Privacy considerations aside, I switched from Alexa to Google Home Assistant because Google is a search/ML company and best poised to understand a question and provide relevant context (like Google search result snippets).
Search is not Amazon's or Apple's main business so they will have a hard time competing. (last I checked, Siri just does a Google search and provides links when it doesn't understand a question)
However, both Amazon and Google seem to sell their devices at cost with the hope of finding a revenue model while Apple charges a premium for their Home Pod. That makes the Apple approach most sustainable at this point.
I think HomePods are very different devices compared to what both Amazon and Google make. Even the HomePod mini sounds way better than anything competitors make. Many are willing to pay premium for the superior sound quality. Apple simply plays a different game. Not the one where it would have to compete with $10 echo devices.
Yes, Siri is hot garbage too, but I find HomePods worth it just for the sound quality. Especially worth it in stereo mode paired with an Apple TV in the room.
Search is not Amazon's or Apple's main business so they will have a hard time competing. (last I checked, Siri just does a Google search and provides links when it doesn't understand a question)
However, both Amazon and Google seem to sell their devices at cost with the hope of finding a revenue model while Apple charges a premium for their Home Pod. That makes the Apple approach most sustainable at this point.