Joe TriesSmart entertainment devices
Entertainment devices are how most people end up choosing an ecosystem, because the speaker you talk to becomes the system you buy for. Several also carry hub radios, which makes them do double duty.
- In the catalog
- 40
- Work without a hub
- 39 of 40
- Most common radios
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi 6, Thread
- Price range
- $20 to $1,499
What decides compatibility
- The assistant on the speaker is the ecosystem decision. Switching later means rebuilding routines.
- Some speakers, displays, and streaming boxes include Zigbee, Thread, or Matter radios and work as a hub.
- Multi-room audio does not work across brands.
How these connect to your system
A works-with badge does not say how the device gets there, and the path changes what you get. Direct means the maker built the integration and the device's own features tend to come with it. Via Matter means the standard controls work and anything unusual about the device may not carry over. Via a hub means you need a second box, usually the maker's own, before it works at all.
- Google Home22 work with itDirect 18Via Matter 3Via a hub 1
- Alexa22 work with itDirect 21Via a hub 1
- Apple Home6 work with itDirect 2Via Matter 3Via a hub 1
- Home Assistant5 work with itDirect 2Via Matter 3
- SmartThings3 work with itVia Matter 3
Smart entertainment devices we list
Filter and compare these in the catalog
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Amazon · Smart speaker · Matter
No hubSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$50
Amazon Echo Pop
Amazon · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$40
Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
Amazon · Smart speaker · Zigbee
No hubAlexa
$250
Amazon Echo Show 15
Amazon · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$280
Amazon Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen)
Amazon · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$90
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Amazon · Smart speaker · Matter
No hubSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$180
Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen)
Amazon · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$180
Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen 2024)
Amazon · Smart speaker · Matter
No hubSmartThingsAppleGoogleHome AssistantAlexa
$200
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus
Amazon · Soundbar · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$250
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
Amazon · Streaming device · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$60
Apple TV 4K 3rd Gen Wi-Fi + Ethernet
Apple · Streaming device · Thread
No hubApple
$129
BenQ X300G Smart Gaming Projector
BenQ · Projector · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$1,499
Bose Smart Speaker 500
Bose · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$549
Bose Soundbar Ultra
Bose · Soundbar · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$899
Broadlink RM4 Mini IR Blaster
BroadLink · IR blaster · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogleHome Assistant
$20
Broadlink RM4 Pro Universal Remote Hub
BroadLink · IR blaster · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogleHome Assistant
$20
Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
Google · Streaming device · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$30
Echo Show 21
Amazon · Smart display · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$400
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Google · Smart speaker · Thread
No hubGoogle
$100
Google Nest Hub Max
Google · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$230
Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen)
Google · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$50
Google Nest Mini smart speaker
Google · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$49
Govee Galaxy Light Projector 2 Pro
Govee · Projector · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogleAlexa
$180
Govee Star Light Projector
Govee · Projector · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogleAlexa
$90
Hisense U6N Mini-LED 4K Smart TV
Hisense · Smart TV · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$599
IKEA SYMFONISK Speaker Lamp
IKEA · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$200
Roku Express 4K+
Roku · Streaming device · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$40
Roku streaming stick
Roku · Streaming device · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogleAlexa
$50
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Roku · Streaming device · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$50
Sonos Arc
Sonos · Soundbar · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$899
Sonos Arc Ultra
Sonos · Soundbar · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$999
Sonos Era 300
Sonos · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogleAlexa
$449
Sonos Move 2
Sonos · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$449
Sonos Ray
Sonos · Soundbar · Wi-Fi
No hubApple
$219
Sonos Roam 2
Sonos · Smart speaker · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$179
Sonos Sub Mini
Sonos · Soundbar · Wi-Fi
No hub·
$399
SwitchBot Hub Mini
SwitchBot · IR blaster · Wi-Fi
No hubGoogle
$40
SwitchBot Universal Remote
SwitchBot · Universal remote · Wi-Fi
Optional hubAppleGoogleAlexa
$119
Yamaha MusicCast 20 (WX-021)
Yamaha · Multi-room audio node · Wi-Fi
No hubAlexa
$250
Living room projector
Epson · Projector
No hub·