If you're on the hunt for a Google Assistant speaker, it's tempting to first turn to Google's line of Home devices. Google is in the Google Assistant and Google Home names, so why not just turn to the company behind the software to buy your hardware?
As tempting as that may be, you might want to look at some third-party options instead. They all feature Google Assistant, but they go about the speaker design and sound in very different ways — some are smaller and portable, others are larger and booming.
The bottom line is that there's plenty of variety if you opt for a third-party Google Assistant speaker. Here are some of the better ones we found.
Best third-party Google Assistant speakers:
Editor's note: We'll be updating this list of the best Google Assistant speakers regularly as new ones launch.
1. Polk Assist
The Polk Assist is a great Google Assistant speaker. It supports Bluetooth and has Chromecast built-in. It also has playback buttons on top as well as the option to mute the microphone if you're worried about privacy.
The speaker produces crisp sound, even at higher volume levels. It looks nice as well (definitely better than the Google Home) but it isn't the sleekest looking speaker on this list in my opinion.
It's not the cheapest either, although it won't break the bank. The Polk Assist is well worth the asking price — get it via the button below.
2. Bose Portable Home Speaker
As you can tell by its name, this Google Assistant speaker from Bose is portable, allowing you to move it around the house with ease and take it with you on the road. It's durable as well as waterproof, with Bose claiming it's engineered to withstand bumps, drops, sprays, and splashes.
The speaker offers 360-degree sound and a battery that should be good for up to 12 hours of use. With Google Assistant built-in, you can play your favorite songs from streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, and Pandora with voice commands.
Alternatively, there are playback control buttons on top of the speakers for the times you don't want to use Assistant. Bose's speaker comes in black or white and, in addition to Google's voice assistant, also has Amazon's Alexa on board.
3. Harman Kardon Citation 300
The Harman Kardon Citation 300 is a medium-sized Google Assistant speaker that offers impressive sound quality. It's a looker as well with its stylish and modern design.
In addition to controlling it with your voice, you can do things like play, pause, and skip to the next track with a touch panel up top, which also shows you the name of the song. For additional security and privacy, you can turn the microphone off during times you won't be using Google's digital assistant.
The Harman Kardon Citation 300 can be paired with an additional speaker to achieve stereo sound and is partially covered with a blended wool fabric that's dirt repellent and flame retardant. It really is a great speaker, but it's also the most expensive one on this list.
4. Klipsch The Three
If you want great sound from your Google Assistant speaker, this is a fantastic option. Klipsch The Three sports two ¼-inch drivers and a 5.25-inch woofer with dual-opposed 5.25-inch passive radiators.
It provides plenty of connectivity options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 3.5mm headphone jack, among others. It also supports Qualcomm's aptX codec.
The design is in a class of its own, although it isn't to everyone's liking. It has an old-school feel to it but is nicely made, featuring real wood veneer with metal switches and knobs that look and feel sturdy.
5. LG XBoom AI ThinQ WK7
With a goofy name and utilitarian build, LG's Google Assistant speaker stands out and blends in at the same time. That said, the ThinQ WK7 offers plenty for the money — volume, play/pause buttons, and function buttons up top, a microphone button around back that lets you mute the mic, 24-bit upsampling, and a touch-sensitive Google Assistant button. Thanks to Chromecast support, the ThinQ WK7 also supports multi-room audio playback.
Audio generally sounds great thanks to the punchy bass, prominent vocals, and the ability to get out without much distortion. Unfortunately, this does come at the cost of flattened mid-range sound and undefined treble, which leads to loss of detail and definition with some songs.
Overall, it's hard to argue against this speaker when looking at its price. It's not the cheapest one on this list, but it does offer great value for money.
6. Anker Soundcore Model Zero Plus
Anker's first foray into the world of Google Assistant speakers is a stunner. You won't find another speaker with the Model Zero Plus' unique design that allows it to be stationary and portable.
It's not all about looks, however — the Model Zero Plus features two 63mm woofers, two 19mm tweeters, two passive radiators, and Dolby Audio support. The result is an automatically-equalized sound that promises to be loud, clear, and balanced, whether you're listening to music or podcasts. There's also a separate Soundcore app that lets you customize the equalizer to your liking.
All of this won't come cheap — the Model Zero Plus goes for $249.99. There's a cheaper Model Zero that sells for $50 less, but that model doesn't feature Google Assistant. If you want something that stands out and sounds great, the Model Zero Plus is it.
7. Sony LF-S50G
Sony is known for awkward product names, and the LF-S50G continues that trend. Don't let the name steer you away, the HomePod-esque speaker includes more than meets the eye.
Even with an exterior synthetic fabric mesh, the LF-S50G features a seven-segment time display that shines through just fine. The top features a gesture-friendly area that lets you control music playback with a wave of your hand. The bottom features two buttons that control the clock illumination and lock the device from accepting input from other buttons or gestures. The speaker also features a dedicated 53mm subwoofer for added bass, a 48mm driver, and minimal distortion at high volumes.
Keep in mind that this is only an 18W speaker — don't expect a perfect balance between bass and treble or the best sound at higher and lower volumes. Also, the gestures don't always work as advertised and the price tag might be a bit too much for what you get.
8. JBL Link 20
One of only a handful of small and portable Google Assistant devices, the JBL Link 20 doesn't stand out in the design department. However, it more than makes up for the bland design with a solid feature set and great sound.
The Link 20 features volume, play/pause, mic mute, Bluetooth, power, and Google Assistant buttons on the top and back. It also features an IPX7 rating for water submersion, Wi-Fi connectivity, two microphones at the top, and LED indicators for the battery and when Google Assistant is active.
More importantly, the Link 20 promises well-balanced treble, bass, lows, and mids. The highs are also good and with little distortion, but the speaker might not hear your voice commands very well at high volumes.
9. Sonos One
In addition to Google Assistant, the Sonos One also has Amazon's Alexa onboard. The speaker has great sound quality and looks nice as well. It comes with a touch-capacitive panel on top that lets you adjust the volume, skip tracks, and mute the microphone.
If you want more power and sound, you can connect two of these speakers together to create stereo separation.
The Sonos One is definitely a great Google Assistant speaker, but it isn't perfect. Wi-Fi is your only streaming option, and the speaker must be plugged into an outlet at all times in order to work.
10. Sonos Move
Unlike the Sonos One, the Move is a battery-powered Google Assistant speaker, so it doesn't need to be plugged in to work. You can move it freely around the house as well as take it with you to the park or the beach.
In addition to sporting an IP56 rating, the speaker is also resistant to humidity, UV rays, and extreme heat as well as cold. It's drop-resistant as well. The battery is good for up to 10 hours of use.
The Sonos Move supports Bluetooth connectivity and, in addition to Google Assistant, comes with Alexa onboard. It's a great buy.
These are the best Google Assistant speakers in our opinion, although there are a few other great ones out there as well. We'll update this post with new models once they hit the market.
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