Blink and you’ll have missed it, however Google gave us a peek at what positive seems like a brand new sensible speaker throughout its Made by Google occasion on Wednesday.
Was it a leak? Not actually. A “leaked” product is one which’s been mistakenly revealed, whereas the speaker we noticed throughout Google’s Pixel occasion acquired a transparent supporting function, with F1 driver Lando Norris cheerfully chatting with the gadget. Google meant for us to note the brand new and unannounced sensible speaker.
So, what will we learn about this little grey (or porcelain?) speaker? Here’s a fast breakdown.
Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we all know for positive
It exists
That might sound apparent, however so usually with rumored or “leaked” new merchandise, we’re within the land of pure conjecture. In this case (and as I simply talked about), Google clearly meant for us to notice its new speaker.
In different phrases, it’s the true deal. A brand new Google sensible speaker is occurring.
It’s acquired Gemini inside
F1’s Lando Norris was chatting with Google’s new speaker throughout an indication of Gemini Live, a Gemini mode the place you possibly can have freewheeling conversations with the AI mannequin about any topic you need.
That’s all in the best way of claiming this new Google speaker runs on Gemini, and apart from its Gemini Live capabilities, it’s just about sure to boast Gemini-level powers in terms of Google Home smart device control, too.
It has a squashed spherical form
From what we’ve seen of the speaker through the pre-recorded Pixel presentation, the Google speaker seems roughly the dimensions of an Amazon Echo Dot or an Apple HomePod mini.
But slightly than an ideal spherical form (the HomePod mini does have a chopped-off prime), the Google speaker has a barely squished form, giving it a novel look so far as big-name sensible audio system go. I sort of prefer it.
It has a lightweight ring round its base
Here’s a element in regards to the new Google speaker that’s a bit shocking: It borrows a design cue from its largest rival.
Encircling the gadget’s base is a telltale mild ring, hanging much like the sunshine ring we’ve seen on Amazon’s Echo audio system. The mild ring on the Google speaker replaces the 4 LED dots that represented Google Assistant exercise on older Google Nest sensible audio system.
That illuminated ring is one thing of a signature element so far as Alexa-powered Echo units are involved, so it’s a little bit of an eyebrow-raiser that Google selected to poach it.
It has a material overlaying
Like Google’s earlier sensible audio system—and, the truth is, different competing audio system just like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Apple HomePod, and HomePod mini, the brand new Google speaker seems to have a material overlaying, excellent for giving it a hotter, tactile look that matches in with your house decor. No shock there.
Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we’ve heard however don’t know for positive
It may are available in 4 colours
According to Android Headlines’ sources, the brand new Google speaker will are available in 4 colours: Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, and an unnamed reddish hue. The speaker we noticed within the Pixel video is perhaps the Porcelain one (the precise speaker seemed extra grayish to me, however I’m not the very best with colours).
Along with Amazon and Apple, Google historically releases its sensible audio system in quite a lot of colours, so this explicit rumor sounds credible.
It will possible assist totally different Gemini voices
Again, Android Headlines is predicting you’ll have your decide of various Gemini voices on the speaker, simply as you might have on a Pixel cellphone or the Gemini app.
It’s exhausting to think about that the brand new Google speaker wouldn’t have this selection, however we nonetheless don’t know for positive but.
You may be capable to join the brand new Google speaker to the Google TV Streamer
Just because the Apple HomePod and HomePod mini can each be used as audio system for the Apple TV 4K, the brand new Google speaker will likely be pairable with the Google TV Streamer, good for delivering “spatial surround-sound to your living room,” Android Headlines says.
That’s nonetheless not confirmed, however once more, sounds about proper.
It may double as a Matter hub
When I first caught sight of the brand new Google speaker within the Pixel video, I puzzled whether or not it might have Matter capabilities. After all, the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and HomePod mini all work as Thread border routers that join Thread-enabled Matter units to the web and one another. So why not the brand new Google speaker, too?
According to Android Headlines, the brand new Google speaker will certainly “double as a hub that supports Matter,” though the publication stopped in need of saying it’s a Thread border router just like the HomePod.
It could possibly be known as the “Google Home Speaker”
With the exception of the unique Google Home speaker, most of Google’s sensible audio system and shows—together with the Google Nest Mini and Nest Audio—have arrived with “Nest” branding because of Google’s 2014 acquisition of Nest Labs.
But Google appears to be slowly backing away from the Nest model. The final Nest gadget launched by Google was the second-generation Nest Hub display, which got here out almost 4 years in the past.
So now we have now Android Headlines calling the brand new speaker the “Google Home Speaker,” which tracks with the branding of Google’s streaming player-slash-smart residence hub, the Google TV Streamer from final yr.
Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we don’t know
How a lot it should price
Looking at Google’s present vary of sensible audio system, the Google Nest Mini goes for $49, whereas the bigger Nest Audio with upgraded sound prices $99.99.
So, how a lot will the brand new Google speaker retail for? We don’t know for positive and there are not any leaks on the topic, so all we will do is guess.
Personally, I can’t think about the brand new speaker costing any greater than the Nest Audio, and I’m fairly positive it should promote for at the least as a lot because the Mini.
Now, if the Google speaker is a Matter hub and it acts as Thread border router, that may put it in the identical league because the equally geared up Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod mini, each of which price $99.99. So that’s my guess for the Google Home Speaker (if that’s certainly what it’s known as): 99 bucks, give or take.
When it should arrive
As with pricing, there are not any exhausting information or credible rumors a couple of launch date for the brand new Google speaker, however we will make an informed guess.
With uncommon exception, Google has introduced its newest sensible units throughout a Made by Google occasion within the fall. This occasion typically occurs in October or thereabouts, so I believe we will anticipate the brand new Google speaker to reach shortly earlier than Halloween.
This information story is a part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers.