When I tried an Amazon Echo a few months ago, my main problem was Amazon's lack of an ecosystem. Amazon doesn't really make productivity apps-or any apps at all outside of media and shopping. Pretty much everything you asked "Alexa" to do got dumped into the Echo app.

The "OK Google" hotword performance is absolutely incredible; It always answers, and all your other hotword capable devices hive mind together to intelligently pick a single device to respond to you, A great media product; For audio there's a loud, crisp speaker, and a great mesh audio capability.

Most of my favorite voice commands from the Google app don't work-no reminders; messages; or creating calendar events; Do you want to know exactly what voice commands are supported for each service and function Nobody knows!

There's little question that some sort of voice response device that controls a home tech ecosystem is inevitable. Google Home is the best of them today: The best physical design, the best database behind it, the most "natural" because it can retain the context of the last couple of exchanges.

Attractive design; "conversational" search; backed by Google's immense database

Large power brick; conversational search is still limited

OK, now this is clever. That was my reaction when I asked Google Home , "What's the temperature inside" and it replied, "It's currently 73 degrees, but the Nest is set to 65." Google's hyper-aware, voice-activated speaker dishes up a lot of surprising answers, and it's smarter, better sounding, and...

I rated this 5 stars because I did my homework and knew what the existing limitations would be. While google improves the software behind the Assistant that powers this device, the mic is sharp and pics up my voice from a surprising distance.

Genius in some ways, and a dunce in others, Home, like the Echo, is on the cusp of true brilliance. We're just not quite there yet.

Looks classy; yet unobtrusive; You can control your home and music like Tony Stark; Search and translate functionality is brilliant

Could sound better; Play Music doesn't support adding to your library/playlists; You can't add appointments; reminders; or send messages

Google Home is a worthy rival to Amazon Echo that plays nice with Google software and hardware, but it lacks some key features of its competitors.

Integrates with your Google tools; Controls Google Cast-enabled devices; Booming bass

Limited add-ons at this point; Lacks balanced sound; especially on vocals

Doesn't understand most questions

I would still consider this a novelty item over being terribly useful. Questions must be phrased the correct way and there have been many things that Google Home cannot help with.

This smart home device is basically Google's answer to Amazon's extremely popular Echo device and for the most part they are incredibly similar. Both will help you with various tasks and answer questions about weather, news, sports, etc.

Stylish – will blend into home nicely; Dozens of features; Can stream content straight to your TV (YouTube & Netflix; Connects with other smart home devices; Customizable design

More expensive than Echo Dot; Average audio quality; Need Google Audio device to connect with other speakers

Google has finally made Google Home available in the UK. Five months after its original U.S debut, but how does...

Great microphone performance; Customisable design; Expansive skill set; Effortless setup; Unobtrusive