Google Nest (previously Google Home) is Google’s answer to Amazon’s Echo line-up of smart speakers and displays. 

From the tiny Google Nest Mini to Google Nest Hub smart displays, in this article we will attempt to bring some logic to Google’s line-up of own-brand smart speakers, ranking these devices from best to – well, not worst, but not best. We’ll help you find the best Google Nest for your home.

Do note that we are rounding up only Google-owned devices, and the Google Assistant is also available in many other smart speakers and smart displays made by other manufacturers. In every case the Google Assistant functionality will be the same, but sound quality, build quality and additional features offered by those devices will differ.

Best Google Nest reviews

What is the difference between Google Nest models?

If you’re looking to buy your first smart speaker, Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) is a great choice. It does almost everything the more expensive models do, but with a smaller speaker also benefits from a lower price. You may also still be able to find at a lower price the older Home Mini, which has the exact same design but a little less audio oomph and slower processing.

Step up to the Google Nest Audio if you want louder, better-quality audio.

Meanwhile, the Nest Hub line offers the most feature-complete service, with an integrated display on which Google Assistant can show as well as tell (though it’s not the only smart display), and play photo slideshows or function as a clock in standby mode. The latest model includes Sleep Sensing.

Of course, every Google Nest device can tell you the time when asked, and we think the standard (7in) Nest Hub’s audio quality is below that of even Google Nest Mini (which is actually surprisingly good for such a tiny device).

The Google Nest Hub Max has a larger 10in display, better 2.1 speakers, and an integrated camera that lets you make video calls, use the Hub as a security camera (with a Nest Aware subscription), use gestures to control audio playback and set up Face Match. 

Each device works independently of its siblings, but you can also combine any or all of these devices for mutli-room audio and broadcasting functionality.

The one feature all share is the most important of all: Google Assistant. This is the company’s smart voice assistant, and the equivalent to Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, Samsung’s Bixby and Apple’s Siri. We find it the most accomplished of all, able to understand a natural, conversational tone and the most likely to be able to give you an answer to the most random of questions.

What does Google Assistant do?

We’re getting to the stage now where it’s not a question of what can Google Assistant do, but what can’t it do? If you have an Android phone, chances are you’ve already tried Google Assistant (it’s available as a free download from the Play Store), but you’ll find it works much better – and is more comfortable to use – in a home environment.

For many people the chief task of Google’s Nest speakers is to play music. You can tune into internet radio stations, or listen to anything available on Google Play Music, YouTube Music Premium, Spotify, or Deezer Premium+. If you don’t subscribe to these services there’s also Spotify Free, or you can access playlists stored in the free version of Google Play Music. All Google Nest devices also function as Bluetooth speakers, so you can stream music directly from your phone, tablet or laptop.

Every model can also be connected to a Bluetooth speaker so you can take advantage of your existing sound setup, too.

Controlling other smart home devices, such as smart lights and heating, is another common use for Google Nest. All can control any device that is compatible with Google Assistant, but Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are most useful if you have a number of said devices since it allows you to control all from a single dashboard as you can in the Google Home app. For smart services that are not directly compatible with Google Assistant you can often find a workaround with IFTTT.

Gleaning information about your day ahead, whether that be calendar appointments, journey times into the office, weather alerts or news bulletins, is another common feature across the range, best accessed with the term “Okay Google, good morning”. If you want to see and hear you need Google Nest Hub, but otherwise any Google Nest device can tell you what you want to hear.

Google Assistant also lets you place free calls to anyone in your contacts book over Wi-Fi, or even call back to your speaker from your mobile, essentially replacing a landline. These are simply voice calls, because while Google Nest Hub has a display it does not have a camera – you will be able to see the video feed from your recipient if you specifically place the call over Google Duo, but they won’t be able to see you.

It’s also worth pointing out that you can set up various parental controls that restrict what your kids hear – and now see on Nest Hub’s display – using Digital Wellbeing content filters.

This is merely scratching the surface of what Google Assistant can do, with so many other tasks achievable with a single voice command – we’re always discovering new functionality, and it’s often very much the case that you don’t really know until you ask.

The Assistant can answer mathematical questions or any general search query that you might enter into a web browser, it can find local restaurants and cinema times, it can set timers, alarms and reminders, and it can even play games and tell you stories and jokes. Here are some funny things you might want to ask Google Assistant.

Google Nest specs comparison

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