Google's New Gemini-Powered Smart Speaker: A Glimpse into the Future of AI Home Assistants

Google's first Gemini smart speaker detailed in leak

Google held its annual Made by Google showcase this week, during which it unveiled the latest Pixel phones and various new AI features. What it didn't announce is a Gemini-powered smart home speaker, but it might have snuck one into the presentation as an easter egg. As spotted by , about 15 minutes into the stream, on a table next to F1 driver Lando Norris during a Gemini demonstration, you can clearly see what looks a lot like a smart speaker. The fabric-wrapped device we see in the video is white with a light around its base, and it looks more like an upside down HomePod mini than any of Google's other speakers. According to , it's called the Google Home Speaker, and is unsurprisingly powered by Gemini. Android Headlines claims to have seen more images of the as-yet unannounced smart speaker, which it says will also be available in red, light green and black. It adds that Google's Gemini Live AI assistant will be a baked-in feature for voice conversations, though without a screen or camera there's no visual element here. There could also be new natural voice options on the speaker, as well as standard features like media control and smart home automations. It can reportedly also detect unusual sounds like breaking glass or smoke alarms and can send an alert to your phone or tablet if this happens. According to the Android Headlines report, the Home Speaker can pair with a Google TV Streamer and double as an additional surround sound speaker, much like the HomePod does with Apple TV. It functions as a smart hub too, with support for Matter. Google announced this week, which will gradually replace Google Assistant on the company's existing smart devices, with free and paid tiers offered to users. What the leak doesn't contain is a launch date for this mysterious speaker. But given that Google was seemingly happy enough to have one sitting there in its most important keynote of the year, the smart money would be on an official reveal pretty soon. Engadget reached out to Google for comment, but the company said it had nothing to share at this time.

Google's Next Smart Speaker Is All About AI

Whether by accident or as a covert tease, Google showed a glimmer of what Google smart speakers have in store. This week, during Google's annual Pixel hardware event, a never-before-seen speaker slipped into a prerecorded video, and now Android Headlines says it's confirmed that said speaker is, in fact, of the Google Home variety. Android Headlines says it has seen additional images of the speaker, which will come in four colors, including Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, and an unnamed red color. Just like the video sneak peek suggests, Android Headlines says the speaker will look akin to a slightly squatter Apple HomePod Mini, which is to say cylindrical and covered in mesh. Speaking of the HomePod, Android Headlines also reports that you'll be able to pair the new speaker to Google TV Streamer, similar to how you can set up two of Apple's smart speakers for surround sound via Apple's streaming box. Like many other speakers, there will reportedly be a light around the bottom that illuminates when the microphone is activated. The biggest change (hopefully) will be the switch from Google Assistant to Gemini, though. Google already announced Gemini for Home this week, which will bring more advanced AI capabilities to its smart home ecosystem. I say "hopefully" in this case, given recent issues with Google Home. Last month, Google Home users reported en masse that the app was bordering on brokenâ€"some people were unable to even turn their lights on and off or access their Nest security cameras. Google acknowledged those issues publicly, but it didn't stop the threat of a class-action lawsuit from bubbling up. That's all to say that Google Home and Google's reputation as a reliable purveyor of smart home software and hardware is in jeopardy now more than ever, and, if a Gemini-powered speaker is a shot in the arm like Google hopes, it could help save some face. We'll get a chance to see just what Google has in store on the smart home front fairly soon. It plans to release Gemini for Home in October, and while there's no solid release date for its next-gen speaker, there's also a chance that it could release its new hardware at the same time. If a dose of Gemini means we all get to spend less time screaming at a piece of plastic to turn our lights on and off, then I'm going to call it a major win.

