Google Home Speaker Review: Gemini Ready Changes Usability at Home

Google presented the Google Home Speaker just before its official debut on the store, and we had the opportunity to try it out before its commercialization. The new smart speaker is the first from the company to be designed around Gemini from the very first boot-up, featuring a dedicated NPU processor, a larger audio driver compared to the cheaper Nest models of the past, and adjustable equalization from the Google Home app, along with the role of Matter and Thread hub for home automation. We tested it for several days, from configuration, music listening, to voice management of lights and thermostats, to determine if the generational leap justifies the Italian price of €119.99, which is higher than the cheaper models in the range.

Table of Contents

• Design, Colors, and Initial Setup
• Gemini, Light Ring, and Touch Controls
• Audio Quality and Equalization
• Smart Home, Multiroom, and Additional Functions
• Technical Specifications
• Price and Final Considerations

Design, Colors, and Initial Setup

The Google Home Speaker abandons the hourglass shape of the old Nest Mini for a rounded, almost spherical body, covered in double-mesh fabric on three sides with a matte plastic base. Its dimensions are 86.6 mm in height and 107 mm in diameter, with a weight of 396 grams (1.5-meter cable included, power adapter not included): in hand, it feels denser than previous models, but remains a device meant to stay stationary on a surface, not to be moved around continuously.

The unit we tested is in the Gray Green color, one of the two available in the Italian market alongside Clay Gray. Under direct light, the shade darkens to almost black, while in brighter environments it reveals the greenish base of the fabric: a less flashy color choice compared to the brighter tones seen on other smart speakers, in line with a product aimed at blending into the living room. In fact, to a fairly attentive eye, the color seems to be a dark gray/anthracite.

The packaging, free from plastic in the wrapping, contains the speaker, a 30W USB-C power adapter with a captive 1.5-meter cable, a quick start guide, and documents on safety and warranty. There are no additional accessories, in line with a product that does not provide for charging bases or dedicated stands.

The setup process occurs through the Google Home app, with a QR code pairing that proved to be very fast in our test: it takes just a few seconds to recognize the device and start connecting to the Wi-Fi network. The rest of the initial setup procedure flows quickly, thanks mainly to Gemini, integrated into the app during setup: any doubts about more technical smart home settings, from choosing the room to managing permissions, find an immediate answer without needing to leave the app or search for online guides.

On the back of the base, there is also the physical switch that disables the microphones, which is convenient to operate and accompanied by immediate visual feedback on the light ring. The latest operations that previously required a minimum of technical familiarity, such as granular management of connected smart home devices, become accessible to anyone with Gemini.

Gemini, Light Ring, and Touch Controls

Gemini for Home is at the heart of the experience from the first boot, especially noticeable in the management of natural language. The speaker accepts commands formulated in various ways without requiring the rigid syntax of older voice assistants, handles multiple requests in the same sentence, and corrects its own responses when it understands it has misinterpreted a question.

Google also added a bidirectional memory that allows referring to previous requests without repeating the context, along with 10 new voices and Continued Conversation, now available in all supported languages: a convenient feature for interacting with Gemini without having to repeat