The Google Home Speaker is described as a capable audio performer and a decent piece of hardware, although its performance is significantly undermined by the implementation of Gemini for Home.
According to one review, the speaker is challenging to recommend unless the user is already a dedicated Google Home adherent. The primary drawback noted is that the integrated Gemini functionality is slow and frequently delivers unsatisfactory interactions, falling short of competing systems like Amazon Alexa+.
In terms of design, the £99 priced speaker positions itself between existing Google offerings such as the Nest Mini and Nest Audio. It features a captive power cable, a mesh finish similar to an inflated Nest Mini, and a noticeable light bar that changes color based on its status. The physical controls include a dedicated mic-mute switch and touch controls allowing users to tap the sides for volume adjustments or tapping to pause/stop.
On the feature front, the reviewer identified Google Gemini for Home as the biggest weak point. Issues included Gemini giving non-sensical answers (such as confusing “Ms in mammal” with “megaseconds”), struggling with US defaults when UK settings were used (e.g., suggesting Fahrenheit temperatures), and exhibiting inconsistent memory of stored facts.
Furthermore, multi-step smart home commands often failed on the first attempt, response times were slow, and certain functions—like routine creation or video search without specific subscriptions—were unsupported. General knowledge queries and basic smart home control were noted as working fine.
Regarding sound quality, the speaker utilizes a 58mm full-range driver designed for omnidirectional audio output. This setup is compared to designs found in the Echo Dot Max and HomePod mini. While bass handling proved solid on certain tracks like Rage Against the Machine’s “Bombtrack,” the review pointed out that stereo separation was weak, and treble-heavy recordings might sound somewhat harsh.
The speaker supports stereo pairing, and general specifications include a weight of 408g and dimensions of 107 x 107 x 86mm. It operates using a USB-C captive cable and features three microphones.
Ultimately, while the hardware and sound are deemed nice and decent, the combination of Gemini for Home’s operational slowness and quirks—along with the fact that it doesn’t represent a meaningful upgrade over current Google speakers running Gemini—makes it difficult to recommend when compared against competitors like Amazon Alexa+ or Apple’s HomePod mini.
Source: Trusted Reviews