Google’s first smart speaker in six years arrives next week
Google’s new smart speaker, the first in six years, begins shipping on June 25th, featuring native support for Gemini for Home. According to Google, the $99 device serves as a specialized host for the company’s generative AI, utilizing local processing for noise cancellation and command recognition. Preorders opened on June 17th, with the unit arriving as a successor to the Nest Audio, though Google positions it as an upgrade over the smaller Nest Mini rather than a direct replacement for its previous flagship.
How does the new hardware differ from previous Google speakers?
The hardware remains identical to the design Google introduced nine months ago. According to company briefings, the device features a compact, rounded aesthetic with touch-capacitive controls on its top surface and a status-indicating light ring at the base. While it lacks the physical stature of the taller Nest Audio, the new speaker integrates 360-degree audio output. Anish Kattukaran, Google Home’s chief product officer, noted that the company prioritized a smaller form factor after receiving feedback that the Nest Audio was difficult to place in typical home setups.
Unlike previous Nest-branded speakers, this model allows users to pair two units for stereo sound. Furthermore, users can connect these speakers to a Google TV Streamer to enable spatial surround sound, a feature not supported by older hardware in the lineup.
Why did Google wait six years to release this speaker?
The delay between the initial announcement and the shipping date was used to refine the software experience. Kattukaran stated that Google addressed over 2,500 reported bugs and implemented more than 50 feature improvements during the interim. These updates specifically targeted latency, with Google reporting a 40 percent improvement in response times for smart home and media commands. The device also functions as a Matter controller and a Thread border router, though it currently supports the Thread 1.3 specification rather than the newer 1.4 standard.
What is the role of Gemini for Home?
The Google Home Speaker is purpose-built to run Gemini for Home, an AI assistant capable of maintaining conversational context. Unlike the legacy Google Assistant, Gemini can handle multi-step commands and understand natural language, including filler words or mid-sentence corrections. According to Google, the speaker runs local models for echo suppression and sound separation, allowing the AI to isolate voice commands from background noise more effectively than previous iterations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this speaker compatible with older Nest devices? Yes, Gemini for Home is available on other Nest speakers, though Google claims the new hardware provides the most optimized experience.
- What features are locked behind the Premium subscription? The subscription is required for Gemini Live, AI-powered search on Nest cameras, and the “Google Home Brief” daily activity summary.
- Are there different color options? The speaker comes in four colors: porcelain, hazel, jade, and berry. The jade and berry options are exclusive to the US Google Store.
Are you planning to upgrade your smart home setup to include generative AI? Share your thoughts in the comments below or explore our archive of smart home reviews for more comparisons on the latest connected tech.