Review of the Google Home Speaker (2026): More intelligent and powerful, with a subscription cost.

      Google Home Speaker

      MSRP: $99.99

      “A charming smart speaker that's hard not to love.”

      Pros

      - Gemini gives voice control a genuinely conversational feel

      - Strong integration with smart home devices

      - Improved sound quality compared to earlier compact Google speakers

      - Sleek, modern design

      - Great value at $99

      Cons

      - Some advanced features require a subscription

      - Optimal experience necessitates being part of Google's ecosystem

      - Lacks a display for visual controls or information

      Quick Recap

      Google has unveiled a new Home Speaker powered by Gemini, which may signify a significant transformation in the company's smart home offerings in years. This is not just a hardware update with enhanced sound or a fresh design. Google is presenting Gemini as the core of a more intelligent home assistant that comprehends natural dialogue rather than depending on rigid voice commands. Priced at $99, the new Home Speaker enters a highly competitive smart home market where it will be compared with products like Apple’s HomePod mini. After using the speaker for several weeks, it’s evident that Gemini is the true enhancement. While the hardware marks an improvement over Google’s previous compact speakers, the fundamental change is in how naturally the speaker comprehends requests and engages in discussions. It adapts to your natural speech, eliminating the need to consider the exact commands.

      Google Home Speaker specs: What’s inside the round shell?

      Colors: Berry, Porcelain, Hazel, Jade

      Dimensions: Product: 3.4″ height x 4.2″ diameter

      Power Cable: 59.1″

      Weight: 0.9 lbs (including captive cable, excluding power adapter)

      Power Adapter & Ports: Adapter: 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″ H x 1.1″ W x 2.2″ L

      Weight: 0.1 lbs

      Memory & Storage: Memory: 1 GB LPDDR4, Storage: 4 GB EMMC

      Processor: Quad Core A55 2.0 GHz with NPU

      Speaker & Microphones: Omnidirectional sound with 58mm full-range driver, 3 far-field microphones, 2-stage mic mute switch (hardware mute)

      Technology: Gemini for Home, Voice match technology

      Sensors: Capacitive touch controls (3 touch areas)

      Materials: Made with at least 37% recycled materials by weight, 100% plastic-free packaging

      Smart Home Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4 GHz/5 GHz), Bluetooth® 5.4, Thread 1.3 border router (2.4 GHz)

      Smart Home Compatibility: Works with Google Home, Matter; acts as a hub for Matter with Google Home

      Supported OS: iOS, Android

      In the Box: Google Home Speaker, power adapter, 59.1″ captive power cable, quick start guide, safety & warranty document

      Google Home Speaker design and setup: It’s clean and spacious

      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 setting while presenting a more premium feel than Google’s older Nest speakers. The setup process is simple. The box includes the speaker, a 30W USB-C power adapter, and a 1.5-meter power cable, with all configuration done through the Google Home app. Google offers 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 features a clean finish that should fit seamlessly into most environments without attracting attention. Overall, the design is minimalistic, modern, and understated. Rather than drawing focus, it integrates into a desk, shelf, or living area. As with much of Google’s recent hardware, recycled materials are incorporated into the design, including the 3D-knit fabric exterior, reminiscent of Apple’s HomePod. One appealing detail is the dynamic light ring surrounding the base, which changes based on whether the speaker is listening, processing a request, or responding, offering continuous visual feedback. Though it seems a minor feature, it enhances the overall experience. The omnidirectional microphones enable the speaker to clearly hear requests from across the room without needing constant repetition.

      Google Home Speaker interactions: Gemini transforms how you use a smart speaker

      The most significant change with Google’s new Home Speaker is less about the hardware and more about replacing Google Assistant with Gemini, fundamentally altering how you interact with the device. Previous Google smart speakers functioned best with