Recently, both Amazon Echo and Google Home have undergone significant upgrades. This article will compare the two products in terms of voice assistants, smart home hubs, and more.
Just after introducing the Echo Show with a touchscreen, Amazon enhanced its previous version of Echo by adding voice calling and messaging capabilities. Google didn't fall behind either, rolling out a series of major updates for its Google Home, including Bluetooth music streaming, voice calling, and deeper integration with TVs and other devices.
Although Google Home has been around for over a year, Amazon Echo has remained the go-to choice for most people. So, after these updates, will Google Home have the chance to rise? For this comparison, we're focusing solely on the standard version of Echo, excluding Echo Dot and the portable Amazon Tap.
Design-wise, the standard Amazon Echo is a small cylindrical device, standing at 23.5 cm tall, with a diameter of 8.3 cm and weighing approximately 1 kg. It comes in black and white, making it the most visible product in its category. The speaker's grille covers the bottom half of the Echo, while the only two buttons—located at the top—are a microphone mute button and a multifunction key. A light ring at the top illuminates when Alexa is responding.
In contrast, Google Home is shorter, standing under 15 cm tall, with a diameter of about 9.6 cm and weighing approximately 476 grams. Its body is purely white, but you can change the base to match different colors and materials, such as carbon black, bronze, pure white, yellow, blue, and violet.
Google Home's design draws inspiration from candles and wine glasses, featuring a smooth plastic top. When listening, the body emits four colors of light, and it has a touch-sensitive area where you can play or pause music, adjust volume, or activate Google Assistant. The mute button is placed on the back. While neither design stands out significantly, Google Home's smaller size and broader color options give it an edge in aesthetics.
Sound quality is another point of comparison. Google Home delivers fuller and more immersive sound compared to Amazon Echo, though its volume is slightly lower. At max volume, the sound drops by 3-4 dB just a step away. Previously, Google Home couldn't function as a regular Bluetooth speaker, but now it matches Echo in this regard, allowing you to stream any audio from your phone via Bluetooth.
Both devices support popular music platforms like iHeartRadio, Pandora, and Spotify, along with their respective music services—Amazon Music and Google Play Music.
Voice control is another key feature. Both smart speakers can be controlled entirely by voice, including managing music playback, searching, and controlling smart home devices. Amazon Echo uses "Hey, Alexa," "Alexa," or "Amazon" to wake up, while Google Home responds to "OK, Google" or "Hey Google." Within a 50-foot range, both can hear commands clearly.
Children often inherit traits from their parents, and in smart speakers, this means Google Home excels at searching the web for more information, whereas Alexa is better at handling shopping-related tasks. For simple commands like spelling words or setting timers, both perform equally well. However, Google Assistant seems more intuitive. For instance, asking about the lead singer of a band and then following up with questions about their acting career showcases Google's advanced capabilities.
In terms of smart home control, Google Home now supports a wide range of brands, including August, Belkin Wemo, Frigidaire, Honeywell, Insignia, Lifx, Logitech Harmony, Next, Philips, Rachio, Samsung, TP-Link, Wink (though domestic users may find fewer options available), and Chromecast. Amazon Echo also supports all these brands plus additional ones like Blink, Carrier, DigitalStrom, Haiku, Leviton, Lowe’s Iris, Lutron, Netatmo, and more.
Google Home has an edge in television integration due to its partnership with Chromecast, allowing on-demand streaming of content from sites like HBO Now and Hulu, enabling users to enjoy voice-controlled video on non-smart TVs. With Amazon Echo, achieving similar functionality requires purchasing an additional $89.99 device.
On the internet, both Echo and Google Home connect via Wi-Fi. During testing, Google Home had a weaker signal, while Echo maintained functionality in areas where Wi-Fi wasn't strong enough.
Alexa boasts more third-party app integrations than Google Assistant (around 11,000 versus 200). Interestingly, Alexa integrates seamlessly with Google's services better than Google Assistant itself. For instance, Alexa can add events to Google Calendar or read emails from Gmail, something Google Home cannot do.
Currently, Echo users can call other Echo users for free. Google Assistant takes it a step further, allowing direct calls between phones without needing a mobile device. Additionally, Google Home can recognize up to six voices simultaneously, automatically switching to the appropriate user profile based on the speaker's voice. On Echo, users must manually switch accounts.
Despite these advancements, both devices are continually improving. Google Home retails for $129, compared to Amazon Echo's $179.99. However, the smaller and cheaper Echo Dot ($50) and portable Amazon Tap ($100) remain competitive options.
Initially, Amazon Echo, particularly the Dot, was the preferred choice over Google Home, but the gap is narrowing. Google Home offers its own advantages, such as smarter voice interactions and superior sound quality. Although these features haven't yet disrupted Amazon Echo's expanding ecosystem, the rapidly evolving smart speaker market makes future predictions challenging.
Mechanical Timer
24 hours mechanical Timer
Instant indicator
Min.setting time:15 minutes. Max.setting timer:24 hours
With hand switch,can be switched to operating and
setting at any time
Instructions:
1. Set program: 1 pin is equivalent to 15 minutes. Determine desired start time and push down pins until desired
off time.
For instance, if you want electrical devices to work from 8:00am to 11:00am and from 13:00pm to 17:00pm, you
just need to put down allthe pins between the three period time.
2. Set the current time: Turning the dial clockwise until the arrow pointing to
current time.
For example,if now it is 8:00 am, please turn the dial and make sure the
arrow point to 8. (See the picture.)
3. Plug the electrical device directly into the timer. Make sure the electrical
device is power-on.
4. Plug the timer into electrical outlet and the electrical device will be work
according to the setting program.
Note: = Normal Ope n = Timing
Make sure the switch on the Timing position. If it
is on the [Normal Open" mode, the electrical device is
always power-on and the timer function no work.
Specifications:
Rated Voltage, Current and Power
|
As shown on the label
|
Time Setting Range
|
15minutes24hours
|
Working Temperature
|
-10℃?+55℃
|
Operation
|
Clockwise
|
Insulation Resistance
|
>100M
|
Inherent Loss
|
≤1W
|
Application:
1. To enable high-power electric appliances to run automatically at off-peak time if there is different electricity
price according to different periods of time in some areas.
2. To use for electric appliances which need time control, such as water heaters, air conditioners, drinking
fountains, rice cookers, advertising lights and so on.
3. To control the charging time. For example, battery of electric bikes or mobile phones, storage batteries, etc.
4. Occasions which need switch on/off frequently, like interval spray irrigation for flowersand lawn, cyclical
adding oxygen to fish jar, fountains and so on.
5. Home safety precautions and lighting.
Caution:
1.D o not exceed the maximum ratings of the timer.
2.M ust reset the current time after power failure.
3.D o not plug the timer directly into the working electrical appliances.
4.U nless changing the setting, keep the program same every day.
5.D o not disassemble timer by yourself. Professionals service are needed for maintenance.
6.T his item is only for indoor use.
Mechanical Timer, mechanical timer socket, 24hr mechanical timer, mechanical timer plug, mechanical timer adaptor
NINGBO COWELL ELECTRONICS & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD , https://www.cowellsocket.com