tell your voice assistant to carry out the task. You don’t even need to get up from the table.

In fact, smart speakers are so handy that if you have a larger home, you might want more than one portable smart speaker. Consider choosing a smart speaker and voice assistant for both the upstairs and downstairs of a two-story home or for the kitchen and living room of a large one-story home.

When it comes to choosing the best smart speaker for your home, you might feel overwhelmed by all the options. The best place to start is by considering compatibility with any smart devices you already have or plan on purchasing, such as smart home security or smart light bulbs or appliances. For example, you might be best served by an Amazon Alexa smart speaker, an Apple HomeKit smart speaker or a Google Assistant smart speaker.

Many users also eventually upgrade from a smart speaker to a smart display. A smart display expands your interface options through touchscreen commands. It also allows you to make video calls and watch videos. So, if your smart device is on a table or other surface where it will be easy to interact with, you may want to consider a smart display.

When it comes to placing your smart speaker or display, you can use smart speaker accessories to arrange it in just the right place. Some accessory options include a rotating stand, a wall mount and an outlet mount. Wherever the speaker is, make sure it has a strong connection to your Wi-Fi network.