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SPEAKER SMARTS continued

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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SMART SPEAKERS

These voice-controlled speakers feature multiple connectivity options to give you music, news, podcasts, weather, reminders and more.They can be integrated into a smart home ecosystem or taken out and about. Many portable Bluetooth speakers now feature smart functionality.

ENTRY-LEVEL

Apple HomePod Mini Add a HomePod Mini to an Apple HomeKit ecosystem and enjoy 360-degree audio. Yes, this small spherical speaker pumps out extraordinarily weighty sound from its

Google Nest Audio Listening to your favourite tunes is easier than ever with the Google Nest Audio. This compact smart speaker packs a tweeter, woofer and tuning software for rich, room-filling audio and powerful bass, and adapts to surroundings for optimal

full-range driver and two passive radiators. Pair two together for even bigger audio or create a connected sound system throughout the home by adding multiple pods. The Mini can also double as a room-to-room intercom

listening, from music and podcasts to audiobooks. The Google ecosystem makes accessing music or curated audio simple. And if you need to check news or weather – or pretty much anything – it’s just a “Hey Google…” away. The Nest can also function as an intercom, and if you have more than one Google speaker dotted about the home, you can pump music through them all, or have it follow you with a simple voice command. At a glance Connectivity: Bluetooth Charging: USB-C

system that can be personalised with voice recognition for different family members, with four mics and Siri voice control for hands-free convenience. There are no physical buttons – simply tap the centre panel for pause/resume play, and volume up/down. At a glance Connectivity: Bluetooth, AirPlay Charging: USB-C 20W wall charger

MID-RANGE

Sonos Roam Portable Bluetooth Smart Speaker

Roam if you want to and never miss a beat with this ultra-portable smart speaker. The size of a water bottle, the Roam can be easily stashed in a bag or backpack to soundtrack outdoor activities, or added to a smart home ecosystem as a dedicated indoor speaker. Wi-Fi support adds voice assistant convenience via Google or Alexa, and the Roam will automatically switch to a Bluetooth connection when Wi-Fi is out

of range. Small in size but big in sound, it delivers exceptional mids and highs and ample bass, and auto-tuning optimises sound quality to suit the environment. At a glance Connectivity: Bluetooth Battery life: 10 hours IP rating: 67 Charging: USB-C, Qi wireless

TOP SHELF

Sonos Move Portable Smart Speaker The Sonos Move combines the advantages of a Bluetooth speaker with the connectivity of a smart speaker. Robust and with big full-range sound, versatility is the selling point here. When linked to a Wi-Fi connection the Move has built-in Google Assistant and Alexa for full voice control, while its Bluetooth functionality gives it total portability. If you can‘t decide whether a Bluetooth or smart speaker is the way to go, the Move covers both bases for you. At a glance Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Battery life: 11 hours IP rating: 56 Charging: Wireless charging base (included)

Bose Portable Smart Speaker Get the best of both worlds in a portable Bluetooth speaker and wireless smart speaker with Bose 360-degree spatial sound and three passive radiators for deep bass. A downward firing transducer and acoustic deflector deliver uniform sound in all directions, which is very loud for a speaker of this size. Set-up is simple via the Bose app, and Wi-Fi connection to the Alexa and Google ecosystem provides voice control, multi-room functionality, and the option to add additional smart speakers from the Bose family. Chromecast is built-in for access to popular music streaming services, and there's AirPlay 2 for iOS users. At a glance Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 5 Battery life: 12 hours IPX rating: 4 Charging: USB-C, charging cradle (sold separately)

26 JULY 2022

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