The Google Home Speaker is smaller and yet somehow more powerful than the Nest Audio as well. | Image by Google
Did you ever understand why the Google Home product family was replaced with a Nest-branded lineup all those years ago? I know I didn't, which is why I'm delighted to see the Google Home name revived for a reasonably priced new smart speaker powered by Gemini that you can pre-order today ahead of a long overdue June 25 release.
The Google Home Speaker looks awfully familiar
... but not because it strongly resembles the original Google Home from all the way back in 2016 or the 2020-released Nest Audio. Instead, you might remember this new device from its official announcement more than eight months ago, which for some reason was not followed by a swifter commercial debut.
How could you not love the new US-exclusive Berry colorway? | Image by Google
But I guess it's better late than never, although it probably would have been even better if Big G hadn't waited six whole years to roll out a new smart speaker after the aforementioned Nest Audio and more than five years after the second-gen Nest Hub.
As you can imagine based on its simple, classic, and yet somewhat confusing name, the 2026 Google Home Speaker doesn't come with a screen or smart home hub functionality. On the bright side, the sound quality is expected to be vastly improved over what the Nest Audio offers, and with Gemini's help, the smart speaker's convenience around the house should also jump to the next level.
Let's talk about specs
Omni-directional sound with 58mm full-range driver;
Three far-field microphones;
Two-stage mic mute switch;
Quad-core A55 2.0 GHz processor with NPU;
1GB LPDDR4 RAM;
4GB EMMC storage;
Gemini for Home with Voice Match technology;
Wi-Fi 6;
Bluetooth 5.4;
30W Type-C power adapter;
3.4 x 4.2 inches dimensions;
0.9 pounds weight (power adapter not included);
Hazel, Porcelain, Jade, and Berry color options.
I know that a smart speaker's specifications may not seem as important as the same characteristics of a new phone or tablet, but some of the details listed above are definitely worth highlighting, starting with the 360-degree audio support and a fairly generous driver size that however can't come close to the Nest Audio's dual-driver setup consisting of a 75mm woofer and 19mm tweeter... at least on paper.
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What do you think about Google's new smart speaker 'family'?
In real-life use, Google guarantees the overall audio performance will be more satisfactory here, which would be a genuine engineering miracle considering the reduced weight and footprint of the new Home Speaker compared to the Nest Audio.
Meanwhile, although beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, I don't think anyone can look at the Google Home Speaker with anything but admiration for its "custom 3D-knit textile" material, gorgeous colors (especially the US-exclusive Jade and Berry), and the sleek new light ring underglow that "softly" communicates when the device is listening, thinking, or responding.
And now let's talk Gemini
Be honest, that's the main reason you're considering choosing the new Google Home Speaker over something like Amazon's Echo Dot Max or Echo Studio.
This is just an example of a multi-step conversation you can now have with Gemini on your smart speaker. | Image by Google
Compared to your old and trusty but often rigid and limited Google Assistant, Gemini promises to be a lot more flexible and open to continous learning, adapting to your tone of voice, vocabulary, and hopefully, various foreign accents.
Just like on your phone, you should be able to get satisfactory answers to more complex questions than ever, as well as give multiple commands at once and even make easy corrections while you speak. Two-way conversations should now also be possible, and with Google Home Premium, you'll be able to unlock even more advanced AI capabilities in your household like Gemini Live, Camera History Search, and Home Briefs.
Where does the new Google Home Speaker fit in the company's smart home roster?
What roster? That's right, there's no more product lineup to speak of, as the Nest Audio and Nest Mini are officially discontinued. That means this is now the sole Google-made smart speaker you can buy, although the $99.99 Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and $229 Nest Hub Max smart displays are still around... at least for the time being.
The new Google Home Speaker has made both the Nest Audio and Nest Mini obsolete. | Image by Google
At a recommended price of $99.99, the Google Home Speaker with Gemini is obviously considerably cheaper than Amazon's ultra-powerful Echo Studio but also costlier than the Echo Dot Max (at its early Prime Day price).
The Echo Dot Max is a bit smaller than the Google Home Speaker and it packs a 2.5-inch woofer and 0.8-inch tweeter purportedly capable of "filling" a room with their "rich" sound. I'd have to test both products out for myself, of course, to see (and hear) which one delivers better audio, but as far as voice assistance goes, I already know Gemini beats Alexa in many ways that matter for me. So, yes, I believe you should consider paying Google a hundred bucks for its latest (belated) smart speaker.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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