Hiking Boots/Shoes Recommendations?

Hiking boot recommendations?

Any recommendations for women's hiking shoes?

[Request] Hiking/outdoorsy style shoes that can handle lots of walking on concrete

Cold and wet weather hiking boots recommendations?

I am in need of a new pair of trail/hiking boots.

Hiking Boots for heavy use during the summer

Good pair of hiking shoes?

[Request] waterproof hiking shoes

[request] - Good quality walking shoes.

Hello Redditors. I'm in search of a classy yet extremely durable pair of hiking boots to take backpacking around the world for 12+ months with.

Hiking boots recommendations

Men's three season "urban hiker" (like Merrell MOAB but longer lasting)

BIFL Hiking boots for women

Hiking boots with good traction and can stand up to abuse.

Looking for a good pair of shoes for my weird feet

Request - Hiking Sandals

Request: Hiking Boots

Comfortable and cushiony shoes for walking on pavement 10KM/couple hours a day (UK)

Hiking sandals that last?

[Request] Powerful dishwasher with sanitize function?

I want the best god damned dishwasher money can buy.

Looking for the best, easiest to operate, cheapest dishwasher - Recommendation?

[Request] Best countertop dishwasher for reasonable price?

Can anyone recommend a good dishwasher?

Countertop/Portable Dishwasher

[Request] Dishwasher &lt;$1k Australian with QOL features and low water use

Dishwasher for Second Home

My friend bought a house with this KichenAid dishwasher from 1974. He says it works better than any of the other ones he has owned. He just has to convince his wife not to replace it.

What's a good Panel ready dishwasher under $1k?

Best socket set on the market $100-$150

[Request] Socket wrenches

I need a recommendation for a tool set that should last a lifetime. [Request]

Looking for a Mechanics tool set.

23 years later; GM Goodwrench socket set.

A Starter/Lifetime Tool set

Basic screwdriver set needed

Mechanic Tools that are BIFL

Trying to fill a tool roll for my truck and would like input on BFL tools like wrenches, pliers, socket sets, etc.

BIFL: Mastercraft ratchet set with lifetime warranty. Got it at 14, im 31. Went thru more abuse than you think!

Looking to upgrade my home hand tools

Was told to post this here. Husky 270pc toolset from Home Depot for $99, normally $199. Lifetime warranty too

[Request] Ratchet/Wrench/Etc tool set for home/bicycle/general use

Thoughts on a Honda Accord V6 2007?

2010 Honda Accord worth the buy?

Thoughts on a 2008 Honda accord v6 coupe EX-L?

2014 honda accord ??

After an initial round of research it seems like Honda Accord Hybrid is the right answer, but I want to pressure test that with you guys

2014 Accord V6 Touring (any thoughts?)

Which car ?

me again. 2010 2dr honda accord, 122k miles for $5,800. just want a reliable first car, thoughts?

Want to buy an Accord, any suggestions?

2020/2021 Honda Accord LX - Tell Me About Your Likes/Dislikes

Compact - Midsize suv

best small/midsize suv?

Looking for a used (06-14) reliable compact/mid-size SUV

compact/mid size suv

Midsize SUV

Recommendations for midsized SUVs to look at

Compact to Mid-Size SUV

Small to mid-size suv suggestions?

Midsize vehicle for three kids

Mid-Size SUV

Just tried a Lotus Elise Cup 250, driving impressions !

Dan Neil reviews Lotus Emira: As Good As It Gets

Considering a Lotus Elise - USA

How affordable are Lotus Elises from the 2005-2012 model year?

Lotus Exige Sport Final Edition review: farewell, Exige

I wanna know everything you know about a 2005 Lotus Elise

My Lotus Evora Review

Lotus retail sales up 24% in best performance for a decade

2022 Lotus Emira Looks to Be One of the Brand's Best

PURCHASING A LOTUS — Need Tips + Advice.

Looking for a good rpg/action adventure with a good story and good characters

Deep long rpgs?

Looking for a story-focused RPG

Looking for a complex RPG

Fantasy games with an detailed and immersive world?

[WSIB] I am in search for a open world RPG that will keep me busy for hundreds of hours.

