After four years in operation, the original Google Home was finally pulled out of Google’s smart speaker lineup and now there is news that a likely successor is coming. What can we see in a refurbished Google Home or whatever Google calls it? We already have some ideas.
The Google Home smart speaker, first launched in 2016, has been listed as “unavailable” on the Google Store for weeks, and a Google representative recently confirmed to TechHive that the original Google smart speaker was actually discontinued. If you still want to buy a Google Home, you can buy one on Best Buy for $ 30Strong, down from its original $ 129 price tag.
Meanwhile, one The source told 9to5Google that a successor to the Google Home is in the works, although other than its codename— “Prince” – details about the refurbished speaker are scarce.
However, between what 9to5Google’s source has revealed and what we’ve seen in the latest smart speakers, we can make some educated guesses about what the Google Home 2 will look like and what’s inside.
Goodbye “Home”, hello “Nest”
First of all, you can be sure that the new Google Home will remove the “Home” mark. Starting with Google Nest Hub Max in May last year, Google named “Nest” for all of its latest smart speakers and displays (Google Home Hub since 2018 has been renamed Google Nest Hub) and it is certain that the successor to Google Home will follow the same model.
So … what exactly will the new Google Home be called? Google Nest? Eh, doubt it, and while Google Nest Prince sounds great, the whole “Prince” is still another Silicon Valley codename, so that seems unlikely to happen either. Google Nest One? That sounds too much like the Sonos One, a company’s Google Assistant-powered premium speaker is currently suing Google (and which one Google immediately sued). Speaking of Sonos One, though …
Better sound
9to5Google’s gossip claims that the new speaker will “not show up” and “look similar to the Sonos One.” Well, if the new Google Home does have a “similar circuit” to the Sonos One, then its sound will definitely be better.
To be fair, the original Google Home was not inferior when it comes to audio, and in our 2016 review we said the speaker’s 2-inch driver and dual 2-inch radiators could ” Fill a single room with perfect sound. ”
That’s not bad (and it’s certainly better than the Google Home Mini’s little sound, which got a slight upgrade in last year’s Google Nest Mini), but the “respectable” wouldn’t cut it if Google really hopes to compete with the Sonos. . Of course, Google makes at least one smart speaker with top-notch sound – the Google Home Max – but it’s a $ 300 speaker (currently discounted to $ 250), compared to a Sonos One (still a bit high 200 dollars.
One way to put the new Google Home in the sights of audio enthusiasts is to add one of the most compelling features we’ve ever seen in the latest smart speakers: support for specific, 3D audio formats. is Dolby Atmos Music. For example, the $ 170 Amazon Echo Studio speaker boasts Dolby Atmos sound, so the new Atmos-enabled Google speaker looks at least an external capability (though to be clear, it’s just speculation. ours).
New design
With a replaceable fabric base and a sloping top, Google Home is frequently compared to a bathroom air cooler (our reviewer likened it to a cup of take-away coffee) and it protrudes like a thumb compared to other Google smart speakers.
According to 9to5Google’s source, the new Google Home (or whatever it is instead) will have a “casual and familiar” design that “fits” with Google’s latest smart devices. So it’s safe to bet that Google will ditch the air cooler to find something more rounded and refined, and mostly covered with cloth. And if the new Google Home really comes with improved sound, you expect bigger drivers, too, which means bigger overall size.
Steeper price tag
Google Home made $ 130 when it was first announced in 2016, though its sticker price drops to $ 99 soon, and it’s usually available at a much lower price. If the Google Home successor ends up with a bigger design and better sound, we’d expect it to retail for as little as $ 130 Google Home’s original $ 130 price tag and possibly closer to the 170 price tag. Amazon Echo Studio’s $ (now discounted) or even the $ 200 Sonos One. Given that you can currently buy a Google Home Max speaker for $ 250, it looks like the price of the new Home’s sticker won’t make a difference of $ 200, but again, we’re just guessing here.
Release date in the fall
The ongoing pandemic makes it difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow, much less than what’s on the cards for the coming months. That said, Google has generally announced its newest smart devices in the fall, with Google’s latest smart speaker, the Nest Mini, coming in October 2019. We will continue. and it is predicted that a successor to Google Home will be announced sometime around Halloween.