Google Home review: Smaller, cheaper and smarter than the Amazon Echo

I've been eagerly waiting to try Google Home, Google's answer to the Amazon Echo, since the company announced it in May. Not just because Home is smaller, cheaper ($130 versus $180) and prettier than the Echo, but because Google Assistant, the built-in digital assistant -- Google's big AI bet on the future -- is supposed to put all other digital assistants to shame. SEE ALSO: Google Pixel review: Nearly everything you'd want in a flagship phone Echo's Alexa is no dummy. With its year head-start, Alexa's gotten so much brainier that I was surprised it was able to answer many of the questions I asked. Alexa also has over 3,000 "skills" -- integrations with third-party products and services -- at its disposal.