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The Google Nest Hub has a single 40-millimeter (around 1.6 inches) speaker in the bass behind the screen. The smaller Lenovo smart display has a 1.75-inch speaker with two passive tweeters, while the new Echo Show has dual two-inch drivers with a passive bass radiator. One button on the top of the device turns the microphone on and off, and another on the left side controls the volume. You’d never need to use these if you didn’t want to since you can adjust these settings with Google Assistant as well, but they’re nice to have if you need to be quiet, or don’t feel like barking commands. I’ve been PCMag’s home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them.
"Lots of people sleep in on days off, but studies have shown that this can affect long-term health," the Nest Hub said, citing data from the Mayo Clinic. "For example, in some people it can lead to an increased risk of obesity. When you can, it's better to stay consistent across the week. Making small tweaks to your schedule can help you feel more rested in the long run." I wasn't feeling well one day, so I laid down for a nap and when I got up, the Nest Hub said I had slept for more than two hours.
Google Home Hub Review
In a few YouTube videos, the people were so tiny that I could barely make out their facial expressions. Google Assistant itself is a breeze to interact with and uses the display to its advantage very nicely. For example, when I said “Goodnight, Google” it automatically dimmed the display and asked if I wanted to set an alarm. I also appreciated that when I made a request, Google Assistant displayed the words it heard me say on the screen, so I knew if it had misheard me. . While it’s not as large or loud as the Echo Show, the Google Home Hub is an affordable and capable alternative for those looking for a smart display. While it’s not as large or loud as the Echo Show, the Google Home Hub—now called the Google Nest Hub—is an affordable and capable alternative for those looking for a smart display.
From here you can tap and control lights, thermostats and view cameras. You can play music using Spotify, Deezer, Google Play Music or YouTube Music, with the screen even showing you suggested music. You can group multiple speakers, but if you want to play different tracks on different smart speakers, you’ll need a YouTube Music Family account.
Nest Hub 2nd-gen
At night, I just say, "Hey Google, turn off my bedroom lights," and the room goes dark. Additionally, if you sleep with someone else, it might attribute their coughing and/or snoring to you. A Google spokesperson acknowledged that the device might accidentally pick up noise caused by co-sleepers, but said the company is actively working on improvements to prevent that from happening. The Nest Hub features three far-field microphones so Google Assistant can hear you . In testing, Google Assistant always quickly and reliably responded to requests, even ones made from the adjacent hallway. During setup, you have the option to sign into Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, Paramount+, and/or Starz if you have an account, so you can ask Google Assistant to play them on the display.
Overall, the Google Home Hub provides excellent value at just $149, as long as you’re already a big user of Google’s services. The introduction of a display makes Home more useful than ever before, but I still found some lingering issues getting my smart home setup just the way I want it. We’ve already talked about YouTube integration, which Google is clearly pushing with 6 months of YouTube Premium included in every purchase. It’s a bit of a shame there’s no opportunity for third-party video services to see the same level of integration, but at least casting provides an alternative way in for other apps. Home Hub is clearly built to deliver information from Google Maps, Google Calendar, and Search seamlessly too. The Google Home Hub is about much more than just adding a display — it’s designed as the Hub for all of your other smart appliances.
Direct Competitors and Related Products
For example, it has the auto-updating Google Photos gallery and Home View, which shows your entire smart home at a glance and adds Google's touch to things. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The second-gen Nest Hub is not overwhelmingly impressive or entirely redesigned.
Its music performance is closer to that of the Echo Spot than the Echo Show or the JBL Link View. The Nest Hub's speaker is loud enough to hear Google Assistant's answers from across a small room, but it can't fill a room with compelling audio. To me, the Google Home Hub only really makes sense in the kitchen, and that’s where mine ended up. It’s the hub of activity in the morning, where you’ll take Assistant up on those calendar reminders, traffic reports, and perhaps even chuck on some tunes to get you in a good mood.
Plug it in and set it up on your Wi-Fi using the Google Home app, then, thanks to the built-in Google Assistant, you can ask Google Nest Hub any question you'd ask the original Google Home. If you want a smart display for any room but the kitchen, this is the thing to get. Google nailed every aspect of this design, and Google Assistant has never shone brighter. Families may be more interested in a Home Hub, since it comes with customizable controls for limiting screen time and for filtering PG-13 or R-rated content.
I still prefer controlling connected devices with my voice, but the panel provides a handy visual reference. If you forget the name of a device, you can check it with a couple of taps. You can issue a wide variety of voice commands to the Google Nest Hub.
Another hitch is that Google Assistant’s ability to control the smart home is still a bit wanting. I can command any of my Google-ready things like Nest cameras, Wemo plugs, and August door locks. But the most-used internet-connected things in my smart home are my Sonos speaker system and my Apple TV, and Google Assistant can’t control either of them. I can turn on my television and soundbar with my voice since it’s all connected to a Logitech Harmony Hub, but I can’t cue up SMILF on Showtime.
Strangely, Ambient EQ was the only setting I couldn’t change with a voice command. In addition to its looks, the Home Hub will feel very familiar to those who already use other Google Home products. All of the usual key functionality remains in place, like setting alarms and reminders, asking about the weather and news, and streaming music from your favorite service. The introduction of the display adds in plenty of new features, and makes some of the old ones much better.
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