Google Home vs Echo Plus 2nd Generation vs Echo Plus 1st Generation

[@enp3413]

I'm from Canada, and I have a FireTV, a few Dots, a 1st gen Echo, and a 1st gen Echo Plus... I can watch KZbin on my FireTV (using an app downloaded off of Amazon themselves) and Prime Video has a lot of good content in Canada for people that enjoy some older movies, interesting docs, and TV shows. It's not nearly as good as Netflix, but, you can get Netflix on a FireTV too, so.. Also, you can get decals for your Echo too (original style, not the fabric ones). Mine is dressed up like a galaxy and it looks really cool against the black finish of my Echo Plus 1st gen. Good content overall and I agree that the 2nd gen is the best Echo Plus to date, but, I wouldn't discount what the older tech offers. My Plus easily fills a room with vibrant, clear tones and deep bass, and my Dots are so versatile that they're a stupid-proof purchase. Also, Alexa sounds pretty natural right out the gate, so I don't see them "falling behind" Google any more than others may.. Alexa beats out Siri, Cortana, no doubt in my mind, but for the time Google is ahead with their new updates. This isn't to say that Amazon can't easily catch up, because they're definitely direct competition at this point while Siri and Cortana fall short of coming close. IMO.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Great stuff! And I totally still use my Plus 1st gen too!

[@twosawyers]

Plus the AUX cable hookup takes out the short delay that Bluetooth sometimes add.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yep! I hate that BT delay. I really need to get both of these companies to fix that. They just need to buffer music for longer and give us more control.

[@burnzy3210]

my only real complaint about the echo plus gen2 (and echo dot gen3) are that the fabric areas can't be removed for cleaning/replacement, you're locked into the colour you buy and better make sure it doesn't get dirty

[@craig-tj7rm]

im sorry but i have to disagree the amazon is way ahead of the google. software wise amazon is much better they have way more features than google. Google is still trying to play catch up on the amazon echo apart from the duplex feature i dont think i could name another feature that google has that amazon does not. ?

[@AutomateYourLife]

To each their own, but when I said software, part of that meant getting appropriate responses from the voice assistant. Ever asked for a conversion of cups to grams? Ever asked for directions? Don't get me wrong, I love all the great functionality that Amazon has, and I especially love the new Echo Plus 2. They're great devices.

[@ahr1031995]

Thanks for this video! Was really looking for this kind of comparison. Getting the echo plus 2nd gen now.

[@AutomateYourLife]

It sure sounds great hey?

[@trapeenot]

For me it's definitely gotta be the Google Home. I'm not buying any assistant to be used for high quality speakers. I'm buying technology that can hone in and do it's job the best. If I want good sound, I'm using the assistant to tell it to play on another system that can be controlled. Also not looking to use the actual assistant for direct automation like control of other devices, rather will still use the assistant connected to a Samsung SmartThings hub for centralized control. The assistant is just my entry point into everything.

[@AutomateYourLife]

If you're happy, I'm happy!

[@gilburtvanhorn4974]

i have always liked the look of the 1st gen echo better than the 2nd i like the white color the best

[@AutomateYourLife]

You know...I think the same thing now.

[@JtObservingLife]

Speaker Quality matters if your a music lover! I’m lovin’ my Echo Plus 2nd Gen, the bass is awesome... knowing room temperature is a plus. Regards from India 🇮🇳

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks for sharing!

[@MarisaAndChew]

I feel like perhaps the right answer is to have a Google Home Mini and the Echo as well, depending on what exactly you want to do. Currently, I am not building a "smart home", as in I don't have smart bulbs yet (still considering it!) or any of the other smart add-ons. I don't use Amazon itself for much of anything, outside of Kindle, and I've found a way to cast audiobooks from my laptop to my Google home (not sure if that is an Echo feature, just assuming). I have chrome cast on all the tv's in the house though and I find it very nice to speak to my phone or my google home and tell it to cast Spotify or Netflix to those tv's, and I find it nice to be able to ask Google the time, weather, set alarms/timers, favourite sports teams, and even ask for google searches without having to pull out a separate device. I find my google home mini has pretty darned impressive sound for a speaker that is barely larger than a hockey puck! I also like that my birds have somehow figured out the commands (only when I am not home) and will start blasting music to entertain themselves! As far as appearance, I actually think the design of the Google Home is more decorative than the Echo and it fits into the more minimal streamlined decor that seems to be trending, and of course you can get all the different sleeves to change it's appearance if you aren't into the minimal look, which doesn't appear to be an option for the Echo. I wish they both had a removable fabric that could easily be cleaned though. My dad's big old box speakers from when I was a kid have the fabric frame that pops right off for easy vacuuming and dusting or even washing, without compromising the actual speaker. I would love to see that integrated into all of these systems! Delicately vacuuming up dust, pet hair and everything else off of an electronic device can be a pain as can using a lint roller etc. I think cleaning needs to be considered during the design. I also appreciate that the searches I do on my google home can actually be seen on my phone if I open it up and look. Considering Amazon and Google seem to be having a bit of trouble cooperating, I can't imagine that my Echo questions would show up on my phone! Now, If I was a frequent shopper on Amazon, I would definitely be purchasing an echo because I LOVE seeing people adding things to their Amazon cart vocally and it actually being added, where with the Google my shopping list is still something I have to transfer over to an order list later on. Sorry, this is rambling and all over the place, just wanted to share before going to sleep! Another great video as always! I know that when I do decide to bite the bullet and get the smart things for my home that you will be the guy who I trust to direct me! Especially since you are in Canada as I am and that allows for me to know exactly what features I will actually have in any device I do decide to use!!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@karneroc355]

You "talk" too much!!

