Google Home vs Amazon Echo: Is there a clear winner?May 19(AZINS) Google recently introduced Home, a new “always listening” personal virtual assistant during Google I/O 2016. Let’s just call it the company’s take on the Amazon Echo.

While both devices can perform some of the obvious functions, there are a few points in which both of them differ drastically. But calling out a winner at this stage might be jumping the gun. Let’s break down some of the distinguishing features among the voice activated home assistants.

As Amazon has been in this space for a slightly longer period, the edge could be given to Echo. But then again, Google is mostly the gateway to all the knowledge provided on the Internet. Google Home could be smarter in answering certain--or rather more personalized--questions as it comes with significant improvements when compared to Amazon’s Echo.

Some common features include responses to voice commands while being on an “always listening” mode. Streaming options are available on both. While Amazon offers Prime Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio and others, Google will obviously offer the same, including Google Play Music as well.

For partnerships, Google will tie up with third party products, along with Nest (which is also Google-owned.) Chromecast can be controlled from Google Home too. Amazon has many smart home partnerships such as Ecobee, SmartThings, Wink, Insteon, Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Lifx, Big Ass Fans, IFTTT and other devices. Apart from these, both tell time, share weather details, set a timer and play music.

But does it yet qualify to be a bigger hit than Echo? Should Amazon be worried and quickly work on a 2.0 version of the assistant? As of now, prices and availability for Google Home have not been disclosed but the company states that it would be coming “later this year”.

Either way, we can't wait to get our hands on one of these uber-attentive assistants to have around our house.