Confirming previous rumours, Samsung has unveiled its first smart speaker (the ‘Galaxy Home’) at its Unpacked event in New York – a robust device with AKG hardware, powered by its in-house voice assistant ‘Bixby’.
Currently a preliminary unveiling, further information will be revealed at Samsung’s Developer Conference in early November.
Congruent with the device’s launch, Samsung has announced its inked a long-term partnership with Spotify, further integrating the streaming service in all company products, from TVs to phones.
The deal will make Spotify the default music option for Bixby, linking with all Samsung products via its SmartThings app.
Samsung’s rounded smart speaker will compete with the likes of Apple’s HomePod, Google’s Home Max and Amazon’s Echo Plus – each powered by their own digital assistant (Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa respectively).
Pricing is yet to be confirmed, however, consensus is the ‘Galaxy Home’ will be priced between US$350 and US$400 (i.e. around the cost of Google’s Home Max and Apple’s HomePod).
Incorporating AKG components, the Galaxy Home claims to deliver strong audio, and is tipped to compete with premium audio products, than just providing smart assistant connectivity.
The Galaxy Home will feature 8 microphones, whilst Amazon’s Echo incorporates 7.
A new ‘SoundSteer’ feature claims to deliver better voice recognition from a distance and enhanced sound delivery, without having to increase volume.
Powered by Bixby, the Galaxy Home integrates with Samsung’s SmartThings hub, connecting all compatible smart home products in a unified control panel (e.g. fridge, TV and smartphone).