[@xXLARzXx]

I think k the safe bet is to always go with the software company not the shipping company (think Amazon fire phone - now discontinued because they couldn't compete). Amazon has good products but the Google Assistant runs circles around Alexa in my experience and Amazon will always be playing catch-up. If you are concerned with sound quality on the Google device then you can always take a trip down to your local Costco and purchase a Bluetooth capable sound bar for your TV which should also incorporate into your Google Home automation. From what I understand at least the LG sound bars for the most part do. -Not to be redundant but I think what Google offers over the others in automation and features out weighs better sound that can be rectified with cheap additional equipment.

[@Ampersand00]

Thanks for all the excellent updates & sharing your views. Personally, since taking delivery of my Google Home Hub earlier this week, I'm now considering selling *all* my Google devices and either switching to Amazon or going without. Why? Because the Home app is now riddled with bugs. I've had to factory reset my Home Hub twice, which each time it is installed, renames an already existent group name (it also refuses to allow me to re-use the name of the reset device, hinting that the app still recognizes the reset device as if nothing had changed). I've had the ambient display settings reset themselves spontaneously, lost the ability to see any photos displayed at all, and on and on... Prior to installing the Home Hub, my setup (3 x Home minis running off 3 x Google WiFi units, predominantly controlled by a Pixel 2 XL + Chromecast & Chromecast Audio dongles) was running with only the occasional hitch. I'm starting to feel that these things are, at best, cute when they work, but the frustration that's caused when they fail as spectacularly has they are at the moment is too immense to make the investment of time and money worthwhile. Maybe I'll sell it all and (selectively!) re-buy certain devices later once the bugs have been ironed out. All the best!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Wow. That’s quite the experience. I’m sorry to hear that. I think with any product or app, there are definitely going to be bugs and issues. Us early adopter types are going to feel the most pain! If there’s anything specific I can look into, let me know! It never hurts for me to know these issues because then I can solve them for lots of people!

[@jitengori9268]

As far as using existing speakers with Google you can add Chromecast audio to virtually any speaker and enable them to be played together with the Google home and they don't have to be connected directly to the Google home (which you cannot anyway) like you have to with the Echo devices via their aux ports. Granted you have to spend an additional 35 bucks for chromecast audio but the flexibility you get more than compensates for the expense. I really like your comprehensive comparison and there are clearly merits to both platforms so it really depends on what's important to you. Nice job Sir!! As always.....

[@AutomateYourLife]

That’s a really great point with Chromecast Audio. Personally, I love that device so I totally agree with you. Thanks for he compliments too!

[@diehlwithit20]

If you're bored with the look of your Google Home you can buy a third party skin to change the color of the white top. As always, thanks for the updates! You area always super informative and as a Best Buy employee, you help me become the best I can be at my job, so thank you will never be enough!

[@AutomateYourLife]

From one ex-Best Buy employee to a current, thanks man! Who do you recommend for a skin?

[@frankthecat]

Enjoyed your well thought out discussion.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thanks Dean!

[@Alex-xc3ki]

I'm getting a Google home during black Friday.

[@AutomateYourLife]

You’re going to the dark side Alex??? Welcome! Actually, come to think of it. We’re both on both sides!

[@lilyfurley9833]

i like the 1st gens look more tbh

[@AutomateYourLife]

I've heard that more than a few times Lily!

[@staceejaxx3071]

Great video. Thank you kind sir

[@g0bi]

Great work from Amazon which I cant even buy from, since I'm not living in an Amazon-enable (EU) country. Instead you have to be ripped off by local business who charge the double for the same product... WHYYYYY AMAZON WHYYYYYYYYY!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeah...that’s frustrating. :(

[@g0bi]

@@AutomateYourLife ...but you recommend Google Home so maybe I should go with that. Have not invested in any smart-stuff yet so I open for any of them really. I prefer "Alexa" as wake word though, feels shorter and rounder.

[@surethom]

Both the echos sound much better than the Google home unfortunately as the Google home is way smatter.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Agreed.

[@julianfp1952]

Hardware-wise Google doesn’t seem to have its foot as hard on the accelerator as Amazon in this market. Google really should be doing a refresh to a version 2 of Google Home and Google Home Mini by now (and a new colour for Google Mini doesn’t count!). I jumped onto the Google train because it is so much smarter on general interactions but I wish they could put a bit more power into the device (more processing and better mic array) so that it could recognise a single-word wake up trigger (neither “Hey Google” or “OK Google” feel at all natural to me) and be more responsive with significant background noise such as music or TV. Personally I’m not so bothered about the speaker because I’m happy to hook it to an external speaker but I wouldn’t say no to better audio too.

[@AndrewMarks1278]

I have Google Home and will continue to use it despite this review.

[@AutomateYourLife]

And of course you should! I love the Google Home so I hope it didn’t come off negative. :)

[@queercastlimburg]

For me the google home have better sound than the echo, you can change the bass and treble at the google home

[@AutomateYourLife]

You can actually change with both! Alexa is by voice though for me.

[@gary10gary]

Echo plus 2nd gen. you can adjust the bass, mid and treble.