Google Home Speaker: Unveiling the Latest Release Date, Price and Exciting Features

After a six-year wait, Google is finally set to release a new smart speaker.

Initially showcased during the Pixel 10 launch event as an unacknowledged background item, Google has now officially announced the Home Speaker, providing all the details about it.

The latest smart speaker has moved away from the Nest branding (which is still retained for cameras and doorbells) and is now powered by Gemini AI.

Despite the long wait since the Nest Audio in 2020, the Home Speaker was not available for purchase in the year of its announcement, 2025.

Google Home Speaker: What’s new?

Gemini, including Live

The major update is the replacement of the Google Assistant with Gemini AI across all Google smart home products. Existing device owners can sign up for early access to experience the new AI.

Google states, “Gemini is designed to be more conversational, better understand context, and make home tasks easier than ever.”

Users can expect expanded functionality, such as choosing from 10 “natural sounding” voices and assistance with various tasks like identifying a broken dishwasher.

While Gemini is available for free on the Home Speaker, advanced features like Gemini Live, Sound Detection, and Daily Summaries require a subscription.

Google’s Nest Aware plans are rebranded as Google Home Premium, offering Standard and Premium options priced at £8/$10 or £16/$20 per month (with annual plans available). A 6-month free trial is included with purchase.

It remains unclear if the speaker will serve as a smart hub for Thread or Matter devices.

A new(ish) design

The Home Speaker has done away with the Nest branding and introduced a refreshed design that still shares similarities with its predecessors.

The orb-shaped speaker is larger than the Nest Mini but shorter than the Nest Audio, featuring an eco-friendly fabric covering.

Although the Home Speaker is available in four colors – Jade, Berry, Porcelain, and Hazel – only the latter two are listed on the UK store.

Google

A new lighting system replaces the hidden four dots under the fabric with a ring light around the base, providing visual feedback on Gemini’s activities.

A microphone mute switch is located on the underside of the speaker.

Audio features

The circular design of the speaker promises 360-degree audio delivery for a uniform sound experience from all directions.

Users can pair two Home Speakers to create a stereo pair or link them to a Google TV Streamer for a cinematic surround-sound experience.

Google

Balanced tuning ensures optimal sound quality for music, podcasts, and movies, with the ability to group the Home Speaker with other Nest speakers, Nest displays, and Google Cast-enabled devices.

When is the Google Home Speaker release date?

After a long wait for the Google Home Speaker’s announcement, there has been another lengthy period before its actual release. Despite the Spring 2026 launch window, an official release date is still pending.

As the launch window draws to a close and delays seem imminent, a potential release date has surfaced from a retailer.

BestBuy Canada indicates that the speaker will be available for purchase on June 25, 2026, although it is not listed on the US site, and the official Google Store has not provided any updates.

Best Buy

Additionally, there has been no official communication from Google, with the company simply stating, “We’ll keep you updated.”

Source: 9to5Google

How much does the Google Home Speaker cost?

The Google Home Speaker is priced at £99/$99, the same as the Nest Audio in the US but slightly more expensive in the UK.

The displayed price in the screenshot above is in Canadian dollars.

Currently, there is only one model available, although Google may introduce a higher-priced ‘Max’ version in the future.

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