![\"DT](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/award-ec.png\")
\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\u201cA delightful smart speaker that’s easy to love.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tPros\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tGemini makes voice control feel genuinely conversational\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tStrong smart home integration\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tBetter sound than previous compact Google speakers\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tModern, compact design\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tExcellent value at $99\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tCons\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tAdvanced features require a subscription\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tBest experience requires buying into Google’s ecosystem.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tNo display for visual controls or information\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Quick Recap<\/p>\n
Google just introduced a new Home Speaker powered by Gemini<\/a>, and it may represent the biggest shift that the company\u2019s smart home lineup has seen in years. This isn\u2019t simply a hardware refresh with improved sound or a new design. Instead, Google is positioning Gemini as the foundation of a smarter home assistant<\/a>, one that understands natural conversation instead of relying on rigid voice commands. At $99, the new Home Speaker also enters one of the most competitive segments of the smart home market, where it will inevitably be compared with devices like Apple\u2019s HomePod mini<\/a>.<\/p>\n Having used the speaker for the past couple of weeks, it quickly becomes clear that Gemini is the real upgrade<\/a>. The hardware itself is a step forward over Google\u2019s previous compact speakers, but the biggest difference comes from how naturally the speaker understands requests and carries on conversations. Rather than forcing you to think about the right command, it adapts to the way you naturally speak.<\/p>\n Google Home Speaker specs: What\u2019s inside the round shell?<\/p>\n ColorsBerry, Porcelain, Hazel, JadeDimensionsProduct: 3.4\u2033 height x 4.2\u2033 diameter Google Home Speaker design and setup: It\u2019s clean and breezy <\/p>\n \t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n Measuring 3.44 inches tall, 4.2 inches in diameter, and weighing just 0.9 pounds, the new Google Home Speaker is compact enough to blend into almost any space while still feeling more premium than Google\u2019s older Nest speakers. Setup is straightforward. Inside the box, Google includes the speaker, a 30W USB-C power adapter, and a 1.5-meter power cable, with everything configured through the Google Home app.<\/p>\n Google is offering the speaker in four colors: Hazel, Porcelain, Jade, and Berry, with Jade and Berry currently exclusive to the U.S. The Porcelain model used for this review has a clean finish that should fit comfortably into most homes without drawing attention to itself. Overall, the design feels minimal, modern, and understated. Rather than becoming the focal point of a room, it blends naturally into a desk, shelf, or living space. Like much of Google\u2019s recent hardware, recycled materials are used throughout the design, including the 3D-knit fabric exterior, which immediately brings Apple\u2019s HomePod to mind.<\/p>\n One of my favorite details is the dynamic light ring around the base. It changes depending on whether the speaker is listening, processing a request, or responding, so instead of wondering what it\u2019s doing, you always have visual feedback. It sounds like a small addition, but it makes the entire experience feel more alive. Omnidirectional microphones round things out, allowing the speaker to hear requests clearly from across the room without constantly asking you to repeat yourself.<\/p>\n Google Home Speaker interactions: Gemini changes how you use a smart speaker<\/p>\n \t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n The biggest shift with Google\u2019s new Home Speaker has very little to do with the hardware. Instead, it comes from replacing Google Assistant with Gemini, and that fundamentally changes how you interact with the speaker.<\/p>\n Previous Google smart speakers worked best when you thought in commands. You would ask it to turn off the lights, set the thermostat, or play music, usually one request at a time. Gemini moves away from that approach. Rather than remembering specific phrases, you simply talk to it the way you would another person. Saying something like, \u201cSet the house up for bedtime,\u201d is enough for Gemini to understand the intent behind the request and carry out the necessary actions. It can also handle multiple requests in a single sentence and even adapt if you change your mind halfway through speaking.<\/p>\n Reasoning is where Gemini begins to separate itself from Google\u2019s previous assistants. During testing, asking whether it would rain during a baseball game didn\u2019t just produce the day\u2019s weather forecast. Rather than simply pulling information, Gemini reasons through the request by combining context from multiple sources. Google calls this real reasoning rather than simply retrieving data, and it is one of the biggest differences between Gemini and the Google Assistant experience that came before it.<\/p>\n Gemini is just as useful for everyday tasks. It can help with reminders, calendar events, shopping lists, and planning your day while supporting natural follow-up questions that build on the conversation instead of starting over each time. Users can also choose from 10 different voice options to personalize how the assistant sounds.