Smart speaker stories
Argos index reveals UK surge in smart home adoption
Last month
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Smart speakers and TVs dominate UK smart homes as Argos index shows rising demand for security, heating and energy-saving tech.
AI Media Station puts edge intelligence in the lounge
Last month
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KTC and Consult Red unveil AI Media Station, a Qualcomm-powered proof-of-concept bringing private edge AI control to living room media hubs.
Hands-on Review: JBL Grip Bluetooth speaker
Mon, 1st Dec 2025
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The JBL Grip is a compact, lightweight Bluetooth speaker delivering powerful, clear sound and customisable ambient lighting for just USD $94.00.
Hands-on Review: JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi
Tue, 28th Nov 2023
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The new JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is no different – it's rugged, looks great, and, most importantly, performs excellently, offering rich sound with an envious amount of bass.
Apple is finally bringing the HomePod mini to New Zealand
Thu, 10th Jun 2021
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Apple quietly announces the arrival of the HomePod mini in New Zealand, a compact smart speaker with 360-degree audio and Siri integration.
Bang & Olufsen's latest connected speaker screams 'premium' design
Fri, 7th May 2021
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Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen introduces its most advanced connected speaker to date, the Beolab 28, with a hefty price tag of AU$18,300.
Demand for stay-at-home entertainment sees smart speaker market soar
Tue, 27th Oct 2020
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Global smart speaker market set to reach 163 million units in 2021, with Mainland China leading the way, according to Canalys.
Global shipments of smart audio devices reach 96.2 million - Canalys
Tue, 23rd Jun 2020
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Global shipments of smart audio devices hit 96.2 million in Q1 2020. Canalys reports a 19.4% rise in smart personal audio, while smart speakers saw a 1.9% drop.
Smart speaker market continues to grow - report
Tue, 24th Mar 2020
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Smart speakers have seen a 53% growth, but the impact of COVID-19 on the industry remains uncertain, according to Futuresource Consulting.
Hands-on Review: JBL Link Bar, the three-in-one smart speaker
Thu, 5th Mar 2020
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JBL's Link Bar merges a sound bar, Android TV, and Google Home into one sleek device offering high sound quality with smart home integration.
Smart speaker vendors breaking records despite coronavirus disruption
Fri, 28th Feb 2020
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Despite COVID-19 fears, smart speaker shipments surged in Q4 2019. Amazon, Google, and Chinese vendors hit record highs, says Canalys.
Canalys: Smart devices to reach three billion by 2023
Thu, 23rd Jan 2020
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Smart device shipments are set to reach three billion globally by 2023, with smartphone sales remaining dominant, says Canalys.
Global smart speaker market experiences 45% growth
Thu, 14th Nov 2019
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Amazon leads the global smart speaker market with 10.4 million units shipped in Q3 2019, according to Canalys. Google slips to fourth.
Hands-on Review: The ASUS Lyra Voice is a smart router with the power of invisibility
Fri, 1st Nov 2019
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It looks no different from a set of standard Bluetooth speakers, and it easily blends itself into any corner of the house.
Bose's new smart speaker puts the bass back in the beat
Thu, 5th Sep 2019
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Bose launches its latest smart speaker, the Portable Home Speaker, promising 360-degree sound and deep bass. Priced at NZD $579.95, it hits shelves Sept 26.
Are they listening? Kiwis wary of smart devices
Mon, 2nd Sep 2019
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While talking aloud, a voice-activated, home-based smart speaker asked for more info - even though it was not turned it on.
Google slips further down the ranks in smart speaker market
Wed, 28th Aug 2019
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Google has dropped to third place in the smart speaker market, with Baidu claiming second place behind Amazon, according to new data from Canalys.
Hands-on Review: The Harman Kardon Allure Portable Speaker
Tue, 2nd Jul 2019
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Harman Kardon's Allure Portable marries quality sound with Amazon Alexa's voice control, offering both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The world loves smart speakers - and China leads the way
Tue, 23rd Apr 2019
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People across the world love their smart speakers – and we have AI assistants like Amazon Alexa to thank for the revolution.
IDC: Smart home market only getting stronger
Tue, 2nd Apr 2019
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Smart speakers have moved into people’s homes and are ready to pay off as smart networks begin to spread throughout the household.