Open world game with huge map, lots of things to do, and great graphics

WSIB Feeling a bit of an rpg lull and want something exciting like old school BioWare with a engaging story that doesn’t take 100 hours to play.

WSIB: long, immersive games with high quality storytelling and writing

looking for an open-world rpg

[WSIB] A turn based strategy game that isn’t 4X

Turn-based strategy game

Turn-based strategy games

[WSIB] Small-scale, medieval, strategy game, featuring pikemen and cavalry

(WSIB) Turn-based ”wargaming” game

[WSIB] Turn Based Strategy games

WSIB if I want a strategy game for dummies

WSIB Strategic Rpg

[WSIB] Good offline strategy/(ish) games?

What are some good "smaller scale to control, but still feel large scale battle" tactical / strategy games?

Bullet Hell-Type Games: Atomicrops vs. I, Dracula: Genesis vs. Others?

WSIB if i want a completely story driven indie game but have already played undertale and oneshot (preferably similar to those 2)

Post apocalyptic enthusiast, Underrail or Atom RPG?

[SIB] Undermine or Atomicrops

WSIB if I like "Run into things, need to grow in power/special items to move further so I come back after unlocking said element" type of games.

Blsoodborne or Resident evil 2 ?

What should I buy? Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Doom: Eternal

[WSIB] Fast-paced top-down roguelikes?

[SIB] I Hate Running Backwards or Planetary Dustoff? Or something else?

SIB Nuclear Throne?

What can you recommend for minimizing pores?

I know you can’t get rid of pores but I’m wondering is there anyway to make them smaller? I use La Roche Posay products. They keep my acne mostly at bay but I feel like my pores are just so large. Part of it is genetic, but just wondering if there’s anything else I can do at home to help. Thanks!

OPEN PORES- WHAT TO DO? IS THERE ANY PRODUCT I CAN USE?

What skincare products have you used that helped with large pores?

What is the best thing to use to tighten pores on your face?

Can anyone tell me why my pores are so huge and what I can do to minimize them?

How to reduce pores.

Hey guys, how do I make my pores not look like this? Info in comments (deleted and reposted for an error in the title)

Pores reduction tips?

Advice for shrinking pores on and around nose?

[sun care] sunscreen that doesn’t irritate rosacea and perioral dermatitis

[Sun Care] Looking for sunscreen that doesn't irritate Rosacea

Sunscreen recommendations for rosacea

Looking for a sunscreen for my acne prone skin.

[Sun Care] looking for a sunscreen that works well for people with Eczema.

Desperate for a good sunscreen

Looking for a Daily Suncreen

I’ve tried them all and I still can’t find my holy grail for my dry rosacea skin. Any other recommendations?

Sunscreen, eczema and makeup, Help [Sun care]

[Sun Care] Help with not being able to use Sunscreen

How can i stop a really greasy face?

How to best defeat oily skin?

Is there any long-lasting solution for oily face?

Oily Face -&gt; Wash Face -&gt; More Oily

Extremely oily skin

Y’all know some sort of cream or product I can buy to make my face less greasy looking?

super oily face help needed

Oily Skin— please help!

Really oily skin

How to have less oily skin?

Adrian Krebs

Johannes Engler

Tavis Lochhead

Wirecutter

Alexa allows users to instantly chat with loved ones and caregivers. The device also doubles as a Zigbee wireless hub, allowing control of more smart-home devices than you can get with any other voice platform.

Nice sound, a crisp screen, and premium video options—plus wide smart-device compatibility—make the Echo Show the most well-rounded smart display for using Alexa.

Consumer Reports

CR’s take: If you want to add another Alexa smart speaker to your home, say for a bedroom or home office, consider the second generation Amazon Echo Show. It’s one of the best-sounding devices Amazon has ever brought to market, and the large, 10-inch touch screen makes it very easy to set up and use.
The Echo Show is great for reading a recipe or watching a quick how-to video, tasks that might otherwise require you to pull out your smartphone or tablet.

