Smart speakers have come a long way in the last several years, and more and more homes are jumping on the voice assistant bandwagon. Two of the brands leading the charge on smart audio are Amazon and Apple. In this side by side, we'll be comparing Amazon's Alexa-equipped flagship speaker, the Echo Studio, with Apple's Siri-powered HomePod, the bigger and louder of the two smart speakers in the Apple canon. Categories include price, design, sound quality, and features. Read on to see which of the two speakers is our favorite.
Price
Apple’s HomePod currently sits at a price point of $299 on Apple’s website - a $50 price cut since the device was first released in 2018. Amazon’s Echo Studio starts at $199, a significant $100 cheaper than Apple’s alternative. It also offers a few accessories you may choose to add to your cart, such as the Echo Sub, which adds additional bass response via a wireless subwoofer for $129.
If you’re not a fan of the aesthetics of the Amazon Echo family, there is a new way to bring Alexa into your home. At Mobile World Congress 2018, Harman International debuted the Harman Kardon Astra in partnership with Brightstar. The intelligent speaker comes with Amazon Alexa built into the device and boasts an elegant design and 360-degree omnidirectional sound field.
Promising to combine a “superior listening experience with a premium look and feel” with the convenience of Alexa’s smart voice technology, the Astra seems, in some ways, to be Harman Kardon’s answer to the Apple HomePod. Thanks to its three 1.75-inch full-range transducers, three 0.75-inch dome tweeters, and two passive radiators, the Astra seems to offer a better listening experience than you might expect from an Amazon Echo.
“The Harman Kardon Astra is the latest voice agent product from Harman and solidifies our leadership in the space,” David Owens, vice president of Business Development at Harman, said in a statement. “Launching this as a Brightstar exclusive gives Harman the opportunity to reach new channels and customers around the globe.”
While the sound quality of the Harman Kardon Astra seems to be the primary selling point of the device, the Alexa integration is nothing to sneeze at. Whether you want to listen to the latest episode of your favorite podcast, hear the evening’s weather report, or tell your connected devices what to do, you can do so by talking to the Astra. The speaker features proprietary far-field voice technology, which should allow the Astra to hear your commands even in the noisiest of environments.
“We’re delighted to continue bringing exclusive and innovative products, such as the Harman Kardon Astra with Amazon Alexa,” Khalid Zitouni, vice president of Global Gear at Brightstar, said in a statement. “With our channel partners, we’re reaching global markets and a large customer base expanding the Harman brand.”
It’s unclear as of yet what pricing will be on the Harman Kardon Astra, but the speaker will be made available for purchase beginning this spring or summer. You will be able to get your hands on one via Brighstar channels or on Harman Kardon’s website or, of course, Amazon.