Best Smart Speaker Deals January 2019

Best Smart Speaker Deals

See some of the best smart speaker deals available below. We are continuously updating this list.

Best smart speaker discounts: What to look for

														Was: £199.99													
 															Now:  									£99 (50% off)

An excellent half price deal on this Google Assistant smart speaker from LG Was: £39.99 Now: £19.99 (£20 off) With Alexa built in, you can use this inexpensive Echo Dot alternative to control smart lights, listen to music and a whole lot more. The latter is available only in Apple’s HomePod, so this at least makes the choice of speakers easy since there’s just one model. HomePod discounts are hard to find, with most retailers offering only £20 off the usual £319 price. Choosing between the assistants isn’t simple, but it will largely come down to the hardware you have already and whether it’s compatible with each assistant. You’d only go for a HomePod if you have an iPhone or iPad already as it won’t work with Android. Similarly if you already have smart light bulbs and smart switches, it makes sense to invest in a smart speaker that allows you to control them with your voice, so check which assistant they work with before buying a speaker.

Alexa vs Google Assistant

In terms of Alexa vs Google Assistant, both evolve constantly so it can be difficult to make a decision based on their capabilities today. However, they are both as good (and bad) as each other overall. They are not truly intelligent and you still have to phrase your command or question in the right way for them to understand what you mean.

Inputs and outputs

Most speakers are designed to be standalone gadgets which run off mains power. You can generally pair them to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth and stream music from those devices, but if you want to hook up your own speakers, be sure to pick a model with a 3.5mm output. And if you want to play music from a device that doesn’t have Bluetooth, make sure you get one with a 3.5mm aux input. Some have no audio inputs or outputs other than Bluetooth.

Where to find smart speaker offers

There are other retailers to check in the UK, such as Argos, AO, Currys and Very It’s always worth keeping John Lewis in mind too – the company’s price-match policies mean you’ll find some of the best deals as well as getting better customer service and, often, longer warranty.