The Show 8 has an 8-inch touch screen (ideal for displaying online recipes), responds to voice commands (useful when you have messy hands), and has a camera that can adjust the focus to “follow” you as you move about the room on a video call. The device’s footprint is also significantly smaller than that of the new Show 10, which needs a beach-ball-sized space on the countertop to provide clearance for a rotating screen. As with many smart speakers, though, the Show 8’s sound quality is somewhat lacking, according to our testers, who note the model’s strident high frequencies. 
For more options: Best Smart Speakers Under $200

Amazon’s Echo Show 10 features a large, 10-inch touch screen display that uses motion-sensing technology and a silent electric motor hidden in its base to follow you as you move around your kitchen. So if you step from the counter to the stove, you’ll be able to watch that old-school ravioli recipe video without having to touch anything.
Our testers find the model to be quite versatile and super-easy to set up and use. The sound quality is fine, but it falls a little short of the previous generation Show, largely because of a slight plastick-y distortion in the midrange.
Before you buy the speaker, though, make sure you have the counter space to safely set up the Show 10. The instructions advise you to map out an area roughly the size of a beach ball and keep it clear. We’ve discovered that if items—even heavy ones like a metal travel mug or a large bottle of oil—are placed too close to the Show 10’s screen, that powerful motor can knock them over, which could pose a safety hazard.
For some, the prospect of a screen with a camera that tracks your movements as you move around the kitchen may also be a little unnerving, although there’s always the option to turn off that function.

With a 15-inch touch screen, the Echo Show 15 is Amazon’s largest smart screen ever. Designed to be mounted on a wall, it requires no counter space and can serve as a digital bulletin board for a family as well as a control center for smart home devices.
Our testers also admire its versatility, intuitive controls, and well-designed smartphone app.
Despite the appealing concept, though, we discovered a number of drawbacks in the Echo Show 15’s design. The touch screen was laggy and occasionally froze up, although the device still responded to voice commands.
The app-like Widgets for the family control center don’t make the best use of that large screen, resulting in a clunky interface.
And, soundwise, the Show 15 leaves a lot to be desired. Our testers report that sonically it’s similar to the Echo Dot. The bass is almost nonexistent and the congested midrange is plasticky and telephone-like, which makes the model okay for listening to a podcast, but not really suited to music listening.

CR’s take: If you want to add another Alexa smart speaker to your home, say for a bedroom or home office, consider the second generation Amazon Echo Show. It’s one of the best-sounding devices Amazon has ever brought to market, and the large, 10-inch touch screen makes it very easy to set up and use.The Echo Show is great for reading a recipe or watching a quick how-to video, tasks that might otherwise require you to pull out your smartphone or tablet.

The Show 8 has an 8-inch touch screen (ideal for displaying online recipes), responds to voice commands (useful when you have messy hands), and has a camera that can adjust the focus to “follow” you as you move about the room on a video call. The device’s footprint is also significantly smaller than that of the new Show 10, which needs a beach-ball-sized space on the countertop to provide clearance for a rotating screen. As with many smart speakers, though, the Show 8’s sound quality is somewhat lacking, according to our testers, who note the model’s strident high frequencies. For more options: Best Smart Speakers Under $200

Amazon’s Echo Show 10 features a large, 10-inch touch screen display that uses motion-sensing technology and a silent electric motor hidden in its base to follow you as you move around your kitchen. So if you step from the counter to the stove, you’ll be able to watch that old-school ravioli recipe video without having to touch anything.Our testers find the model to be quite versatile and super-easy to set up and use. The sound quality is fine, but it falls a little short of the previous generation Show, largely because of a slight plastick-y distortion in the midrange.Before you buy the speaker, though, make sure you have the counter space to safely set up the Show 10. The instructions advise you to map out an area roughly the size of a beach ball and keep it clear. We’ve discovered that if items—even heavy ones like a metal travel mug or a large bottle of oil—are placed too close to the Show 10’s screen, that powerful motor can knock them over, which could pose a safety hazard.For some, the prospect of a screen with a camera that tracks your movements as you move around the kitchen may also be a little unnerving, although there’s always the option to turn off that function.

With a 15-inch touch screen, the Echo Show 15 is Amazon’s largest smart screen ever. Designed to be mounted on a wall, it requires no counter space and can serve as a digital bulletin board for a family as well as a control center for smart home devices.Our testers also admire its versatility, intuitive controls, and well-designed smartphone app.Despite the appealing concept, though, we discovered a number of drawbacks in the Echo Show 15’s design. The touch screen was laggy and occasionally froze up, although the device still responded to voice commands.The app-like Widgets for the family control center don’t make the best use of that large screen, resulting in a clunky interface.And, soundwise, the Show 15 leaves a lot to be desired. Our testers report that sonically it’s similar to the Echo Dot. The bass is almost nonexistent and the congested midrange is plasticky and telephone-like, which makes the model okay for listening to a podcast, but not really suited to music listening.

amazon.com

theverge.com

consumerreports.org

cnet.com

CNET

r/amazonecho

r/Ring

r/HomeNetworking

r/Garmin

r/Workspaces

r/xboxone

r/googlehome

r/homeassistant

r/androidtablets

r/sonos

r/smarthome

r/homeautomation

  So that's the awesome part. We are discovering a few annoyances as we go, so I'll share one that is probably unique to this product: The process of adjusting and setting the range of motion is not well thought out. If you only ever did this once and then set the thing in cement, then maybe. But we set it on a counter and have already found that it must be moved for cleaning, to temporarily get it out of the way, or for use in another position

  Also, I've described a somewhat ideal grandma use case, so keep in mind that we only live 10 minutes from grandma and have had to drop by and "fix Alexa" (turned off, moved, lost wifi, screen rotated by hand) while she and visitors are getting used to it, so it's definitely not a set and forget type of technology, but I'm not going to reduce my rating because of that.  My rating would have been 5 stars, if it wasn't for Alexa herself and the somewhat puzzling UI design, menus, etc. Did I mention my Kindle Fire? Here's my point. You need one to control this thing and use many of the "Alexa features" with any level of certainty

Alexa, how do you spell frustrating?

 It can be paired with other devices so you can expand this if necessary.  Motion tracking: As mentioned from others, this is a bit laggy, but in the "works well enough" category. It is not quick to jump around, but can trail someone easily walking around. What I found is that it rarely loses focus of the individual completely even though it will trail the motion

 It is not quick to jump around, but can trail someone easily walking around. What I found is that it rarely loses focus of the individual completely even though it will trail the motion. And if the user is continuing to speak, it almost never loses track of the user in my testing. Of note, it of course does not track up and down as the motorized function is swivel only, but the wide angle of the lens makes this mostly unnecessary

Is it better than the previous 10 inch Alexa?  Yes, but maybe not by as much as you think.

I activated these features on my Echos, however I am noticing that I don't get any notification on my phone, either when a person is detected or when the sound of a fire alarm is recognized when Alexa Guard is in Away mode. If I enable the siren on the Echo, person detection immediately triggers if I walk close to the Echo and the siren goes off, however my phone stays silent. Similarly, if I test my smoke detector close to the Echo, I don't get any notification but if I open the Alexa app, it shows that the sound of a smoke detector was recognized, meaning that the feature was correctly working in the background.

 That can't be it, right? The new Echo Show 8 had a new processor and its camera followed you around the room. I mean, not particularly well, but that was something, right? Nope, That is it. Oh, and if you're buying it for a full price, which you shouldn't do because these things sell for crazy discounts all the time. But if you are buying it at full price, then it's five dollars cheaper than the show Five originally was at 85 rather than 90

Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 edition): What I like, and what I definitely DON'T

 The Show came configured to my account, I didn't have to log in or even enter wifi passwords. It connected, downloaded some updates, and then walked me through customizing the range of motion. -MOTION- This is the most obvious new improvement. The Show 10 will now track your movement and turn to face you as you move around the room

 -MOTION- This is the most obvious new improvement. The Show 10 will now track your movement and turn to face you as you move around the room. The Show seems to have very good facial tracking, and it will rotate on its horizontal axis to follow you (you can also manually tilt the screen up and down to your desired vertical position.) We tested this while playing movies and while viewing our remote cameras, and it worked perfectly

New Rotating Show 10, Better Camera, Great for Video Calls

Aesthetically, the Echo Show has a black frame with a white mat, resembling a standard picture frame. Tech-wise it looks like the Samsung Frame TV and the Facebook Portal had a baby. It comes in one color, and you can’t change the familiar Alexa blue background behind the widgets — I’d like to see some customization options all around. Two 1

This Echo Show on the wall is the fairest of them all, but it’s not that smart  

 It’s not cool when it’s 2 in the morning and your stumbling through to get a glass of water and it scares the heck out and of you.

