Amazon Echo Dot Vs. Google Home Mini - TechHive

Another area of significant difference is music playback. The speaker on the Google Home Mini is superior to that on the second-generation Echo Dot and provides a deeper, richer, louder sound when playing music. But that situation is entirely reversed with the third-generation Echo Dot. What’s more, you can pair two third-gen Echo Dots to operate as a left/right stereo pair, and if you want deeper bass response than the smaller speaker can deliver, you can add add Amazon’s $130 Echo Sub subwoofer to the equation.

If you want better sound, the Echo Dot has a 3.5mm aux output, so you can connect it to external speakers (including battery/speaker combos, such as the Ninety7 Vaux). And both the Dot and the Mini can be connected to external Bluetooth speakers, but those solutions diminish the benefits of having a small, compact unit.

When it comes to music sources, Google has the edge again.

Both will stream music from Spotify, Pandora, iHeart Radio, and TuneIn as well as their own respective music services: Google Play Music and Amazon Music. But if you want to listen to your own digital music library, you’re better off going with Google Home.

Amazon discontinued the ability for users to upload their own songs in favor of selling you tunes, while Google still lets users store their own music and playlists in Google Music. (There’s a workaround for playing your music on an Echo, but native support is obviously preferable.) Both speakers can also control some other speakers, such as the various offerings from Sonos.

Echo Dot vs. Home Mini: Making phone calls

Both devices can access the phone book on your smartphone, if given permission, and make calls so you can use them like personal conference-call devices. (See our guide for making calls on an Amazon Echo device.)

Recently Google demonstrated a system that allows Assistant to make calls on your behalf. Called Duplex, it’s an impressive and somewhat spooky tech development that could handle things like making a restaurant reservation, but so far it’s not available to consumers.

Amazon’s recent partnership with Microsoft has resulted in Echo speakers being able to make both audio and video calls using Skype.

Both devices have a broadcast feature that allows you to send a voice message from one unit to other units in your house, much like an intercom.

The smart home ecosystem

Once you’re accustomed to your digital assistant answering questions and carrying out orders, you’ll probably want to use it to control things around your home.

A key feature of both devices is the universe of smart home gadgets they can connect to and control.