Google's mysterious Gemini smart speaker: What we know, and don't know

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Google's new Home Speaker with Gemini leaks after launch video slip - Phandroid

Google accidentally leaked its new Home Speaker during its own launch video yesterday. Now, more details about the device have surfaced, thanks to a report from Android Headlines. The speaker will run on Gemini, which makes sense since Google is replacing Assistant with its AI system everywhere. The Google Home Speaker comes in four colors: black, porcelain, light green, and bright red. Based on past naming trends, the first three could be called Obsidian, Porcelain, and Jade. The red shade is still unknown. The design looks like a chubbier HomePod Mini. Instead of the light on top, it has a glowing ring at the bottom. That ring should pulse when you're talking to Gemini. The rest of the body features a fabric finish, similar to the Nest Mini and Apple's HomePod Mini. The feature list is packed. Gemini Live will be supported, though not as powerful without a screen or camera. Still, you can ask Gemini about traffic, weather, or coffee runs. It will answer in new, more natural voices. The speaker can also automate your smart home. It can detect unusual sounds like glass breaking or smoke alarms and then send an alert to your phone. Another highlight is pairing. You can connect the Home Speaker to a Google TV streamer for spatial surround-sound. This is a feature Apple already offers with the HomePod. Since it supports Matter, the Home Speaker also doubles as a smart home hub. That means it could eventually replace older Nest devices. Google hasn't shared a launch date yet. But since the leak came from its own video, an official announcement might not be far off.

A mystery Google Nest speaker just popped up at Pixel 10 event -- here's what we know

During the Pixel 10 event on August 20, 2025, a mysterious Google Nest smart speaker unexpectedly appeared alongside the flagship phones. This unannounced device, resembling a blend of HomePod mini and Echo Dot, sparked speculation about Google's smart home plans. It may be part of Google's Gemini for Home upgrade, potentially launching in the fall of 2025. The Pixel 10 lineup was the main focus of the Made by Google event on August 20, 2025, but some people noticed something else. A mystery Google Nest smart speaker showed up out of nowhere next to the flagship phones. There was no announcement, but its presence has led to a lot of speculation. The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold smartphones were the stars of the show at the Made by Google event on August 20, 2025. But there was a moment in the presentation that you could miss in a flash: a brand-new Google smart speaker that hadn't been announced yet, as per a report by Tech Radar. ALSO READ: Your iPhone just got a secret upgrade from Apple -- here's what changed overnight This appearance wasn't part of the official lineup announcement. Instead, it appeared during a fun show with Formula One driver Lando Norris and NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two athletes switched sports and asked Google's Gemini AI for advice. Norris talked to a small, strange speaker during that conversation. It didn't look like any of the current Nest products, as per a report. People are already talking about the design of the mystery speaker. Becky Scarrott, our Audio Editor, says the best way to describe it is "like a HomePod mini in a Google dress but with an Echo Dot ring around the bottom." That look makes it different from the Nest speakers that are already on the market, as per a report by Tech Radar. It was even more interesting that it seemed to respond using Google Gemini's reasoning powers, which suggests that this isn't just a cosmetic update. It could be the main part of Google's promised Gemini for Home upgrade instead. ALSO READ: iPhone 17 buzz builds: Apple set to unveil its thinnest iPhone ever and more surprises Google didn't say anything during the Pixel 10 event, but the timing makes sense. Since the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) came out in 2021, the company hasn't made any new smart speaker hardware. The Nest Audio was the last speaker with the Nest name on it. It is still available, but it needs to be replaced, as per a report by Tech Radar. Google has already hinted at a big update for its smart home ecosystem in the fall of 2025, between September and November. This mysterious device's appearance seems planned. It's a strong sign that new Nest hardware, maybe this very speaker, could be part of that rollout. In the past few years, Google's smart home products have fallen behind those of competitors like Amazon's Echo and Apple's HomePod. A lot of people who use Nest have complained about problems with old hardware and software. Google could be trying to catch up and show that it's serious about the smart home space again by releasing a new speaker that works with Gemini, as per a report by Tech Radar. The company hasn't said anything about the device yet. But now that Pixel 10 is out and Gemini is in the spotlight, it seems like it's only a matter of time before Google shows off what could be its most ambitious Nest speaker yet. ALSO READ: Orca attack mystery: What really happened to marine trainer Jessica Radcliffe Did Google show off a new Nest speaker at the Pixel 10 event? Not officially, but a new speaker was seen for a short time during the show. When might this unknown Nest speaker come out? Between September and November 2025, most likely in the fall.