Are wifi speakers worth it?
It’s easy to get confused between wifi and Bluetooth speakers, especially as wifi speakers often have Bluetooth capabilities too. The biggest difference is that wifi speakers are designed to be used at home and plugged into mains power.
Bluetooth speakers, meanwhile, are portable. You can use them at home, which occasionally means extra features like smart assistants when connected to your wifi network. They don’t require constant power though, running off their rechargeable batteries instead and offering a little more flexibility when it comes to placement.
Bluetooth speakers also need to be paired to your phone or tablet to play audio, however, and with this, they then mirror the audio of that connected device. It means that messages or calls take precedence and can interrupt music playback on the Bluetooth speaker.
Wifi speakers, on the other hand, stream audio over wifi and don’t require constant connection to your phone or tablet so what happens on your phone or tablet won’t affect playback. Instead, a companion app is typically involved, allowing for extras like multiroom audio. You command what you want to listen to using the app, your voice, or use technology like Apple AirPlay or Spotify Connect to send music to the wifi speaker.
Things to consider when buying wireless speakers
There are a couple of things worth considering when buying a wireless speaker, from the different types of wireless speakers (there are a couple), to the different features they offer. Even their size and weight are worth factoring into your decision.
Wireless speaker types
When it comes to the different wireless speaker types, you’ll find portable Bluetooth speakers falling under the wireless speaker umbrella, along with smart speakers and multiroom speakers.
A growing number of wireless speakers are a combination of all three, offering portability, Bluetooth, multiroom capabilities and smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. Others may only offer one or two of those attributes.
Connectivity
There are also different connectivity options to consider. Bluetooth will be found on the wireless speakers offering portability, but wifi typically offers better range and usually supports higher audio quality.
Some wireless speakers also support technologies like Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, and auxiliary input, all of which provide flexibility in how you connect your devices to them.
Design
Wireless speakers come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are waterproof and a little more rugged, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor use, while others offer sleek and modern designs for indoor settings.
You may also want to consider their size and weight depending on where you are planning to put your wireless speaker. If it’s going on a shelf, for example, you’ll want to make sure that shelf can support the wireless speaker you choose.
Features
Many newer wireless speakers come with smart features, such as builtin voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri that can control smart home devices, set reminders, and answer queries, adding a layer of convenience.
If you are looking to create a wholehome audio system, you’ll want to consider wireless speakers that support multiroom audio or offer Apple AirPlay 2 or Chromecast compatibility. These will allow you to synchronise music across different rooms, providing a seamless listening experience throughout your home.
