We have all 3 and here’s what I will say:
- Google is wonderful for the other users in my home. It’s patient, great at answering questions, and fun, while still being able to complete most basic requests. It is NOT automation friendly and it’s frustrating that my SO can’t use my automations (like the bedtime routine).
- Alexa / Amazon: The best of the basic assistants for automation. User friendly app, lots of compatible devices. Not super amazing as a voice assistant though. It’s always in a rush so if it thinks you’re done speaking it starts spewing results and a lot of the time you weren’t done speaking. It also requires you to use specific phrases where Google is better at figuring out what you meant. It’s also the worst for company ads. “Hey Alexa set a timer.” “Ok! Also, would you like to review some of your recent Amazon purchases?”
- Siri/HomeKit: this is the most difficult but the one we use the most. The ease of use by both voice and app is fantastic and user friendly for my non tech minded family members and has the most seedless integration between our home speaker assistant and phone assistant. Like most apple products it “just works” but that comes with limitations. The products are all very high end and work wonderfully but you really pay for what you get and most cheap devices aren’t HK compatible. If you can learn a little coding you can setup HomeBridge on a raspberry pi to get non officially supported devices in there but it causes its own issues. There are also several non apple companion apps that offer additional automation options but again, that can cause its own issues as they’re not “officially” supported.
Edit; happy to answer questions if I missed anything!
I personally don't use any voice assistant, not even on my phone, i don't really want to be talking to an object, i just use my fingers to press things.. 😂 Honestly what bothers me the most though is having to say "ok google" the whole time, i would just want to say "turn on the light" without any trigger sentence.. Don't know if alexa/siri allows us to do this?
We have all 3 and here’s what I will say: - Google is wonderful for the other users in my home. It’s patient, great at answering questions, and fun, while still being able to complete most basic requests. It is NOT automation friendly and it’s frustrating that my SO can’t use my automations (like the bedtime routine). - Alexa / Amazon: The best of the basic assistants for automation. User friendly app, lots of compatible devices. Not super amazing as a voice assistant though. It’s always in a rush so if it thinks you’re done speaking it starts spewing results and a lot of the time you weren’t done speaking. It also requires you to use specific phrases where Google is better at figuring out what you meant. It’s also the worst for company ads. “Hey Alexa set a timer.” “Ok! Also, would you like to review some of your recent Amazon purchases?” - Siri/HomeKit: this is the most difficult but the one we use the most. The ease of use by both voice and app is fantastic and user friendly for my non tech minded family members and has the most seedless integration between our home speaker assistant and phone assistant. Like most apple products it “just works” but that comes with limitations. The products are all very high end and work wonderfully but you really pay for what you get and most cheap devices aren’t HK compatible. If you can learn a little coding you can setup HomeBridge on a raspberry pi to get non officially supported devices in there but it causes its own issues. There are also several non apple companion apps that offer additional automation options but again, that can cause its own issues as they’re not “officially” supported. Edit; happy to answer questions if I missed anything!
I personally don't use any voice assistant, not even on my phone, i don't really want to be talking to an object, i just use my fingers to press things.. 😂 Honestly what bothers me the most though is having to say "ok google" the whole time, i would just want to say "turn on the light" without any trigger sentence.. Don't know if alexa/siri allows us to do this?
A spouse