Google starts taking orders for its Gemini-focused Home Speaker
The new Google Home Speaker ships June 29, bringing a device built around Gemini for Home to Google’s smart-home lineup.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Google has opened preorders for the Google Home Speaker, its first new smart speaker in six years, The Verge reported. The device is scheduled to begin shipping June 29, putting Google’s Gemini for Home assistant into hardware designed specifically for that software.
The Verge reported that the launch comes shortly after Google’s earlier spring target. The speaker was announced nine months ago, and The Verge said the hardware has not changed since then.
According to The Verge, the speaker keeps a low, rounded shape with touch-capacitive controls on the top. A light ring at the bottom shows the device’s status.
The Verge reported that Google is offering four colors: porcelain, hazel, jade and berry. Jade and berry are limited to the United States, according to the report.
Built for Gemini for Home
The Verge described the Home Speaker as Google’s first audio product made specifically for Gemini for Home, the company’s more conversational smart-home assistant. Gemini for Home can also run on other Google Nest speakers and smart displays, according to the report.
Anish Kattukaran, chief product officer for Google Home, told The Verge that the new speaker provides the best Gemini for Home experience among Google’s devices. In a briefing cited by The Verge, Kattukaran said the device uses local models for noise cancellation, echo suppression and sound separation so it can hear commands when there is background noise.
The Verge reported that Gemini for Home has already been available for several months on Nest speakers through an early access program. The new speaker gives Google a fresh hardware entry point for that assistant as the company updates its smart-home lineup around Gemini.
Audio and smart-home features
According to The Verge, the Google Home Speaker includes 360-degree sound. Two speakers can be linked for stereo playback, and the device can also work with a Google TV Streamer for spatial surround sound, The Verge reported.
The Verge said the speaker also functions as a Matter controller and a Thread Border Router, two roles used to connect and control smart-home devices. Some features require a Google Home Premium subscription, according to the report.
The Verge reported the speaker was announced at $99, while the product listing shown in its report displays a $100 price at Google and Best Buy. Preorders opened June 17.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.