I've spent 48 hours with the Google Home Speaker, and Gemini is off to a promising start

2026-06-24 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Internet of Things (IoT) & Connected Devices, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, short

Summary

The new Google Speaker, Google's first smart speaker in six years, is priced at \$100 and features 360-degree audio, Gemini with generative AI, and intuitive tap controls. Initial testing over 48 hours reveals loud, crisp sound quality, comparable to the Apple HomePod mini and superior to the Nest Mini and older Echo Dot. While it uses a single 58mm driver, contrasting with the \$120 Nest Audio's more robust 75mm mid-woofer and 19mm tweeter, its audio performance is strong. A notable drawback is the three far-field microphone array with an NPU, which struggles to detect voice commands when music is playing, even at two-thirds volume. Gemini, however, provides a responsive, informative, and conversational AI experience, surpassing Siri and offering a less "jarring" interaction than Alexa+.

Key takeaway

For consumers considering a new smart speaker, you should prioritize the Google Speaker if generative AI capabilities and natural conversation are key. While its Gemini integration offers a superior voice assistant experience compared to Siri and Alexa+, be aware of the microphone array's limitations. You may need to manually pause music to issue commands, which could impact convenience. Evaluate if this trade-off is acceptable for its advanced AI and crisp 360-degree sound.

Key insights

Google's new smart speaker integrates Gemini AI for superior conversational interaction, despite microphone limitations.

Principles

• Generative AI enhances smart speaker interaction.
• Audio quality can surpass specs.
• Microphone arrays remain a challenge.

In practice

• Compare smart speaker AI capabilities.
• Test microphone performance at volume.
• Evaluate 360-degree audio for immersion.

Topics

• Google Speaker
• Gemini AI
• Smart Speakers
• Generative AI
• Voice Assistants
• Audio Technology
• Microphone Arrays

Best for: General Interest, Tech Journalist

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• Ten months later, the $100 Google Home Speaker is finally available for preorder — Google's new smart speaker prioritizes local AI processing for improved voice interaction over raw audio fidelity.
• The Gemini-Powered Google Home Speaker Is Finally Here — Google has released a new smart speaker, powered by Gemini, marking the company's first dedicated speaker launch in six years.
• Google bets on Gemini to reinvent the smart home speaker — Gemini AI enables smart speakers to process natural, multistep, and corrective language for enhanced home control and conversational interaction.
• From Transcription to Live Music: Gemini's Audio Stack — Thor Schaeff, Google DeepMind — Gemini's audio stack provides deep audio understanding and generation, enabling real-time multimodal interactions and creative applications like music generation.

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.