Why the $99 Google Home Speaker Isn’t the Smart Purchase to Make in 2026

With the introduction of the Home Speaker, Google has streamlined its smart speaker and display offerings. Available for $99, the Google Home Speaker takes the place of the now-retired Nest Mini and Nest Audio. If you’re looking for an affordable smart home controller compatible with Google Home, the Home Speaker is your best bet. However, there’s another $99 device that adds more value for Google Home users: the second-generation Nest Hub.

Though the second-generation Nest Hub may feel outdated in 2026, having been refreshed five years ago, it’s still viable. Google continues to sell and support the Nest Hub, which operates on the same new Gemini chatbot as the latest Home Speaker.

After testing both, I found that I prefer the display of the Nest Hub for managing my home. Given the choice, I would choose the Nest Hub over the Home Speaker for a single device.

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The major benefit of a smart display is its ability to show videos and visual information. I often enjoy casting streaming content and videos to my Nest Hub while working at my desk or in the kitchen. Additionally, having real-time updates for weather, time, and dates is incredibly useful. Beyond just media consumption, the Nest Hub also serves as a superior smart home controller compared to the Home Speaker.

The understated hardware of the second-generation Nest Hub contributes to its superiority. It features a 7-inch touchscreen and a 43.5mm full-range speaker driver. Moreover, it includes three smart sensors: a temperature sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a Soli sensor, which are lacking in the Home Speaker. The Soli sensor is particularly notable, as it can detect movement and breathing, enabling gesture control and presence detection.

Aside from these features, both devices feature three far-field microphones for voice recognition and a physical mute switch. While the Home Speaker boasts a larger 58mm full-range driver and superior sound quality, I question whether sound alone is a strong enough reason to forfeit the added benefits of features like ultrasound sensing and gesture control.

The experience can vary significantly depending on whether you’re using a smart display or a smart speaker for the same commands.

Using both devices side by side, I really appreciated the visual confirmations from the Nest Hub that my commands were executed. When I adjusted the temperature on my Nest Thermostat, the change appeared on the Nest Hub screen, making it easier to adjust the settings visually. After some time, relying solely on voice commands with the Home Speaker became cumbersome, especially with the longer replies from the Gemini assistant.

Interestingly, my favorite uses for the Nest Hub’s screen weren’t even about streaming videos. They revolved around everyday tasks where being able to see rather than just hearing instructions was more practical. Both devices can read recipes aloud, but only the Nest Hub can display the recipe, allowing me to easily follow it while cooking. Similarly, while both can test my Nest Wi-Fi connection, only the Hub shows me the results on its screen.

When considering the pricing of both devices at $99, I find it hard to justify choosing the Home Speaker and missing out on the extra functionality provided by the Nest Hub.

For users who only require basic smart device functionalities like adjusting lighting or playing music, the Home Speaker might suffice. However, as you delve deeper into the Google Home and Nest ecosystem, the value of having a smart display becomes apparent. Many of the features that attracted me to the Nest Hub were directly integrated with my Nest devices, including the Nest Thermostat and Nest Wi-Fi router.

The capabilities of Gemini for Home are remarkable, particularly in analyzing what your Nest cameras capture. While it provides AI-generated summaries and notifications, the real strength lies in its ability to respond to specific queries using camera footage. I often ask for the exact time a package was delivered and the specific carrier. While the Home Speaker can answer, the Nest Hub conveniently provides the recorded video of the event with timestamps.

Although I could search for video clips on my phone, having a Nest Hub makes this much more seamless. The Hub displays related recordings that I can navigate and watch easily, while the Home Speaker may struggle with broader queries. After experiencing the Nest Hub for reviewing my camera footage, switching back to a smart speaker feels counterproductive.

Additionally, I’ve utilized Nest Hub displays to create peephole views and doorbell chimes throughout my home. With a smart display and my Nest Battery Doorbell, I can view a live feed anytime the doorbell rings — a significant advantage when I’m far from the entryway. Although the Home Speaker can make audio announcements, it pales in comparison to the visual clarity offered by the Nest Hub.

The Google Home Speaker excels in sound quality and volume, easily outperforming the Nest Hub. Its sleek design enables it to blend seamlessly into any room without attracting attention. However, the Nest Hub compensates with a broader range of features, justifying its $99 price point—much more than what the Home Speaker offers.

Initially, I anticipated the Home Speaker would impress with its quad-core A55 processor and neural processing unit designed for Gemini. However, I found the performance of the Nest Hub to be comparable, and the benefits of the Hub’s display outweighed any minor lag.

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