<\/p>\n Google is making the core Gemini experience available without an additional subscription. Buyers who purchase the Home Speaker before the end of September also receive six months of Google Home Premium, which unlocks Gemini Live. Instead of issuing commands, you can simply say, \u201cLet\u2019s chat,\u201d and have a full back-and-forth conversation with your home assistant. Premium also introduces more advanced smart home features, including camera search history that lets you ask questions like whether someone left the garage open or whether the dog jumped on the couch, along with Home Briefs, which summarize everything that happened while you were away. Google Home Premium is available in two tiers, with the standard version included in Google AI Pro and the advanced tier bundled with Google AI Ultra<\/p>\n \t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n Google Home Speaker sound quality: It\u2019s okay for the mission<\/p>\n Audio has received meaningful upgrades alongside Gemini. Google says the new Home Speaker features improved microphone processing for better voice pickup, true 360-degree sound, and 2.5 times stronger bass than the Nest Mini. Compared to Google\u2019s previous compact smart speakers, the difference is immediately noticeable, making this a worthwhile upgrade for anyone coming from an older Nest Mini.<\/p>\n Stereo pairing is available when using two Home Speakers together, while integration with Google TV Streamer, Nest devices, and Cast-enabled products allows it to become part of a whole-home audio setup. Rather than existing as a standalone smart speaker, it slots neatly into Google\u2019s broader ecosystem. As far as the raw audio quality goes, it avoids the expected pitfall of overtly-processed and synethetic tunes. It can fill a small to medium-sized room with punchy audio without any jarring distortion at high volume levels. <\/p>\n The sound profile is pleasant, in general, it\u2019s sufficiently clear for listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Notably, it excels at mids, which means vocal-heavy tracks and classic music will please you ear canals. On the flip side, don\u2019t expect delicate instrumental separation and at high volumes, complex tracks definitely get a tad muddy. If you seek that kind of audio nirvana, you might want to pay up a little bit and get the Sonos Era 100, or the bigger Google Nest Audio.<\/p>\n Google Home Speaker vs. HomePod mini<\/p>\n Comparison with Apple\u2019s HomePod mini is almost unavoidable since both speakers occupy the same $99 price point. Both feature compact, fabric-covered designs that are meant to blend into a room and are available in multiple colors. The difference lies in what each product is trying to be. HomePod mini feels like a music-first accessory for the Apple ecosystem, while Google\u2019s new Home Speaker is designed as a display-less AI hub powered by Gemini.<\/p>\n Gemini is also where Google creates the biggest distinction. Natural conversations, follow-up questions, and multi-step requests all feel more fluid than the command-driven interactions that have traditionally defined smart speakers. Apple has introduced Siri AI, but the current HomePod mini will not support those new capabilities. Anyone looking for Apple\u2019s next-generation AI assistant will likely need to wait for future HomePod hardware. <\/p>\n \t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n Buyers already invested in HomeKit will still find plenty to like about the HomePod mini, but Google\u2019s approach feels more flexible today. Gemini supports multi-action commands, context-aware conversations, and AI-driven automation, making interactions feel less reactive and more conversational.<\/p>\n Audio performance is another area where the two speakers differ. HomePod mini delivers clean, balanced sound for its size, while Google\u2019s new Home Speaker focuses on stronger bass, wider 360-degree room-filling audio, and stereo pairing. Neither is intended to replace a dedicated speaker system, but Google places greater emphasis on creating a more immersive listening experience throughout a room.<\/p>\n \t\tImage used with permission by copyright holder<\/p>\n Should you buy<\/p>\n Stepping back, this is more than a speaker upgrade. Google is rethinking what a smart home assistant should actually feel like. The future is not about commands or repeating yourself. It is about natural interactions, and that is ultimately the biggest selling point of the new Google Home Speaker. For its size, the sound quality is surprisingly punchy, and it performs pretty well if you\u2019re more into listening to podcasts or music without deep audiophile expectations. <\/p>\n It, however, excels with arguably the smartest on-device AI assistant out there. Voice interactions are natural, the cross-device interplay is rewarding, and it can actually get work done across different apps and services, if you have linked the respective accounts with your Google account. The biggest caveat is that some of the smartest capabilities are locked behind a subscription, but if you merely need a no-frills tiny smart speaker, the Google Home Speaker\u2019s latest avatar is as good as it gets. <\/p>\n Why not try<\/p>\n Amazon Echo Dot Max<\/a> \u2014 If audio quality is your top preference, the two-way speaker fitted on the latest Amazon Echo Dot Max is right up your alley. Packing a dedicated woofer and tweeter, it delivers a surprising amount of bass and clarity. The cool Omnisense system brings presence awareness to the table, and it also offers support for multiple smart home protocols, including Matter and Thread. On the audio side, it even adapts to the layout of your room or home space. Plus, the new Alexa+ assistant is a meaningful upgrade.<\/p>\n
Power Cable: 59.1\u2033Weight0.9 lbs (speaker + captive cable, excludes power adapter)Power Adapter & PortsAdapter: 30W Type-C USB-PD PPS
PDO: 5V\/3A, 9V\/3A 15V\/2A, 20V\/1.5A
PPS: up to 11V\/2.73A, 16V\/1.88A, 21V\/1.43A
Dimensions: 2.3\u2033 H x 1.1\u2033 W x 2.2\u2033 L
Weight: 0.1 lbsMemory & StorageMemory: 1 GB LPDDR4
Storage: 4 GB EMMCProcessorQuad Core A55 2.0 GHz with NPUSpeaker & MicrophonesOmnidirectional sound with 58mm full-range driver
3 far-field microphones
2-stage mic mute switch (hardware mute)TechnologyGemini for Home, Voice match technologySensorsCapacitive touch controls (3 touch areas)MaterialsMade with at least 37% recycled materials based on product weight
100% plastic-free packagingSmart Home ConnectivityWi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4 GHz\/5 GHz)
Bluetooth\u00ae 5.4
Thread 1.3 border router (2.4 GHz)Smart Home CompatibilityWorks with Google Home, Matter
Works as a hub for Matter with Google HomeSupported OSiOS, AndroidIn the BoxGoogle Home Speaker, Power adapter, 59.1\u2033 captive power cable, Quick start guide, Safety & warranty document<\/p>\n![\"Electronics,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/google-home-speaker-2026-gemini-review-29-scaled.jpg\")
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