Google Home Speaker
By Ethan Halfhide · Updated
Google's first ground-up Gemini smart speaker, with a built-in Thread border router.
Google Home Speaker
Specifications
- Price
- $99.99
- Device type
- Smart Speaker
- Ecosystems
- Google Home, Matter
- Rooms
- Living Room, Bedroom, Kitchen, Office
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi, Thread, Bluetooth
- Hub required
- No
- Rental friendly
- Yes
- Matter certified
- Yes
- Installation
- plug-in
- Energy Star
- No
- Local control
- No
- Voice control
- Yes
About
The Google Home Speaker is Google's first fully redesigned smart speaker since the Nest Audio in 2020, built specifically around Gemini's conversational AI. It delivers noticeably richer 360-degree audio than the Nest Audio it replaces, and doubles as smart home infrastructure with a built-in Thread border router and Matter controller. That makes it a single-box upgrade for anyone starting a Google-based smart home.
How it compares
| Device | Price | Ecosystems | Matter | Hub required | Local control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Home Speaker | $99.99 | Google Home, Matter | Yes | No | No |
| Amazon Echo (4th Gen) | $99.99 | Alexa, Matter | Yes | No | No |
| Amazon Echo Dot Max | $99.99 | Alexa, Matter | Yes | No | No |
| Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) | $299 | HomeKit, Matter | Yes | No | Yes |
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About the author
Ethan Halfhide: Ethan Halfhide is a smart home enthusiast and AI technologist who follows the connected home market closely, from smart locks and security cameras to robot vacuums, lighting, sensors and hubs. He curates HomeGearLab's device directory, comparing products on published specs, compatibility, setup requirements and price so readers can pick gear that fits their home and works together.