Android Authority review: Google Home hardware lineup has stalled in 2026
A long-time Google Home user reports that most of Google's smart home devices have gone years without updates, including Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell battery models (none since 2021), the Nest Hub display (over five years old), and Nest Wifi Pro (from 2022). The company's only recent release, the Google Home Speaker, arrived this year after a six-year gap since the Nest Audio and reportedly discontinued both the Nest Audio and Nest Mini.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The reviewer's experience suggests Google may be deprioritizing dedicated smart home hardware even as rivals continue to refresh their device lineups, which could leave loyal customers with aging, unsupported gadgets. If Google's hardware cadence keeps slowing, it may weaken the appeal of its smart home ecosystem relative to competitors offering more frequent updates.
- Several core Google Home devices haven't been updated in years, some since 2021 or earlier.
- The new Google Home Speaker came after a six-year gap and discontinued two older speaker models.
- A long-time user rates Google's smart home hardware strategy as increasingly weak amid stronger competition.
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) — If you're already embedded in the Google Home ecosystem despite its frustrations, the Nest Hub remains a solid way to control your smart devices, view camera feeds, and manage routines from a central display. It's one of the few pieces of current Google smart home hardware still worth having, giving you a tangible hub for all those Google-connected cameras, thermostats, and speakers discussed in the article.
See Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-10-30
Published there as: “I’ve used Google Home for 10 years, and it’s never felt so frustrating”
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