Adam Molina / Android Authority
It’s been a while since Google released a new smart speaker, but that’s set to change in the very near future. Just about five years after the Nest Audio launched in October 2020, word on the street is that Google will soon debut the “Google Home Speaker.”
Google first teased its new speaker in August during the Pixel 10 launch event, while subsequent leaks have confirmed its existence and indicated that it’s almost certainly being released before the end of the year.
I’m eager to see what Google’s new smart speaker has to offer, but before I rush out and buy one for myself, there are a few key things it has to get right.
What's your biggest request for the new Google Home Speaker? 13 votes A reliable Gemini experience 54 % Good audio quality 15 % Lots of colors 0 % Integrations with Pixel phones 0 % Competitive pricing 15 % Other (let us know in the comments) 15 %
Gemini needs to fix Google Assistant’s shortcomings
Lil Katz / Android Authority
My apartment used to be filled with Google Assistant speakers. I had two Nest Audios in my office, a Nest Hub in my bedroom, a Lenovo Smart Display in my kitchen, and a couple of Nest Minis in other rooms.
However, I gradually abandoned all my Google Assistant speakers for Alexa ones. Whether it was the Assistant telling me it didn’t understand a question, mishearing a command for something else entirely, or struggling to do something as simple as turn a smart light on/off, I eventually reached my breaking point with Google Assistant.
Google has confirmed that Gemini is coming to existing Google Home devices on October 1, which means this new speaker will likely ship with Gemini available out of the box. And assuming it does, Gemini will have to be more reliable and accurate in a way Google Assistant never was. Gemini needs to answer questions and commands quickly and consistently. It needs to be an assistant that I can rely on. More than anything, that’s the biggest hurdle the new Google Home Speaker has to overcome.
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