The Google Home Speaker is priced at $99, but Gemini comes at an additional cost.

      Google has introduced a new smart speaker, its first in nearly six years. More notably, it has created a reason to subscribe monthly.

      The Google Home Speaker is priced at $99.99, available for preorder today, and will be shipped on June 25. This is the first audio device designed around Gemini for Home, which serves as Google’s replacement for the outdated Assistant.

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

      However, there’s a catch. The $99 purchase provides access to conversation, quick replies, and smart-home control, but the features highlighted during the launch are not included.

      Gemini Live’s fluid chat, Camera History Search for Nest cameras, and Home Briefs that summarize home events all require a subscription to Google Home Premium, which costs $10 per month, or $20 for a tier with 24/7 camera recording.

      Each speaker comes with six months of Premium service free, which is a generous offer. After this period, the device that most people desire turns into a subscription.

      There is also a trust issue at play. Gemini for Home has been in early access since October; some users reported that it performed basic commands worse than the Assistant it is replacing.

      Google claims it has implemented over 2,500 fixes since then, and that 3.5 million homes have opted in. The message is that Gemini can now process informal, real-life speech, such as when you say "turn off the coffee maker, I meant turn it on" and it keeps pace.

      Google is not the only one transforming the smart speaker into a subscription model. Amazon’s updated Echo line operates on Alexa Plus, which is free for Prime members but costly otherwise, and Apple is preparing a Siri-enabled HomePod mini.

      The inexpensive speaker is becoming easier to produce. The ongoing AI subscription behind it is the true product, and Google is betting that consumers will not mind paying once the initial six months expire.

      Published June 17, 2026 - 2:27 pm UTC