You're probably already using Spotify or Apple Music to listen to music on your smart speakerBut did you know that most smart speakers also support Bluetooth? Here are several that do, and a few "dumb" speakers that act like smart speakers. 🤖

Amazon Echo

The entire Amazon Echo line supports Bluetooth speaker functionality. There are two ways to do this. You can say "Alexa, pairing mode" and the Echo will go into discovery mode, allowing you to pair a phone or any other device. Or, if you're trying to connect another device, like a turntable, you can go to the Alexa app's settings and there you'll be able to pair devices. 🕺

Google Nest

The Google Nest line of speakers works quite similarly to the Echo. Just say, "Ok Google, pairing mode» and the speaker It will become discoverable so you can pair a phone, laptop, or other device. Just like with the Echo, you can access the speaker's settings through the Assistant app and pair additional devices, like a turntable. 🎤

Sonos

Sonos is known for its multifunctional speakers, and its range of portable and home products is no exception. These speakers not only work over Wi-Fi, but each also supports Bluetooth playback. Connect your Amazon account to something like the Era 100 and use it to make purchases, interact with Alexa skills, and more! 🛒

On the back of most modern Sonos speakers, you'll find a button that activates Bluetooth pairing mode. This is how you connect your smartphone, computer, or other device to a Sonos speaker. 🔌

Bose Portable Smart Speaker

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is exactly what its name suggests: a portable smart speaker. It has Alexa built in, and you can take it with you anywhere. However, if you go somewhere without Wi-Fi, it still works perfectly via Bluetooth, allowing you to enjoy music offline. 🎉

Some Non-Smart Speakers Can Use Bluetooth to Act Like Smart Speakers

So far, I've talked about speakers that are smart first and Bluetooth second. But what about speakers that don't have Wi-Fi, but can still act intelligently? They exist too! 😲

For example, the Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II It's a Bluetooth speaker with no Wi-Fi connectivity option. There's no built-in "smarts" here, it's simply a Bluetooth speaker. However, when paired with your iPhone or Android, there's a button on the top that you can press and hold to activate your voice assistant preferred. This allows you to, in effect, use the SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth speaker as a smart speaker, with little manual intervention. 🔑

Other options in this category include the Beats Pill and most of the OontZ line of Bluetooth speakers. While neither have built-in Wi-Fi, you'll find these traditional Bluetooth speakers can offer some smart functionality by simply holding down a button on the speaker to access your voice assistant. 🤷‍♂️

Unusual Ways to Use Bluetooth on Your Smart Speaker

Now that you know of several smart speakers that support Bluetooth output, you might be wondering why this is so important? Well, for starters, you'll be able to use your smartphone, tablet or computer to play audio that isn't available on streaming platforms. This could be from a home video you recorded, a voice memo, or anything else. This is what most people think of when using a Bluetooth speaker. 🔊

However, did you know you can pair some turntables to a speaker via Bluetooth? That's right! So, if you want to enjoy classic music with a modern twist, pair your turntable to a smart speaker via Bluetooth and play vinyl without worrying about cables. 🎛️

Another way you could use a Bluetooth smart speaker is to watch a movie on your computer or even a projector while using the speaker for audio. Most projectors Small projectors don't have good speakers, and connecting an external system can be tricky. Instead, pair the projector (or computer) with your smart speaker via Bluetooth and stream audio that way. 🎥

In some cases, you may experience a slight delay between the video and audio, but with newer Bluetooth versions this is not as much of an issue. big. 🕔

If you have an Echo Dot in a room and want to watch YouTube on your phone but use a more powerful speaker to play the audio, that's another area where Bluetooth comes in handy. Similar to the projector scenario mentioned above, simply pair your phone to the Echo Dot via Bluetooth and you can use it to play YouTube, which wouldn't otherwise be supported on a smart speaker without a screen. 📺