Home Gadgets Smart speaker 1st gen: still worth buying?
The first-gen smart speaker is five years old and cheaper than ever refurbished. I lived with one for a month to see if it still earns its shelf space.
About this video
Refurbished first-gen smart speakers sell for less than a pizza, and the reviews are suspiciously glowing. So I bought one, factory-reset it, and ran it as my bedroom speaker and smart-home hub for thirty days.
The verdict surprised me: sound quality holds up fine for podcasts and background music, but the ageing voice assistant misunderstands multi-step routines that newer models nail. Buy it for music, skip it for home automation.
Timestamps
- 0:00 — Why test a five-year-old speaker?
- 1:12 — Sound test vs. the current model
- 3:40 — Smart-home routines, old vs. new
- 5:55 — Power use and always-on mics
- 7:05 — Verdict: who should buy one
Gear mentioned
- First-gen smart speaker (refurbished unit)
- Current-gen speaker for side-by-side comparison
- Two smart bulbs and a plug for routine tests
Creator tip: when buying refurbished speakers, check the manufacture date on the base — early batches in this generation had a buzzing issue at high volume.
