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How Microsoft's New Invoke Smart Speaker Stacks Up to the Competition


Better late than never, right? Microsoft is finally ready to compete in the smart speaker market after unveiling its Cortana-powered version of the Amazon Echo earlier this year. The Harman Kardon Invoke launched on Sunday with high-quality audio and a stylish design for $199.

But how does it compare to the competition from Amazon, Google, Apple and Sonos? Let’s find out.

Microsoft’s Harman Kardon Invoke ($199)

Here’s what you need to know about the newest smart speaker in an increasingly crowded market.

What It Has

The Invoke’s biggest perk is audio quality, thanks to three 1.75-inch midrange drivers and three 0.5-inch tweeters that provide 360-degree sound. It’s missing a subwoofer, but makes up for it with a passive radiator for bass. In their review, The Verge notes that it sounds better than the Amazon Echo and Google Home, but not as good as the Sonos One. Apple claims its HomePod speaker will also offer superior sound quality, but we won’t know for sure until it actually launches later this year.

Microsoft’s new speaker also boasts a pretty nice design. It’s similar to the cylindrical Echo, but tapers in at the top with a metal speaker grille that covers most of the body. It also has touch controls up top, including the option to pause the music by simply tapping on the device. Plus, there’s an aux port if you want to connect it to a more powerful speaker, along with Bluetooth support.

As for Cortana, Microsoft’s AI assistant works pretty well according to The Verge, but can’t really compete with more refined services from Google and Amazon. Hopefully that will improve with future software updates.

What It Doesn’t Have

Cortana also comes with some drawbacks that could make you think twice about buying the Invoke. It only really works with Microsoft apps for features like checking your calendar or getting reminders. The Invoke also limits you to just one account (at least for now), so multiple family members or roommates can’t check their calendars on the same speaker.

The Verge notes in their review that call quality on the Invoke was pretty poor on both ends. The speaker also only supports Skype calls for now, and you can’t even use it to make a call from your phone over Bluetooth.

The Invoke doesn’t come at a discount, either. At $199, it’s way more expensive than the flagship Echo ($99) and the Google Home ($129). It’s still cheaper than the HomePod ($349) but it’s the same price as the Sonos One, which runs Amazon’s Alexa AI.

Who Should Buy It?

If you’re an audiophile who’s already bought into Microsoft’s ecosystem of apps, this is the speaker for you. Otherwise, there are cheaper options from Amazon and Google—or better audio quality for the same price from Sonos.

Sonos One ($199)

Speaking of Sonos, here’s a bit more on the company’s first smart speaker: the $199 Sonos One.

What It Has

Like the Invoke, the Sonos One boasts great audio, which shouldn’t come as a surprise from a company known for making speakers. The design is also appealing and includes a physical button for turning off the built-in microphone, though it’s a little boxier than Microsoft’s model.

The Sonos One should also get some great software features down the road, including support for Google Assistant (it currently only works with Amazon’s Alexa AI), but for now the software is actually pretty limited.

What It Doesn’t Have

Out of the box, the Sonos One is a bit of a letdown as a smart speaker. Alexa isn’t even enabled by default, and setting it up is a multi-step process that involves syncing your Amazon and Sonos accounts. Gizmodo also notes that it doesn’t yet support standard Alexa features like voice calls, sending text messages and setting reminders, though Sonos says they’ll come in a future update.

Who Should Buy It?

Audiophiles looking for a standalone smart speaker with great sound should consider the Sonos One. But if you already have a solid speaker, you might be better off hooking it up to a cheaper option like the Echo Dot or Google Mini.

Amazon Echo ($99)

Amazon keeps adding new devices to its smart speaker lineup, but the Echo is still the gold standard. Here’s how the 2017 model compares to the competition.

What It Has

The biggest improvement to the new Echo is its far-field microphones, which were redesigned for better voice recognition. That should make it even easier to talk to Alexa. Amazon also redesigned the exterior, with a squatter shape and variety of covers in fabrics or wood so it blends into the decoration.

Alexa has become the industry standard for smart home speakers, so it supports the most skills and gadgets. Amazon also added the ability to sync multiple Echos together for a wireless system, and it’s selling three of the $100 speakers for just $250 when you buy them together.

What It Doesn’t Have

The Echo is limited to what Alexa can do, but that shouldn’t be an issue in most cases. It is missing a few features offered by more expensive Amazon devices like the Echo Plus ($150), which packs a built-in smart home hub in case the smart home gadgets you buy don’t work directly with the Echo. There’s also the Echo Show ($229) with its built-in touchscreen, but you’re not going to get any of that from the competition, anyway.

Who Should Buy It?

If you’re looking for a simple standalone smart speaker with okay sound, this is the way to go. If you’ve already bought into Google, Microsoft or Apple’s ecosystems, then it’s worth considering their respective options, and if you want something extra, try one of Amazon’s fancier models.

Google Home ($129)

Google’s answer to the Amazon Echo offers some great features thanks to Google Assistant. Here’s what you need to know.

What It Has

When it comes to AI smarts, Google Home “obliterates” the Amazon Echo, according to Gizmodo’s review, though it’s still far from a perfect product. Google Assistant is better at parsing natural language, and it understands context, so you can ask a follow-up question without repeating yourself.

Google Home also works with Chromecast. So you can tell it to play a video and it will stream on any TV in the house with an attached dongle or built in Cast support. The same goes for any speaker with support for Google Cast audio.

The design is fun and playful with swappable bases in different colors and fabrics, even if it looks a bit like an air freshener.

What It Doesn’t Have

Google Home does have some software limits on what it can do, though Google has reliably continued updating it with new skills and features. The audio quality is also pretty bad at high volumes, but most of the time it sounds fine.

Who Should Buy It?

For buyers on the market for the very smartest smart speaker, this is the way to go. Google Home is also a great choice if you already use a Chromecast for your TV and want everything in the house to sync up.

Apple HomePod ($349)

Finally, there’s the HomePod. Apple’s long-awaited answer to the Echo won’t launch until December, so we don’t know exactly how well it will perform. Here’s what we do know about the upcoming smart speaker.

What it Has

Apple put a big emphasis on audio quality when it revealed the HomePod earlier this year. The speaker features seven tweeters, “precision acoustic horns” and a subwoofer. The Verge actually tested one back in June in a very controlled demo with specifically chosen songs, and said it sounds great, but quality may vary in real world use.

The HomePod also packs in six microphones for picking up your voice, so hopefully it won’t have any trouble recognizing commands. Though, again, no one’s been able to test that out in the wild yet.

What It Doesn’t Have

The fact that the HomePod relies on Siri is a little worrisome; Apple’s AI still lags behind the competition, even if the company says its working on a Siri-specific update for the speaker.

As for the design, it’s fine but not particularly appealing and comes in black or white. The $350 price tag may also scare some people away, but that’s the Apple tax for you.

Should You Buy It?

If you’re totally bought into Apple’s ecosystem, the HomePod is the smart speaker for you. Otherwise, you’re probably better off with something else, though it’s possible Apple will prove us wrong when the HomePod finally launches.