At the company’s “Made by Google” event, Google Inc. provided more details on its voice-controlled smart home speaker, which it initially unveiled at its I/O conference earlier this year. But Google will be playing catchup to Amazon.com Inc.’s Echo, which has already established a name for itself with a two-year head start.

The Amazon Echo, however, wasn’t going to dominate the market forever and will soon face competition from Google Home, due out early next month. Here’s a look at the various features offered by the smart home speakers and how Google Home and Amazon Echo differ:

Third-party apps

In the nearly two years since launch, Amazon Echo has sold over three million devices, according to estimates from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (pdf download), and has managed to accumulate thousands of third-party apps or what Echo refers to as “skills.”

Thanks to its API being opened up to developers, users can complete a variety of tasks with the Amazon Echo, including train updates from National Rail, recipe ideas from Jamie Oliver, as well as the ability to order a pizza from Domino’s, book an Uber ride or even make a Capital One credit card payment. Echo also works with the company’s newly launched music-streaming service Amazon Music Unlimited.

Google Home, on the other hand, works with much fewer apps, but is slowly adding to its offering, and currently includes the following:

• Audio apps: Listen to audio via Google Play Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora and TuneIn.  
• Smart home apps: Control various smart home devices, including Nest Thermostats, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Google Chromecast and IF by IFTTT.  
• Tasks: In addition to Google Keep being integrated with Google Home, it also integrates with Google Calendar ensuring you can get an update on upcoming meetings for the day.

Google Cast

In addition to the apps listed above, Google Home also works with Google Cast. With a Chromecast or Google Cast TV, you can use Google Home to control YouTube or Netflix and watch your favorite show on your TV.

You are also able to ask Google Home to play audio on any Cast-enabled speaker and can enjoy your favorite song across your entire home.

The company recently announced that the Google Cast app would soon receive a name change to Google Home and would become a unified app to manage Google’s ever-expanding list of connected products.

Google Assistant vs. Alexa

Thanks to the intelligence of Google Assistant, if you can’t remember a specific song it will use contextual awareness based on some information from you to play the specific song.

If you have Google Assistant on your phone, Google Home will be able to send information, like directions, to your device. Unfortunately, at this stage you will need to own a Pixel or Pixel XL, which are the first phones with Google Assistant built-in, to enjoy this feature.  

When compared to Echo’s Alexa, Google Assistant has the advantage of more natural interactions and can easily deal with follow-up questions.

Buy items on Amazon and track their delivery

Using the Amazon Echo you can order items on Amazon using only your voice. When you place an order via Echo, it will use your one-click billing information and your default shipping address. It is protected by a four-digit passcode created by you.

Not only does Amazon Echo provide you with the convenience of ordering with your voice, but will also give you an update on the delivery date of your order when you ask.

While delivery tracking isn’t a feature that Google Home lists yet, it is likely to make an appearance soon. Google Now can already provide you with delivery tracking information and considering its successor, Google Assistant is deeply integrated into Home it’s likely you will soon be able to track delivery of items from any online retailer.  

Voice remote when out of range

If you are out of voice range of your Echo, it can still be controlled with an Alexa Voice Remote, but you will need to fork over an additional $30.

The Google Home does not have a similar remote to control it from a distance, rather you will need to purchase a second Google Home device.

Price and availability

The Google Home retails for $129, a $50 lower price tag when compared to the Amazon Echo.

However, you will still need to wait three weeks before you can get your hands on a Google Home. The device will be available on Nov. 4, but you can preorder your Google Home via the Made by Google site. Google Home devices are available from the Google Store, Best Buy, Target and Walmart.

Sources: Google Support; Cnet

Images via Google