The best budget smart speakers

Google Assistant offers great smart home performance, and you can get it in a super affordable speaker — the Google Nest Mini.

If you like the idea of the Amazon Echo Dot but prefer to stick within Google's ecosystem, then the Google Nest Mini is a better fit for you. The compact smart speaker is designed to serve as a replacement for the original Google Home Mini.

The Nest Mini is about as small as the Amazon Echo Dot, but instead of Alexa you'll get Google Assistant support, which offers a lot of the same smart features.

With Google Assistant, you can play music from a variety of services through voice commands, including Google Play, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more. You can also ask the speaker general questions, receive news briefings, get weather updates, set alarms, and control other compatible smart devices.

The Google Nest Mini is pretty well-designed too. It's a little less angular than the Echo Dot, but it still offers a very similar puck-shaped design with a fabric covering around the top and capacitive controls for things like volume. It's also available in a few colors, like Charcoal, Sky, Coral, and Chalk. A handy keyhole is integrated on the back as well, making it easy to mount on a wall.

While the Google Nest Mini is super smart and pretty stylish, it's not perfect. Like Amazon's Echo Dot, audio playback on the device is a little limited, so it's not the best speaker for those that want to enjoy loud, full-sounding music. With that said, the audio performance has been improved compared to Google's older entry-level smart speaker, the Google Home Mini.

Unlike the Amazon Echo Dot, however, the Nest Mini lacks a 3.5mm audio out port. This means you can't use a wired connection to hook the Mini up to another speaker for better audio playback. If you want that feature, you'll have to go for the Echo Dot instead.

Pros: Google Assistant built-in, affordable, nice design, keyhole for easy wall-mounting

Cons: Audio quality isn't great, doesn't include a 3.5mm audio out port

The Fabriq Riff features Alexa support and a built-in battery for portable Bluetooth playback.

Perhaps you're looking for a smart speaker that you can move around the home with ease — in which case it's worth considering the Fabriq Riff. This speaker is perhaps most unique because of its design, but it also offers Alexa support and comes at a very affordable price.

As a smart speaker, you'll get the primary benefits that come with any Alexa device, including voice control and support for various skills. With that said, you will need to press a physical mic button on the speaker in order to activate Alexa. Alexa also requires a Wi-Fi connection to work, but you can still play music via Bluetooth when you don't have access to the internet.

When it comes to battery life, the speaker is rated for five hours of use, which is decent for the price. As the name implies, the Fabriq features an attractive fabric design. It's available in several unique patterns — including "Arrows," "Blue Steel," and "Jack Plaid" — offering a bit more style than typical speakers.

The Fabriq Riff doesn't sound as good as some larger, more expensive portable speakers, but considering its price, it offers a nice balance between portability and smart features. As Tom's Guide notes in its review, there are some quirks, but the Riff is a solid buy if you want a portable speaker with Alexa on a budget.

Pros: Interesting design, Alexa built-in, integrated battery for portable use

Cons: Sound isn't as good as more expensive speakers, battery life could be better

The Echo Show 5 is a little pricier than most entry-level smart speakers, but it's the most affordable Alexa product you can buy with a built-in touchscreen display.

Building upon the company's lineup of smart speakers, Amazon now offers Echo devices with screens as well. Though technically a smart display rather than just a smart speaker, the Echo Show 5 is the most affordable Alexa device on the market with support for audio and video.

Like an Echo Dot, the Echo Show 5 features integrated microphones for hands-free Alexa voice control support, offering all of the digital assistant features buyers have come to expect from Amazon's lineup. The device also includes a full-range 1.65-inch speaker, which offers very similar audio performance to the Echo Dot.

What really makes the Show 5 so special, however, is its built-in 5.5-inch touchscreen display. Instead of just listening to music, the Show 5 can play videos from Prime Video and even view footage from connected security cameras and door cameras. A 1MP camera is also integrated for video calls. If you're concerned about privacy, the device includes an off button for the camera and microphone. You can also slide down a physical shutter to cover the camera when not in use.

Most buyers who just want a simple smart speaker will be better off paying less for the Echo Dot, but as Amazon's entry-level Alexa speaker with a display, the Echo Show 5 is still a very good value.

Pros: Built-in touchscreen display, integrated camera

Cons: More expensive than a regular smart speaker, audio quality still isn't the best