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Best Google Assistant speakers in 2024
If you like Google Assistant and you're looking for the best speakers to use it with in your home, then you've come to the right place.
When it comes to the best smart speakers on the market, there is really only a choice between two voice assistants. In one corner, you have Amazon Alexa, and in the other, Google Assistant. While very similar in many regards, Google Assistant has one key advantage when it comes to implanting itself into your daily routine: If you use an Android phone, you've probably already been using Google Assistant, perhaps without giving it much thought. But it's there on your phone as a voice assistant, and it's a great tool to add some smart features to your everyday life. A compatible smart speaker will take that very assistant from your phone and insert it into every room in your home.
How to factory reset a Google Nest speaker or smart display
Whether it's acting up or you're passing it on to a new owner, you'll want to know how to reset a Google Nest speaker or display.
As good as smart speakers like the Google Nest Audio are, things will go wrong. Or maybe you just need to safely dispose of them or pass them on to a new owner. In all of these cases, we highly recommend you factory reset your smart speaker or display. While it's easy to reset all of Google's smart speakers and displays, the method varies across devices. And since you can't use your voice or the Google Home app to reset your smart speaker or display, you need to know exactly what to do. To help you out, we've outlined the process for all current Google Nest speakers and smart displays.
Jumpstart your smart home with a $20 Google Nest Mini for Black Friday
You may as well snag 2 or 3 of these at this price
Black Friday is one of the best times to juice up your smart home. Best Buy is making that a lot easier this year with a $20 deal on the Google Nest Mini (2nd Gen). That's down from its usual $50 price tag, making it tempting to pick up more than just one.
This $35 Nest Mini two-pack deal is a holiday gift you won't regret giving (or getting)
If you've been looking to get a couple of affordable smart speakers, this Google Nest Mini two-pack might be just the thing.
The Google Home and Nest series of products haven't been updated in quite some time, but that doesn't mean they're bad products. The Nest Mini, or Home Mini as it was called when originally released, was Google's first affordable smart speaker. Despite it being out for a few years now and getting a refresh in 2019 as the Nest Mini, it still remains a great product thanks to its simple design and small size. For a limited time, this Nest Mini two-pack is on sale, costing just $34.98, which is a savings of 65 percent off of its retail price.
How to update Google Nest Mini and Nest Audio smart speakers
Smart speakers like the Google Nest range are supposed to be super simple to live with, but that said, how do you update them?
Keeping your smart devices up to date can be really easy. But on devices like any of the best smart speakers, it's also not immediately obvious what to do. This is true of the Google Nest Audio and Nest Mini, two of the best Google Assistant speakers you can buy. On your phone, it's easy, it has a screen and a menu and there's always a manual way to check for new software updates.
Amazon and Best Buy are offering some killer deals on Google Nest products
Amazon and Best Buy are currently offering some killer deals on Google Nest smart home products. Read on to learn more.
Several Google Nest smart home products are available at attractive discounts during the ongoing Amazon Prime Day and Best Buy Black Friday in July sale events. If you've been waiting on pulling the trigger on a new smart home setup or just want to add another smart speaker or display to your household, here are some of the best Google Nest deals you can snag right now.
You will no longer be able to use Speaker Group volume control on Nest devices
Googles says it will be removing a few features from the Nest devices, including the Speaker Group volume control. Read on.
The ongoing legal fight between Sonos and Google took a huge turn yesterday as the United States International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Sonos. The US trade court declared that Google violated five Sonos patents pertaining to smart speakers. While it remains to be seen how this ruling will affect future Nest products, Google has confirmed it will be rolling out various workarounds (read dropping features) across the ruling-affected products to circumvent Sonos patents. To that end, Googles says it will be removing a few features from the Nest devices, including the Speaker Group volume control.
Get three Google Nest Mini smart speakers for just $65
The latest Nest Mini speakers are available in a 3-pack for $64.99 on eBay. Both Chalk and Charcoal colors are available.
Google finally replaced the original Nest Mini smart speaker (originally called the Google Home Mini) in late 2019, with the arrival of the 2nd-gen Nest Mini. The updated model looks almost identical, but it packs better sound, wall mounting support, and different manufacturing materials. It normally costs $30-35 (even though MSRP is $50), but you can now get three of them in a pack for just $64.99.
Get a Nest Hub Gen 2 and Nest Mini together for just $90
Google has a package deal on the newest Nest Hub and Nest Mini for $90. You can also get a single Nest Audio for $25 off the usual price.
Google released the second-generation Nest Hub back in March with a number of upgrades, including better sound, a Soli sensor for gesture control, optional Sleep Sensing, and much more. The new Nest Hub was originally priced at $99, and now you can get one and a Nest Mini for $10 less than that.