It’s an improvement over the 2nd gen Echo Show 10. Looks:10, Sounds: 8, Practicality? 5.5

expert-review

Final Review: Amazon Echo Show 15

pcmag.com

techradar.com

target

Upgrade Pick

RTINGS

Apple is an American technology company known for selling phones, headphones, laptops, tablets, watches, and more. Their speakers offer great voice assistant support with Siri built-in, and if you're an iOS user, they make a great addition to your Apple ecosystem. Since they're designed for home use, these speakers aren't very portable due to their wired design and need to remain plugged into an outlet to work. Unfortunately, while the Apple HomePod can even operate as a soundbar for your Apple TV, the manufacturer discontinued this speaker.

The Apple HomePod mini is a small spherical home speaker with Siri built-in. It has a balanced mid-range out-of-the-box, so voices and lead instruments reproduce clearly and with detail, though they sound dark at times. Unfortunately, it lacks sound customization features like a graphic EQ and presets, so you can't customize its sound to better suit your preferences. That said, its directivity is outstanding thanks to its 360-degree design, so its soundstage is perceived as open and spacious. Also, the speaker can be paired to another HomePod speaker when you want to create a stereo pair or to multiple other speakers when you want to play different audio in different rooms of your home at the same time.

The Apple HomePod mini is the best voice assistant speaker for iPhone that we've tested. This small spherical home speaker comes with Siri built-in and is excellent at registering your commands from far away, though it has a bit more trouble picking up your voice in noisier settings. Also, it has low Apple AirPlay latency, so it's suitable for watching videos and movies over this connection.

Its sound profile is pretty neutral overall, and its mid-range is balanced, so voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced in the mix, though they can also sound a bit dark at times. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has fantastic directivity, resulting in a wide and natural-sounding soundstage. Also, it's compatible with the Apple Home app, which you can use to pair multiple Apple HomePods together, and play different audio in different rooms across your home at the same time.

Unfortunately, like most small speakers, it doesn't get very loud and lacks low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble in bass-heavy music. There aren't any sound customization features like a graphic EQ to adjust its sound to your liking. If you're looking for a speaker that offers good built-in voice assistant support via Siri, it'll make a great addition to your Apple ecosystem.

The Apple HomePod mini is the best smart Siri speaker we've tested. This small home speaker is Apple's only speaker currently on the market since the Apple HomePod was discontinued, and it comes with Siri built-in. You can activate the assistant with your voice, and it has little trouble registering your voice from far, though it doesn't perform as well in noisier rooms.

Out-of-the-box, it has a balanced mid-range that ensures vocals and lead instruments reproduce clearly and with detail in the mix, though they sound a bit veiled at times. Fortunately, it comes with bass and treble adjustments in its companion app, which you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. That said, like most speakers its size, it lacks low-bass, so you can't feel the thump and rumble typically present in bass-heavy music like EDM or hip-hop.

Unfortunately, since it needs to remain plugged into an outlet to work, it isn't very portable. It isn't Bluetooth-compatible either and needs to be connected to Wi-Fi to work. If you're looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker which supports Siri, it's worth taking a look at speakers from other brands that are compatible with Siri through your smartphone, like the Bose SoundLink Flex. However, if you want to add a Siri-enabled smart speaker to your Apple ecosystem at home, it's still a solid choice.

It’s the best-sounding smart speaker we’ve heard, and it allows easier Siri control over your HomeKit system, but it still has room to improve.

