Google - Home Speaker - Smart Speaker with Gemini For Home Voice Assistant and 360-Degree Sound - Hazel

I love how it looks, it's very intelligent, and actions are very fast, about 2 seconds or so, i have the berry color and the fabric is very stretchy and soft

It's on my nightstand. When I get out of bed to do exercises I say, "hey Google, play 90s hip hop" or Ravel or Ry Cooder and voila - it happens. It's also right there for queries on the fly, like "why doesn't the FIFA president get voted out after kowtowing ...?" and then it gives the solid Gemini scoop on what's up with all of that. In short - it's useful and it's fun. Treat yourself

First off, despise its size which i though it was going to be bigger (its like two nest minis on top of eachother) its sound has a more rich deeper bass and it has a Treble and Bass equalizer on the google home app. The sound is truly 360 and pretty loud for the size. The design is google's signature futuristic curvy design, it has movable fabric (dont worry its mot THAT delicate) the fabric cannot be taken off, nothing can be taken off not even the cable.. which is a bummer but its pretty long! The ease of the setup was pretty easy, it should be as easy as setting up earbuds. I really do like the sound, control, placement, and the lights. The lights give it more aesthetic. I mainly use it for music, alarms, chatting with google's Gemini AI and other home AI like the nest.

It was difficult to find, but well worth the wait. Has better bass than most small speakers. Super easy setup, and blends in with any decor.

I've had the new Google Home Speaker sitting in my kitchen for the past few days, and it's been getting a nice workout while I cook, clean, and go about my daily routine. As someone who's used various Google Nest Minis and similar devices over the years, I was curious how this one would stack up, specially since it's been a long wait for a fresh model from Google. Overall, it's a noticeable upgrade that feels more modern and capable, though it's not without a few drawbacks. Setup was a breeze. I literally plugged it in, opened the Google Home app, and it connected to my existing network without any hassle. It synced right up with the rest of my smart home devices, and within minutes I was issuing commands and testing things out nonstop. No complicated pairing or lengthy onboarding, just simple and reliable, which is exactly what you want from a device like this. The design is a bit larger than the old minis, which gives it a more substantial presence on the counter without feeling bulky. I got the Porcelain color, and it blends nicely into my kitchen without standing out too much. One of my favorite little touches is the LED light ring around the bottom. It lights up in a smooth, colorful way when the speaker is listening or responding. It's a cool, futuristic detail that makes interactions feel more engaging, especially in the evening when the kitchen lights are lower. Sound quality is improved but still has limits. Compared to the smaller Nest Minis I've used before, this is definitely a step up. The 360-degree audio fills the kitchen better, with clearer vocals and more noticeable bass for music or podcasts while I'm working. It handles everyday listening really well in a space like this. That said, it's not going to blow you away if you're chasing full, rich sound. It's still a compact smart speaker, not a dedicated audio system. For its category and size, though, it's a clear upgrade and gets the job done nicely for casual use. Where it really shines is the AI and responsiveness. The Gemini integration makes conversations feel much more natural and fluid. Responses come quicker, with more detailed and helpful information than what I was used to. I can chain questions or corrections together without it getting confused, and it handles multi-step requests better during my kitchen tests, like adjusting lights, setting timers, pulling up recipes, or managing routines all in one go. The back-and-forth feels more like talking to a helpful assistant rather than barking rigid commands. These enhancements are a genuine bonus and make daily tasks smoother. My only real hesitation is the subscription side. It comes with a solid 6-month trial of Google Home Premium, which unlocks even more of those advanced Gemini features. After that, it moves to a paid plan, and I'm not thrilled about adding another monthly cost. I already prefer using Grok for my main AI interactions, so I'll likely stick to the free basics on this speaker once the trial ends. Still, I can easily see how the premium features would be valuable for families, heavy smart home users, or anyone wanting the full conversational experience. Final Thoughts: This Google Home Speaker is a worthwhile upgrade if you're in the Google ecosystem and ready for something fresher than the older minis. It's easy to set up, looks good, sounds better than its predecessors, and the smarter AI makes it more enjoyable to use around the house. It's not perfect, especially if you're hoping for audiophile-level sound or want to avoid any future subscriptions, but in its current space, it stands out as a strong, practical choice. I've been testing it nonstop in the kitchen, and it’s earned a permanent spot for now. Recommended for anyone looking to modernize their smart home without overcomplicating things.