The Google Home Speaker is available for $99, but there is an additional cost for Gemini.

      Google has finally introduced a new smart speaker, its first in nearly six years. More intriguingly, it has created a justification for a monthly subscription.

      The Google Home Speaker is priced at $99.99, available for preorder starting today, and will ship on June 25. This is the first audio device designed around Gemini for Home, which is Google's successor to the aging Assistant.

      On paper, it presents a solid improvement: 360-degree sound from a single 58mm driver, around 2.5 times more bass than the old Nest Mini, four color options, and a chip capable of sufficient local processing to eliminate background noise.

      The free speaker that isn't entirely free

      Here’s the catch. The $99 provides access to conversation, quick responses, and smart-home management. However, many features that Google emphasized during the launch are not included.

      Gemini Live’s fluid chat, Camera History Search for your Nest cameras, and Home Briefs that summarize household activities all require Google Home Premium, which is priced at $10 monthly, or $20 for the plan featuring 24/7 camera recording.

      Each speaker includes six months of free Premium, which is quite generous. After that, the device that most users are interested in turns into a subscription.

      Selling an assistant that is still under development

      There’s also a trust issue. Gemini for Home has been in early access since October, and some users have reported that it performs basic commands worse than the Assistant it is meant to replace.

      Google claims it has implemented over 2,500 fixes since then, and 3.5 million homes have opted in. The pitch is that Gemini can now handle messy, natural speech, such as “turn off the coffee maker, I meant turn it on,” and can keep up with such commands.

      Everyone is pursuing this strategy

      Google is not the only company converting the smart speaker into a subscription model. Amazon’s updated Echo lineup operates on Alexa Plus, which is available for free to Prime members but can be expensive for others, and Apple is preparing a Siri-powered HomePod mini.

      The inexpensive speaker is becoming the simpler aspect of the equation. The ongoing AI subscription behind it is the actual product, and Google is betting that people won’t mind paying once the initial six months conclude.