Google's Gemini-Powered Smart Speaker Arrives After Six-Year Gap
Google launches its first new smart speaker since 2020, replacing Google Assistant with Gemini and adding natural-conversation capabilities across 10 voice options.
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Google Returns to Smart Speakers After Six Years
Google has released its first dedicated smart speaker since 2020, marking a significant refresh of its hardware ecosystem. According to Wired AI, the Google Home Speaker launches with preorders beginning June 17 and general availability on June 25 at a $100 price point. The device arrives in four colorways—Berry, Jade, Hazel, and Porcelain—with Berry and Jade available exclusively in the US. The announcement followed a spring 2026 release window first teased in fall 2025.
Gemini Replaces Google Assistant
The defining feature of the new speaker is its shift from Google Assistant to Gemini, Google’s flagship AI model. According to Wired AI, Gemini demonstrates substantially improved natural-language understanding compared to its predecessor, enabling users to ask questions with less rigid phrasing and fewer repetitions. The speaker recognizes the standard “Hey, Google” wake phrase, maintaining continuity with Google’s existing voice-command ecosystem.
Enhanced Conversational Features
The Gemini-powered hardware unlocks several interaction patterns unavailable on Assistant-based speakers. Users can chain multiple commands into single utterances—for example, “turn off all the lights except my bedside lamp”—and Gemini parses the specificity correctly. Mid-sentence corrections are supported; users can rephrase questions mid-query without restarting. Continued Conversation, which permits follow-up queries without re-invoking the wake phrase, has been expanded from English-only availability on Assistant speakers to all supported languages, according to Wired AI.
Gemini Live, a conversational mode enabling extended back-and-forth dialogue without repeated wake-word invocation, remains restricted to newer devices including the Nest Audio and Google Home Speaker. Users activate Gemini Live by saying “Hey Google, let’s talk.”
Voice Options and Smart-Home Integration
The speaker ships with 10 voice options. For users with Nest cameras or other Google smart-home devices, Gemini supports context-aware queries—“Did FedEx drop a package off today?” or “Did the dog eat a cookie off the counter?”—though this capability is not exclusive to the new speaker and is available on older hardware running Gemini.
Why This Matters
Google’s return to the smart-speaker market signals confidence in Gemini’s edge over rival voice assistants from Amazon and Apple. The emphasis on natural-language fluidity and multi-turn dialogue targets a user segment frustrated by rigid command syntax on older devices. For Google’s smart-home ecosystem—Nest cameras, thermostats, locks—the new speaker serves as the primary hardware interface to Gemini’s conversational capabilities. Adoption of this device will likely influence how users interact with Google’s broader AI assistant across phones and displays.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the new Google Home Speaker different from previous Google smart speakers?
It runs Gemini instead of Google Assistant and supports more natural, conversational queries—including command chaining, mid-sentence corrections, and Gemini Live mode for extended back-and-forth dialogue.
When can I buy the Google Home Speaker?
Preorders begin June 17, with general availability starting June 25 at $100 in four colors (Berry and Jade exclusive to the US).
Is Gemini Live exclusive to the new speaker?
No. According to Wired AI, Gemini Live is restricted to newer devices, including the Nest Audio and Google Home Speaker, but is not exclusive to the new model.