Google’s long-awaited next-generation smart speaker is finally here, and unsurprisingly, AI is taking center stage.
After teasing the device for several months, Google has officially opened pre-orders for its new Google Home speaker. It’s a compact smart speaker that combines Gemini assistance with upgraded audio performance and tight integration with the broader Google Home ecosystem.
Priced at $99.99, this speaker includes Gemini. For a limited time, it includes 6 months of Google Home Premium with additional features like Gemini Live. General availability is expected to begin next week.
This announcement marks one of Google’s biggest smart home hardware updates in years. While previous Home and Nest speakers focused primarily on voice commands and music playback, the new model is designed around Gemini. It’s Google’s generative AI platform that is gradually replacing the traditional Google Assistant experience across the company’s smart home devices.
Google says the speaker is designed to deliver vastly improved sound compared to the aging Nest Mini. The centrally placed 58mm driver is designed to project audio in all directions. At the same time, Google claims that it delivers 2.5 times more powerful bass than the smallest smart speaker.
This audio upgrade could be important as smart speakers increasingly compete as entertainment devices rather than just voice assistants. However, it remains to be seen how the new model will compare to the larger Nest Audio. This model features a dedicated woofer and tweeter setup for more serious music listening.
Smart home credentials extend beyond voice control. One of the more interesting additions is the ability to pair directly with Google TV Streamer to act as a TV speaker. Previously, Google smart speakers could connect via Bluetooth, but this tighter integration provides a more seamless way to enhance your TV’s audio while keeping Gemini close at hand.
Google is also using this announcement to promote its expanding Home Premium subscription. The service enables Gemini Live access, plus additional smart home features and AI-powered experiences. This positions the new speakers as both a hardware upgrade and a gateway to Google’s evolving smart home ecosystem.
Available in four color options, the Google Home speaker is available for pre-order now for $99.99. Buyers who order before the end of September will also receive six months of Google Home Premium at no additional charge.
As Google continues its transition from Assistant to Gemini, the new home speakers feel less like a revamp of traditional smart speakers and more like the company’s vision of what an AI-first smart home hub should be.
