Amazon Echo, Google Home or Sonos One: which smart speaker should I buy?

Voice-control devices that can play music, answer questions and buy goods are one of the hottest gifts this Christmas. Here's what they can do - and our pick of the best buys

Smart speakers are set to be the hottest Christmas gift this year. On Black Friday, Amazon dropped the price of its core Echo product to 79 (it is back up to 90 now), while Google slashed the cost of its Home device from 129 to 77.50 at most outlets (it is also back up now). Meanwhile, Apple is promising to launch its version, HomePod, although the price point is rumoured to be significantly higher.

With the pre-Christmas launch of the Echo Show, which ups Alexa's game with a built-in screen, are they the next must-have device? A simple voice command can fill your room with music - and change tunes whenever you wish. They will answer questions on a vast range of topics, set alarms, tell you the weather and what your commute holds in store. Some can order almost any goods over the internet for delivery within hours or days. Hooked up with other devices, they turn lights on and off and control the heating. But they have also been accused of making fake purchases and snooping on your conversations.