Nest Mini (2nd Generation) with Google Assistant - Charcoal

Overview: Google's smaller version of the Google Home smart assistant which was originally released back in November of 2016. The Good: This is the second Google Home Mini (Sorry, I still call it that even though they rebranded it into "Nest") that I've purchased. These little smart speakers are tiny but pack a bunch as far as audio quality and volume are concerned. The term "Smart Speaker" rings true here - this thing can do a ton. From setting alarms and timers from you, to playing the daily news, it seems there's always a new feature to be discovered with this device. The microphone is surprisingly sensitive and will be able to hear your "Hey Google" ques even if you're a good distance away. I've played a ton of music on these devices, controlled Phillips Hue light systems, and used it to boost productivity through reminders and alarms. This thing is so well designed that I don't really see the need for the larger Google Nest products. The Bad: There have been some weird issues with inadvertent voice recording in the past. Google has subsequently removed that recording feature through patches. Still, the stigma of having a device unknowingly recording you is one that is hard to get rid of. The Other: This thing is loooooaded with cheesy puns and bad jokes. The Dad joke enthusiasts among us will love this thing. Just say, "Hey Google, tell me a joke" and prepare yourself! Recommended? Yes.

It can be paired with Bluetooth speakers(use one at a time). The wall mount is a clever idea. I use a push pin to mount it (they recommend a #8 screw). You can ask(voice) it to play specific music, change volume; with smart bulb, turn on/off/dim (even to certain percentage)/change color; with Tile, search for missing objects; ask/set event schedules, ask weather, time etc. I believe it can operate smart curtain and shower head, but I haven't install one. It looks pretty too. But I still don't have a good way for music source. The YouTube reqires premium membership, the Pandora doesn't work, the Google Music Play always say the piece I choosed not available. Now it uses some alternative, works fine now, but I don't know whether it's just temporary trial.

I have owned an Amazon Echo (old and newest gen) for years. It by far has the most apps that it works without. However, that doesn't mean it works well. I use this to mostly control my Hue Lighting and answer random questions throughout the day. Sometimes for music. The Echo when turning on lights would often give me some type of error, not work, or not hear me at all. I'm from Colorado (where most would say I don't have an accent), well educated, and enunciate well. Not bragging here just mentioning problems that make voice activated stuff not work so well. So, in other words I'm the ideal person for this device but it would still not pick me up half the time. So, I bought a Google Home now called Nest Mini. The application itself is more modern looking than Alexa (Echo). If you have any google application they are very similar. Setup was a lot easier and user friendly than on the Alexa. It also works a lot better. I would say you can do more on Alexa but Google executes what it can do a lot better. Wall mounting is easier on the Nest Mini than Echo. Google boots up faster. The answers are more detailed and correct. The voice prompts (how she interacts with you) is more natural as well. She actually notifies you what she is doing to verify it heard you. When I turn on my lights it's almost instant. No lag time and rarely comes back with errors. Also, search function goes into google which is way better than Alexa. Rarely does it tell me it doesn't understand or can't answer a question. It also hears me a lot better even when blasting music. Like I can whisper and it can hear me. For Alexa I practically had to yell at her which was awkward for us both. The Nest also looks a lot sleeker. Audio quality is similar. All around I recommend the Nest Mini 9/10 times over Alexa. That 1 time is for the specific application that Google Home doesn't support. So, Me and Her we are done. I've got a new BFF.

I found it a great birthday gift for a 10-year-old boy. My son spent his whole afternoon interacting with the Nest Mini, asking questions, doing riddles and playing music. I should have got this toy for him earlier.

I have had and been using amazons alexa "ZIGGY" for months before i purchased this google home. Let me just say, though quite sad... Ziggy has been unplugged since the second day of the introduction of google home.... a much smarter device

I would say I like it but I don’t have any Internet so I haven’t been able to use it but it seems like a beard be a cool thing once I could get something figured out but it was a great price and it’s handy it’s little and it would be perfect for what I need it for which is a bit bigger sound in the little basement apartment I live in right now

I was so surprised that the Google Nest Mini Actually turns the TV on and off by speaking to it and many other things like telling you about the weather in your hometown and happy birthday so good for the price..

Got both this and an echo dot for basically half-off on black friday. Read a ton of reviews on both and decided to use google first to see if it met my needs. it did. I use it for weather, reminders, timers, random questions, and my wife uses it mostly for finding her phone. I ended up using google over alexa because google already knows everything about me and we have android phones. It just integrates into my life easier than alexa did/does (i have an echo auto).