Google Dwelling Speaker hands-on: Sounds nice, however who's it for?

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It’s in all probability honest to say that sensible dwelling enthusiasm in 2025 isn’t what it as soon as was. Stuff like lighting management and sensible locks are so previous at this level that many people take them without any consideration, and whereas there’s nonetheless a number of potential for the place the longer term may take us — I’m taking a look at you, AI — these options nonetheless aren’t fairly mature to the purpose the place they really feel like apparent, must-have upgrades.

Possibly as a consequence of us reaching that sensible dwelling plateau, new {hardware} from Google has been few and much between. Most likely the largest movement we’ve had in years was the introduction of the Pixel Pill again in 2023, so I used to be understandably excited throughout the Pixel 10 launch when Google appeared to tease the discharge of a then-unknown new Nest speaker.

Over the subsequent few weeks, particulars on this {hardware} started to leak, and we realized it was prone to debut not with Nest branding, however because the Google Dwelling Speaker. Right now it’s lastly official — even when you received’t have the ability to purchase one till subsequent spring.

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<img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge light@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge light@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png"/><img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="9.375rem" title="google preferred source badge dark@2x" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png 676w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x-64w-20h.png 64w" alt="google preferred source badge dark@2x" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png"/> <img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="google home speaker berry" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry.jpg 2000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="google home speaker berry" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_berry.jpg"/> Stephen Schenck / Android Authority

I visited Google’s workplaces in New York to try the brand new additions to its sensible dwelling {hardware}, together with the Google Dwelling Speaker, and it’s precisely as good a speaker as you’d anticipate. It seems proper at dwelling amongst different Google and Nest units with its intricate woven cloth exterior, and I particularly like a number of the bolder shade choices it’s set to be made accessible in.

It’s absolutely geared up to faucet into the ability of Gemini, together with back-and-forth conversations by way of Gemini Dwell, and the illuminated mild ring across the speaker’s base is a enjoyable method to spotlight Gemini’s responses. However virtually as quickly as Google’s demo concluded, I discovered myself struggling to make any case for who this speaker is absolutely for. Nicely, virtually any.

A part of the issue is how Google is approaching Gemini upgrades on sensible audio system. Present {hardware} can begin getting entry this month, even going all the best way again to the unique Google Dwelling. Time was, Google used at hand out Nest Minis like Halloween sweet, and at this level I really feel like most individuals who would possibly need a Google sensible speaker have doubtless already picked one up. In consequence, many people are already going to have Gemini on a speaker effectively earlier than the Google Dwelling Speaker goes up on the market within the spring of 2026.

OK, however not all these audio system are constructed alike, and the older fashions aren’t on monitor to ever get Gemini Dwell, which the Google Dwelling Speaker has been constructed from the bottom as much as help. That’s one thing, proper? Positive, however it’s not additionally like there aren’t present units that can deal with want, with fashions just like the Nest Audio additionally set to help Gemini Dwell.

I do need to take a second and concede: Gemini on audio system is spectacular. The demonstrations I’ve seen have largely delivered on the hype, and it’s good the way you not must be so extremely express about all the pieces — Gemini’s superior sufficient to select up on context. And whereas I completely don't need to criticize Google for upgrading its present audio system first, that additionally simply means there’s one much less method this new mannequin stands out.

You possibly can argue that the Nest Audio is extra directional, whereas the Google Dwelling Speaker is optimized for 360-degree sound, and also you’d be proper. However I’m additionally removed from satisfied that omnidirectional sound is what listeners truly need — personally, I at all times place audio system close to partitions, and having them out in the course of a room simply feels impractical (I assume until you've gotten shops within the ground).

Google did supply one very clear use case for the brand new Dwelling Speaker: pairing with a Google TV Streamer and your alternative of TV for a quick-and-easy dwelling leisure system. That sounds fairly interesting, and I want we noticed extra of this sort of intelligent integration between Google {hardware} units. Nevertheless it’s additionally simply such a slim goal, and contemplating how lengthy the Streamer’s been available on the market, I’ve bought to imagine that lots of these house owners have already got audio options they’re proud of.

<img class="e_ih" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="google home speaker box" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box.jpg 2000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="google home speaker box" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/google_home_speaker_box.jpg"/> Stephen Schenck / Android Authority

Possibly I’m setting the bar too excessive for my expectations. The Nest Audio’s arising on 5 years previous now, so perhaps Google doesn’t actually need a greater purpose than that to refresh its speaker choices. I believe I used to be simply hoping for a little bit extra — I’d be mendacity if I stated this type issue didn’t remind me of the previous Nest Wifi the place the mesh factors additionally labored like Nest Minis (with an identical ring of sunshine) and had my fingers crossed we would simply get comparable community performance right here.

However contemplating how a lot of Gemini will probably be coming to Nest Audio audio system, and the way frequently we see these closely discounted (to say nothing of the entire vacation buying season and all its gross sales on the horizon), I actually really feel like loads of customers are higher off selecting a kind of up — or simply retaining those they've — quite than ready for spring to spend $100 on a Google Dwelling Speaker.