5 issues the brand new Google Residence Speaker wants earlier than I am going to purchase it

It’s been some time since Google launched a brand new sensible speaker, however that’s set to alter within the very close to future. Nearly 5 years after the Nest Audio launched in October 2020, phrase on the road is that Google will quickly debut the “Google Residence Speaker.”

Google first teased its new speaker in August in the course of the Pixel 10 launch occasion, whereas subsequent leaks have confirmed its existence and indicated that it’s virtually definitely being launched earlier than the top of the 12 months.

I’m desirous to see what Google’s new sensible speaker has to supply, however earlier than I rush out and purchase one for myself, there are a couple of key issues it has to get proper.

My house was once full of Google Assistant audio system. I had two Nest Audios in my workplace, a Nest Hub in my bed room, a Lenovo Sensible Show in my kitchen, and a few Nest Minis in different rooms.

Nevertheless, I step by step deserted all my Google Assistant audio system for Alexa ones. Whether or not it was the Assistant telling me it didn’t perceive a query, mishearing a command for one thing else totally, or struggling to do one thing so simple as flip a wise mild on/off, I finally reached my breaking level with Google Assistant.

Google has confirmed that Gemini is coming to present Google Residence units on October 1, which suggests this new speaker will doubtless ship with Gemini accessible out of the field. And assuming it does, Gemini must be extra dependable and correct in a means Google Assistant by no means was. Gemini must reply questions and instructions shortly and constantly. It must be an assistant that I can depend on. Greater than something, that’s the largest hurdle the brand new Google Residence Speaker has to beat.

As essential as Gemini’s execution is for the Google Residence Speaker, there’s one other side that Google has to get proper: audio high quality.

From what we’ve seen of the speaker, it’ll be a lot smaller than Google’s Nest Audio and can extra carefully resemble one thing just like the Apple HomePod mini. A bodily smaller speaker doesn’t bode effectively for good audio high quality, however it additionally doesn’t doom Google’s upcoming speaker.

For one factor, the HomePod mini is proof that you would be able to create a smaller speaker and nonetheless ship high-quality audio. Moreover, one of many Google Residence Speaker leaks has instructed that it can assist “360 audio” — one thing Apple additionally touts for its miniature HomePod.

If the brand new Google Residence Speaker can match or surpass the audio high quality of the Nest Audio, that’ll be an enormous win. And, given what we’ve heard up to now concerning the new speaker, it seems that’s what we’re getting.

Whether or not you place them in your bed room, front room, or workplace, sensible audio system are sometimes a distinguished fixture of any room in your house. And as such, you need to have the ability to purchase it in a coloration that fits you and your private style.

Google understood this project effectively with the Nest Audio, providing the speaker not solely in white and black colours, but additionally in shades of inexperienced, blue, and pink. Though we’ve solely seen the brand new Google Residence Speaker in white from Google’s official tease,  it appears like extra colours are within the works.

When the Nest Audio launched in 2020, Google’s newest smartphone was the Pixel 5, the OG Pixel Buds had launched just some months prior, and the Pixel Watch was nonetheless a figment of our creativeness.

In 2025, Google’s {hardware} portfolio appears utterly totally different. The Pixel 10 collection, Pixel Buds 2a, and Pixel Watch 4 are all spectacular sufficient on their very own, however additionally they work seamlessly collectively as a part of a cohesive ecosystem. And with the brand new Google Residence Speaker, I hope we see it built-in into that ecosystem.

How so? I’d like to see one thing just like how the HomePod and iPhone work collectively, the place you’ll be able to place your cellphone close to the speaker to seamlessly switch audio between the 2. What if timers you set on the Google Residence Speaker might additionally seem in your Pixel cellphone? Perhaps the Google Residence Speaker might learn aloud notifications in case your Pixel cellphone is close by?

There are plenty of intelligent issues Google might do right here, and I hope the corporate goes the additional mile to really accomplish that.

Final however definitely not least, there’s yet one more factor the brand new Google Residence Speaker must get proper: a aggressive value.

Assuming the Google Residence Speaker serves as a direct alternative for the Nest Audio, which it looks like it can, it’s secure to imagine the brand new speaker will retain the Nest Audio’s $100 price ticket. For context, that’s the identical value because the HomePod mini and the Amazon Echo.

Whereas a fair cheaper price can be nice to see, I believe as long as Google holds onto the $100 asking value, the Google Residence Speaker will likely be in a great spot. What Google must keep away from is creeping as much as $125 or $150. I don’t assume that can occur, although there’s a slim probability Google might attempt to justify a value improve with its new Gemini smarts or the present state of the financial system.