Apple Music rolls out for Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays
Google has announced that Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays now support Apple Music in the U.S. and other regions.
The fire’s going, hot chocolate is made, and snow is falling outside. Now, the only thing you need is to play some relaxing holiday music. Speaking of which, Google announced on Monday that Apple Music is now available on Google Assistant-enabled smart speakers and displays.
Get up to 60% off on Google Nest Mini and Google Nest Hub this Black Friday
You can get up to 60% off on the Google Nest Mini and Nest Hub smart speakers at the Black Friday sale on Best Buy. Check out deatils here!
For many years, intelligent virtual assistants were largely viewed as science fiction. This perception changed significantly when internet giants such as Amazon and Google introduced their smart speakers. These smart speakers powered by Amazon's and Google's virtual assistants — Alexa and Google Assistant — have justifiably become personal aides for millions of users. Whether you have already jumped the bandwagon or not — the Google Nest Mini is (as the name suggests) a mini and unobtrusive gadget that will definitely assist you without being heavy on your pocket. What is more exciting is the fact that you can pick up the Google Nest Mini for just $19 at the Black Friday sales on Best Buy instead of the usual $50. If you want a smart speaker with a display, the Nest Hub is also on sale and you can get it for $50 instead of its usual $90 price.
You can now watch Netflix on the Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max
One service that has been notably absent from the Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max is Netflix. That's finally changing starting now.
Google Assistant Smart Displays are great for getting visuals that aren't possible on audio-only smart speakers. But smart displays aren't only for viewing typical Google Assistant commands and routines. They can also be used similarly to any Chromecast-enabled display. One service that has been notably absent, however, is Netflix. That's finally changing.
Google is offering a free Nest Mini to YouTube Premium subscribers in some regions
Google is offering a free Nest Mini smart speaker to a few YouTube Premium and Google Play Music subscribers in some regions.
In a bid to expand its market share in the voice assistant space, Google has been aggressively pushing the Google Home Mini ever since its launch back in 2017. The company has previously offered free Google Home Minis to Google One subscribers, YouTube Premium subscribers, Google Assistant users, Spotify family plan subscribers, and even along with purchases made on eBay or Google Express. It seems like the company is continuing this trend with the new Nest Mini, as it's now offering the smart speaker for free to YouTube Premium subscribers.
Google is testing a simpler UI for its Nest Hub smart displays
According to a recent blog post, Google has started testing a new UI for its Nest Hub smart displays which is designed to make the devices easier to use.
Google recently rolled out a new firmware update for its Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max smart displays. The update (v1.46) introduced a number of interface and usability changes, including a few minor tweaks to the System Settings, new display settings, lighting controls, and more. Now, according to a recent blog post, the company has started testing a new simpler UI designed for the less tech-savvy users.
Google Home app may soon let you set a separate volume level for the Google Assistant
The Google Home app may soon allow you to set a separate volume level for the Google Assistant instead of having to tweak the volume device-wide.
Google Home and Google Nest devices are more than just smart speakers and displays. They also serve as hubs where you can communicate with the Google Assistant and control your home to have them help you throughout the day. But one longstanding issue with these devices is the fact that the volume for spoken Assistant queries is the same level as other media. This means that if you're blasting music at full volume, the Google Assistant will also yell at you at the same volume. Equally as annoying is the case when you lower the volume for Assistant only to find yourself unable to hear your music, podcast, or news. Google might be addressing this issue soon with a future update to the Google Home app.
Google Nest speakers will soon be able to intelligently adjust volume with Ambient IQ
Ambient IQ can adjust the volume on your smart speaker when outside noise interferes with the spoken audio you're listening to.
Way back in October of 2019, Google announced a feature called "Ambient IQ." This is not to be confused with Ambient EQ, but it is a similar concept. While Ambient EQ is about color temperature, Ambient IQ is all about volume. The feature looks to finally be on its way to the Google Nest speakers.
Google Nest Mini is Google’s latest Assistant smart speaker with a built-in wall mount
Google has unveiled the Nest Mini, its latest affordable Google Assistant smart speaker. Unlike the Home Mini, the new device has a wall mount.
Google’s smartphone business has had mixed success, but some of its other hardware ventures have been much more successful. Take the Chromecast, for example, a product that has brought Google Cast, and by extension easy access to Google’s library of music and videos, to millions of homes around the world. The Chromecast’s success can be attributed to its low price and ease of use, making it an impulse buy that can be picked up by not only tech enthusiasts but also the average consumer. The Google Home Mini is another product that has been wildly successful for Google for much of the same reason, and today, the company has announced a refreshed model: the Google Nest Mini.