If your desk looks a little like an outpost of an Apple Store, with your iPhone, iPad, and AirPods charging next to your MacBook, the HomePod Mini smart speaker might make an ideal office companion.
The Mini’s best selling point is the way it interfaces seamlessly with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. The device is a solid option for controlling Apple HomeKit smart home products and services such as Apple Music. The Mini allows voice control of other music services, including Pandora and iHeart Radio, and can even integrate with Apple CarPlay in your vehicle. For instance, you can ask for driving directions while making coffee in the morning, then send your chosen route to your car before leaving.
Soundwise, however, HomePod Mini leaves something to be desired. Our testers find that the Apple HomePod Mini’s sound is close to that of the much cheaper Echo Dot and the discontinued Google Home Mini. Its bass is tubby and the midrange is a bit nasal and congested, with an unusual distortion in which the volume sometimes drops when it should increase. Like those inexpensive smart speakers, the HomePod Mini is okay for podcasts or maybe playing background music in a small room but not so great for pausing from work to really listen your favorite tunes. And unlike those devices, the HomePod Mini can’t be paired via Bluetooth with a better-sounding wireless speaker.

The original HomePod, which was Apple’s first smart speaker, has been discontinued in favor of the smaller, less-expensive HomePod Mini, which doesn’t sound nearly as good, according to our testers. They find the $99 Mini to be congested in a way that’s similar to the $50 Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini, albeit with a fuller bass. That means the Mini is okay for podcasts or background music in a small room but hardly great for playing your favorite tunes.
The HomePod Mini works best if you’re deeply immersed in Apple’s ecosystem, because it offers easy integration with the Apple Music streaming service, including full voice control and multiroom capability. The Mini can also control Apple HomeKit smart home products. It also allows voice control of other music services, including Pandora and iHeart Radio, and can even integrate with Apple CarPlay in your vehicle. For instance, you could ask the speaker for driving directions while making coffee in the morning, then have it send your chosen route to your car before you leave.
If you’re not much of an Apple fan, note that other multiroom smart speakers like the Amazon Studio (above) and the Sonos One (below) performed significantly better in our sound quality testing.

Apple is an American technology company known for selling phones, headphones, laptops, tablets, watches, and more. Their speakers offer great voice assistant support with Siri built-in, and if you're an iOS user, they make a great addition to your Apple ecosystem. Since they're for home use, these speakers aren't very portable due to their wired design and need to remain plugged into an outlet to work. Unfortunately, while the Apple HomePod can even operate as a soundbar for your Apple TV, the manufacturer discontinued this speaker, leaving only the Apple HomePod Mini currently on the market.

The Apple HomePod mini is a small spherical home speaker. You can activate Siri with your voice, and the speaker is excellent at hearing you when you're far away. It has a balanced mid-range out-of-the-box, so voices and lead instruments reproduce clearly and with detail in the mix, though they sound dark at times. It also lacks a graphic EQ to tweak its sound to your liking. Thanks to its 360-degree design, it has outstanding directivity, so you can hear your audio clearly from most angles, resulting in a wide and spacious-sounding soundstage. You can also pair it to another HomePod speaker when you want to create a stereo pair or to multiple other speakers when you want to play different audio in different rooms of your home simultaneously.

The Apple HomePod mini is another affordable pick that makes a great addition to your Apple ecosystem. It's different from the Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3, as it's a smart speaker designed for use in the home. It offers built-in Siri capabilities so you can control its features from the comfort of your couch, and it lets you stream audio from your phone to the speaker over Apple AirPlay. Plus, if you own other Apple Home speakers, you can pair them together in the companion app to amplify their sound, which is nice.

This speaker doesn't offer as many customization tools as the Ultimate Ears. You won't find a graphic EQ in its companion app, and there aren't any bass and treble adjustments, either, so you can't switch up its sound. That said, it does a pretty good job reproducing voices and other instruments right out of the box, so you might not need these tools anyways. If you don't need a speaker to bring outside and love Apple products, it's a great pick for your iPhone at a more affordable price point.

