Google Nest Audio Price, Release Date, Specs, and News

Nest Audio is the successor to the original Google Home from 2016. It’s not the biggest or smallest smart speaker in Google’s lineup, nor is it the most or least expensive, but it does offer some improved features and upgraded hardware.

When Will the Google Nest Audio Be Released?

The Nest Audio was announced on September 30, 2020. It launched on the Google Store and other retailers in the US, Canada, and India on October 5. Target, Best Buy, and other stores in 21 countries began offering the smart speaker on October 15.

Google Nest Audio Price

The Nest Audio is priced at $99.99 in the US, $30 less than the original Google Home when it first came out and the same price as some competing speakers like Apple's HomePod mini.

The Latest Google Nest Audio News

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Google Nest Audio Features

Compared to the original Google Home, the Nest Audio is easier to listen to. Not only is it 75% louder with bass that’s reportedly 50% stronger, it also automatically adapts, using a feature Google calls Media EQ, to whatever you’re listening to.

Similar is Ambient IQ which adjusts the volume of Nest Audio in response to other sounds in the room. If you’re running the vacuum while listening to an audiobook, the sound will increase automatically so that you can still hear it.

US customers can also enjoy faster Google Assistant responses than the original Google Home since some of the assistant's processing power can be done entirely offline on the device itself. According to Google, Nest Audio learns your most common music commands and responds two times faster than the original Google Home.

It's list of features is extensive, but some highlights include listening to music and podcasts, hear the weather forecast, control your other smart home devices, create a shopping list, locate recipes online, and use Nest Aware to detect things around your house like broken glass or a smoke alarm.

Google Nest Audio Specs and Hardware

The Nest Audio comes in five colors, and the fabric, housing, foot, and a few other parts are made up of 70% recycled plastic.

Compared to the original Google Home, Google Nest Audio is upgraded to Bluetooth 5.0 from 4.1, stands over an inch taller and weighs more than double, has a slightly shorter power cable, lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, and includes an additional microphone.