Google beats Amazon and Apple in smart speaker race
Gadgets Now Bureau | Sep 19, 2018, 07:45PM IST
With smart speakers like Google Home, Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod slowly gaining popularity, it seems Google has taken an early lead in this segment. According to the latest quarterly report, Google Home Mini was the world’s best-selling smart speaker in Q2 2018. The report said that the global smart speaker shipments reached 11.7 million units in Q2 2018. Amazon Echo Dot was the second best-selling smart speaker. Apple’s HomePod did not feature in the top-five ranking by shipments. However, the report added that Apple HomePod topped the market value rankings with 16% share of wholesale revenues.
The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot accounted for a combined 38% of global shipments although they contributed just 17% towards the value of the market due to their low price. Google had shipped 2.3 million units of the Google Home Mini globally while Amazon had shipped 2.2 million units of Echo Dot during Q2 2018. Alibaba Tmall Genie occupied 7% of the global smart speaker market.
During the launch of the new iPhones, Apple also announced a small upgrade to its smart speaker, HomePod. Apple will soon allow users to search for songs easily on Homepod in addition to setting up multiple timers, make and receive phone calls among other functions. All these will be coming as a part of a free software update. The new Siri Spanish language support coming to HomePod for Spain, US, Spain, Mexico and Canadian French for Canada.
Recently, Amazon has rolled out a new update on the Alexa app. The new update expands the use of Alexa voice support on Android. Alexa is Amazon’s artificial intelligence-based virtual assistant. The virtual assistant made its debut with Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot smart speakers. With the new update, customers will be able to talk to Alexa directly from within the Alexa app on their Android smartphones.
The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot accounted for a combined 38% of global shipments although they contributed just 17% towards the value of the market due to their low price. Google had shipped 2.3 million units of the Google Home Mini globally while Amazon had shipped 2.2 million units of Echo Dot during Q2 2018. Alibaba Tmall Genie occupied 7% of the global smart speaker market.
During the launch of the new iPhones, Apple also announced a small upgrade to its smart speaker, HomePod. Apple will soon allow users to search for songs easily on Homepod in addition to setting up multiple timers, make and receive phone calls among other functions. All these will be coming as a part of a free software update. The new Siri Spanish language support coming to HomePod for Spain, US, Spain, Mexico and Canadian French for Canada.
Recently, Amazon has rolled out a new update on the Alexa app. The new update expands the use of Alexa voice support on Android. Alexa is Amazon’s artificial intelligence-based virtual assistant. The virtual assistant made its debut with Amazon Echo and Amazon Echo Dot smart speakers. With the new update, customers will be able to talk to Alexa directly from within the Alexa app on their Android smartphones.
Subscribe and get the
top tech news of the day
Delivered to your mailbox
All Comments (0)+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE