Blink and you may have missed it, but Google gave us a peek at what sure looks like a new smart speaker during its Made by Google event on Wednesday.
Was it a leak? Not really. A “leaked” product is one that’s been mistakenly revealed, whereas the speaker we saw during Google’s Pixel event got a clear supporting role, with F1 driver Lando Norris cheerfully chatting with the device. Google meant for us to notice the new and unannounced smart speaker.
So, what do we know about this little gray (or porcelain?) speaker? Here’s a quick breakdown.
Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we know for sure
It exists
That may sound obvious, but so often with rumored or “leaked” new products, we’re in the land of pure conjecture. In this case (and as I just mentioned), Google clearly intended for us to notice its new speaker.
In other words, it’s the real deal. A new Google smart speaker is happening.
It’s got Gemini inside
F1’s Lando Norris was chatting with Google’s new speaker during a demonstration of Gemini Live, a Gemini mode where you can have freewheeling conversations with the AI model about any subject you want.
That’s all in the way of saying this new Google speaker runs on Gemini, and besides its Gemini Live capabilities, it’s virtually certain to boast Gemini-level powers in terms of Google Home smart device control, too.
It has a squashed spherical shape
From what we’ve seen of the speaker during the pre-recorded Pixel presentation, the Google speaker appears roughly the size of an Amazon Echo Dot or an Apple HomePod mini.
But rather than a perfect spherical shape (the HomePod mini does have a chopped-off top), the Google speaker has a slightly squished shape, giving it a unique look as far as big-name smart speakers go. I kind of like it.
It has a light ring around its base
Here’s a detail about the new Google speaker that’s a bit surprising: It borrows a design cue from its biggest rival.
Encircling the device’s base is a telltale light ring, striking similar to the light ring we’ve seen on Amazon’s Echo speakers. The light ring on the Google speaker replaces the four LED dots that represented Google Assistant activity on older Google Nest smart speakers.
That illuminated ring is something of a signature detail as far as Alexa-powered Echo devices are concerned, so it’s a bit of an eyebrow-raiser that Google chose to poach it.
It has a fabric covering
Like Google’s previous smart speakers—and, in fact, other competing speakers like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Apple HomePod, and HomePod mini, the new Google speaker appears to have a fabric covering, perfect for giving it a warmer, tactile look that fits in with your home decor. No surprise there.
Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we’ve heard but don’t know for sure
It might come in four colors
According to Android Headlines’ sources, the new Google speaker will come in four colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, and an unnamed reddish hue. The speaker we saw in the Pixel video might be the Porcelain one (the actual speaker looked more grayish to me, but I’m not the best with colors).
Along with Amazon and Apple, Google traditionally releases its smart speakers in a variety of colors, so this particular rumor sounds credible.
It will likely support different Gemini voices
Again, Android Headlines is predicting you’ll have your pick of different Gemini voices on the speaker, just as you have on a Pixel phone or the Gemini app.
It’s hard to imagine that the new Google speaker wouldn’t have this option, but we still don’t know for sure yet.
You might be able to connect the new Google speaker to the Google TV Streamer
Just as the Apple HomePod and HomePod mini can both be used as speakers for the Apple TV 4K, the new Google speaker will be pairable with the Google TV Streamer, good for delivering “spatial surround-sound to your living room,” Android Headlines says.
That’s still not confirmed, but again, sounds about right.
It might double as a Matter hub
When I first caught sight of the new Google speaker in the Pixel video, I wondered whether it would have Matter capabilities. After all, the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and HomePod mini all work as Thread border routers that connect Thread-enabled Matter devices to the internet and each other. So why not the new Google speaker, too?
According to Android Headlines, the new Google speaker will indeed “double as a hub that supports Matter,” although the publication stopped short of saying it’s a Thread border router like the HomePod.
It could be called the “Google Home Speaker”
With the exception of the original Google Home speaker, most of Google’s smart speakers and displays—including the Google Nest Mini and Nest Audio—have arrived with “Nest” branding as a result of Google’s 2014 acquisition of Nest Labs.
But Google seems to be slowly backing away from the Nest brand. The last Nest device released by Google was the second-generation Nest Hub display, which came out nearly four years ago.
So now we have Android Headlines calling the new speaker the “Google Home Speaker,” which tracks with the branding of Google’s streaming player-slash-smart home hub, the Google TV Streamer from last year.
Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we don’t know
How much it will cost
Looking at Google’s existing range of smart speakers, the Google Nest Mini goes for $49, while the larger Nest Audio with upgraded sound costs $99.99.
So, how much will the new Google speaker retail for? We don’t know for sure and there are no leaks on the subject, so all we can do is guess.
Personally, I can’t imagine the new speaker costing any more than the Nest Audio, and I’m reasonably sure it will sell for at least as much as the Mini.
Now, if the Google speaker is a Matter hub and it acts as Thread border router, that would put it in the same league as the similarly equipped Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod mini, both of which cost $99.99. So that’s my guess for the Google Home Speaker (if that’s indeed what it’s called): 99 bucks, give or take.
When it will arrive
As with pricing, there are no hard facts or credible rumors about a release date for the new Google speaker, but we can make an educated guess.
With rare exception, Google has announced its latest smart devices during a Made by Google event in the fall. This event generally happens in October or thereabouts, so I think we can expect the new Google speaker to arrive shortly before Halloween.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers.
