In terms of features, both the Alexa and Google Home Mini offer a lot of the same things. Both can play music, answer questions, control smart home devices, and more. However, there are some key differences between the two that could make one or the other more appealing to you.
For example, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll likely get more out of an Alexa device since it can access Prime Music, Audiobooks from Audible, and order Prime-eligible items. Google Home Mini, on the other hand, gives you free access to YouTube Music and if you pay for a YouTube Red subscription, you can get ad-free music and offline playback as well.
alexa vs google home mini
Similarly, if you’re invested in the Google ecosystem, the Home Mini is probably a better choice for you. It works seamlessly with other Google products like Calendar, Contacts, and Gmail. It can also pull up information from your search history to give you more personalized results. Alexa can also access some of this information, but not to the same extent.
Finally, one key difference is that the Home Mini has a touch interface while the Alexa does not. This can be helpful if you don’t want to always have to voice activate your device. At the end of the day, it really comes down to personal preference. If you’re not sure which one to choose, we suggest trying both out to see which you like better.
How do they work
Both the Alexa and Google Home Mini use far-field voice recognition technology to pick up your commands from across the room. This means that you don’t have to be right next to them to issue a command.
How does this work? The devices have built-in microphones that are always listening for their wake word. Once they hear this, they start recording and sending the audio to the cloud where it’s then interpreted by algorithms.
This is how the devices are able to understand what you’re saying and carry out your commands. It’s also why it’s important to have a good internet connection when using these devices. If there’s any lag in the connection, the device may not be able to understand you properly.
Which one should you buy
At the end of the day, it really comes down to personal preference. If you’re not sure which one to choose, we suggest trying both out to see which you like better. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you’ll likely get more out of an Alexa device since it can access Prime Music, Audiobooks from Audible, and order Prime-eligible items.
Google Home Mini, on the other hand, gives you free access to YouTube Music and if you pay for a YouTube Red subscription, you can get ad-free music and offline playback as well. Similarly, if you’re invested in the Google ecosystem, the Home Mini is probably a better choice for you.
Pros and cons of each
Alexa
Pros:
- Can access Prime Music, Audiobooks from Audible, and order Prime-eligible items
- Generally better at understanding natural language
Cons:
- Limited to Amazon’s ecosystem
- Cannot play Apple Music
Google Home Mini
Pros:
- Free access to YouTube Music
- integrates well with Google products
Cons:
- Requires a YouTube Red subscription for ad-free music and offline playback
- Not as good at understanding natural language
Final thoughts
Both the Alexa and Google Home Mini offer a lot of the same things. Both can play music, answer questions, control smart home devices, and more. However, there are some key differences between the two that could make one or the other more appealing to you.
At the end of the day, it really comes down to personal preference. If you’re not sure which one to choose, we suggest trying both out to see which you like better.
