Google’s long-awaited next-generation smart speaker is finally here, and unsurprisingly, AI is taking centre stage.
After teasing the device for months, Google has officially opened pre-orders for its new Google Home Speaker. This is a compact smart speaker that combines Gemini-powered assistance with upgraded audio performance and tighter integration with the wider Google Home ecosystem.
Priced at $99.99, the speaker arrives with Gemini built in. For a limited time, it includes six months of Google Home Premium, unlocking additional features such as Gemini Live. General availability is set to begin next week.
The launch marks one of Google’s biggest smart home hardware updates in years. While previous Home and Nest speakers focused largely on voice commands and music playback, the new model is designed around Gemini. This is Google’s generative AI platform, which is gradually replacing the traditional Google Assistant experience across the company’s smart home devices.
Google says the speaker has been engineered to deliver significantly improved sound compared to the ageing Nest Mini. A centrally positioned 58mm driver is designed to project audio in all directions. At the same time, Google claims it offers 2.5 times stronger bass than its smallest smart speaker.
That audio upgrade could prove important as smart speakers increasingly compete as entertainment devices rather than simple voice assistants. However, it remains to be seen how the new model stacks up against the larger Nest Audio. That model features a dedicated woofer-and-tweeter setup aimed at more serious music listening.
The smart home credentials extend beyond voice control too. One of the more interesting additions is the ability to pair directly with the Google TV Streamer and act as a TV speaker. While previous Google smart speakers could connect over Bluetooth, this deeper integration offers a more seamless way to boost television audio while keeping Gemini close at hand.
Google is also using the launch to push its expanding Home Premium subscription. Alongside Gemini Live access, the service unlocks additional smart home features and AI-powered experiences. This positions the new speaker as both a hardware upgrade and a gateway into Google’s evolving smart home ecosystem.
Available in four colour options, the Google Home Speaker is available to 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 cost.
As Google continues its transition from Assistant to Gemini, the new Home Speaker feels less like a traditional smart speaker refresh and more like the company’s vision for what an AI-first smart home hub should look like.
