The Google Home Max smart speaker ties its all-time-low price: $212
For a limited time, you can save $87 on Google's robust HomePod rival.
When the Google Home Max smart speaker debuted in late 2017, CNET's Ty Pendlebury raved about its responsive microphones and excellent room-filling sound. (Read his Google Home Max review to learn more.) Less rave-worthy, however, was the price: $399. Ouch. Thankfully, earlier this year Google slashed prices on all its Google Home smart speakers, with the Max getting a very welcome $100 discount.
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Pish. We can do better than that, right? Yes. We. Can. For a limited time, and while supplies last, Daily Steals via Rakuten once again has the Google Home Max (chalk or charcoal) for $212.49 shipped (plus tax where applicable) when you apply promo code SAVE15 at checkout.
The Max's chief rival is the Apple HomePod , which normally sells for $299. Unfortunately, Ty's Max review doesn't directly compare sound quality between the two, though the former was found to be superior to both the Bose SoundTouch 30 and Sonos Play:5. Ultimately, Pendlebury said, it's "the best-sounding smart speaker yet."
Those smarts come from the Google Assistant, of course, which most would agree is smarter than Siri (in her current incarnation, anyway). Meanwhile, the Max supports a much broader array of connected services than the HomePod; you're not limited to music from just one source.
Amazon, meanwhile, just introduced a variety of new Alexa-powered speakers, including the Max-rivaling Echo Studio for $200. That may yet prove the better buy, but we won't know until we're able to compare them.
Still, if you're accustomed to and/or prefer the Google ecosystem, this is a great way to add room-filling sound and a crackerjack Google Assistant to your home -- and for a price that's quite a bit more palatable than $399.
Note: Originally published earlier this year. Updated product pricing/availability.
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