If you're looking for a budget-friendly smart speaker to integrate into your Apple Ecosystem, the Apple HomePod mini is Apple's only speaker currently on the market since the Apple HomePod was discontinued. Siri can be voice-activated and has little trouble registering your commands from far, though it doesn't perform as well as the Amazon Echo Studio in noisier settings. Thanks to its 360-degree design, its soundstage is perceived as wide and spacious-sounding. It also has a balanced mid-range out-of-the-box, ensuring vocals and lead instruments reproduce clearly and with detail in the mix, and it comes with bass and treble adjustments in its companion app, which you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. Like most speakers its size, though, it lacks thump and rumble in the low-bass range that's typically present in bass-heavy music like EDM or hip-hop.

Unfortunately, since it needs to remain plugged into an outlet to work, it isn't very portable. It isn't Bluetooth-compatible either and needs to be connected to Wi-Fi to work. If you're looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that supports Siri, it's worth looking at speakers from other brands that are compatible with Siri through your smartphone, like the Bose SoundLink Flex. However, this voice assistant feature isn't built in like with the Apple, so you won't be able to use it unless your smartphone is in the room with you.

The HomePod Mini provides a relatively low-priced entry into the Apple ecosystem. It’s a solid option for controlling services such as Apple Music and smart home products that are part of Apple HomeKit. The Mini allows voice control of other music services, including Pandora and iHeart Radio, and can even integrate with Apple CarPlay in your vehicle. For instance, you can ask for driving directions while making coffee in the morning, then send your chosen route to your car before leaving home.In terms of sound quality, however, our testers found that the Apple HomePod Mini rates significantly lower than the comparably priced Amazon Echo or Nest Audio. Indeed, its somewhat congested sound is closer to that of the much cheaper Echo Dot or the Google Nest Mini, albeit with a fuller bass. Like those speakers, the HomePod Mini is okay for podcasts or background music in a small room but not ideal for playing your favorite tunes. Unlike those devices, the HomePod Mini can’t solve the problem by being paired via Bluetooth with a better-sounding wireless speaker.The HomePod Minis is designed for the consumer who’s deeply immersed in the Apple world and doesn’t mind paying a bit of an Apple tax for a $100 smart speaker that’s sonically closer to $50 models.

The HomePod Mini is Apple’s one remaining smart speaker, and unfortunately, it doesn’t sound nearly as good as the original HomePod, according to our testers. The audio for the $99 model is congested in a way that’s similar to the $50 Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini, albeit with a fuller bass. That means the Mini is okay for podcasts or background music in a small room but hardly great for playing your favorite tunes.The HomePod Mini works best if you’re deeply immersed in Apple’s ecosystem because it offers easy integration with the Apple Music streaming service, including full voice control and multiroom capability. The Mini can also control Apple HomeKit smart home products. It allows voice control of other music services, including Pandora and iHeart Radio, and can even integrate with Apple CarPlay in your vehicle. For instance, you could ask the speaker for driving directions while making coffee in the morning, then have it send your chosen route to your car.If you’re not an Apple diehard, note that the Amazon Studio (above) and Sonos One (below) performed significantly better in our sound-quality testing.

If your desk looks a little like an outpost of an Apple Store, with your iPhone, iPad, and AirPods charging next to your MacBook, the HomePod Mini smart speaker might make an ideal office companion.The Mini’s best selling point is the way it interfaces seamlessly with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. The device is a solid option for controlling Apple HomeKit smart home products and services such as Apple Music. The Mini allows voice control of other music services, including Pandora and iHeart Radio, and can even integrate with Apple CarPlay in your vehicle. For instance, you can ask for driving directions while making coffee in the morning, then send your chosen route to your car before leaving.Soundwise, however, the HomePod Mini leaves something to be desired. Our testers found that its sound is close to that of the much cheaper Echo Dot. The bass is tubby and the midrange is a bit nasal and congested, with an unusual distortion in which the volume sometimes drops when it should increase. Like those inexpensive smart speakers, the HomePod Mini is okay for podcasts or maybe playing background music in a small room, but not so great for pausing from work to really listen to your favorite tunes. And unlike those devices, the HomePod Mini can’t be paired via Bluetooth with a better-sounding wireless speaker.

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Amazon Echo Show vs Apple HomePod mini

QUICK QUESTION!

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