Short answer: the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen, if you are buying new. The Google Home Max ranks higher than it (#15 vs #12 of 15 powered desktop speakers, 3.6/5 vs 3.1/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen is still sold new at $79.99.
Why pick the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen: A small, affordable Alexa speaker with a temperature sensor, eero Wi-Fi extender support and a mic mute switch. The catch: What Hi-Fi’s one real complaint was distortion at higher volumes, and bass force and detail both fall off at the low end, typical for a speaker not much bigger than a hockey ball.
Why pick the Google Home Max: A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen lacks. The catch: Discontinued by Google since 2020, so it can no longer be bought new; used and refurbished stock is what remains, and RTINGS calls its soundstage mediocre despite the driver count.
Buy the Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen new; the Google Home Max is no longer sold new, so it only makes sense as a used find.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
A small, affordable Alexa speaker with a temperature sensor, eero Wi-Fi extender support and a mic mute switch.
A large Google smart speaker with two woofers, automatic room tuning and stereo pairing, praised by owners for its bass.
Prices on this page were last checked November 5, 2026 at 10:30 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen | Google Home Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 each | $399 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #12 of 15 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #15 of 29 in Medium Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | Yes |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (DC jack) | AC power cord |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (340 g) | 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4GHz/5GHz) | Yes (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch, temperature sensor) | Yes (6 far-field mics for Smart Sound room correction) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Media EQ + Room EQ, automatic via Smart Sound) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Drivers | 44mm front-firing driver | 2x 4.5in high-excursion woofers, 2x 0.7in tweeters |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Aux, USB-C |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3.9” x 3.9” x 3.5” (100 x 100 x 89 mm) (H x W x D) | 7.5” x 13.2” x 6.1” (190 x 336 x 154 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Google Assistant |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Pandora, TuneIn, iHeartRadio |
| Amplifier Power | - | 6x Class-D amplifiers |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 4.2 |
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