Google launches first smart speaker in six years, the Google Home Speaker, built for Gemini at $99.99

Google announced the Google Home Speaker on June 17, 2026 — its first audio device in six years and the first purpose-built to run Gemini as its voice assistant. Priced at $99.99, it is available for pre-order now and ships June 25.

What's new

The hardware marks a clean break from the Google Nest Audio line. Key specs and features:

• 360° balanced sound with crystal-clear audio and advanced microphone processing
• Light ring underglow that pulses to indicate when the speaker is listening, thinking, or responding
• Privacy toggle mute switch on the device
• Four colorways: Hazel, Porcelain, Jade, and Berry
• Sustainable design with a 3D-knit textile exterior

The defining change is the voice assistant. Gemini for Home replaces Google Assistant with a conversational AI that understands natural language and maintains context across a conversation. Ten new natural-sounding voices are included. Users can issue multi-step instructions ("dim the kitchen lights, play some relaxing music, and set a timer for 20 minutes"), make mid-sentence corrections, and continue conversations without re-triggering the wake word via Continued Conversation mode.

"Instead of having to memorize rigid command phrases, Gemini adapts to how you speak, making it easier and more intuitive to get the help you need," Google wrote in its announcement.

A Google Home Premium subscription unlocks additional capabilities: Gemini Live for free-flowing, open-ended conversations; Camera History Search for semantic queries over Nest camera footage; and Home Briefs, AI summaries of household activity.

Google is also expanding a "Gemini built in" licensing program for third-party speaker manufacturers, providing reference hardware designs and the Gemini stack for camera and speaker products outside the Nest ecosystem.

Context

Google last released a dedicated smart speaker in 2020 with the Nest Audio. The gap reflects both declining smart speaker sales industry-wide and a strategic decision to wait until a capable conversational AI could differentiate the product. Google Assistant, which has powered Google Home devices since 2016, has been progressively replaced by Gemini across Google's product surface throughout 2025 and 2026.

Speakers from Amazon (Alexa+) and Apple (HomePod) have similarly begun integrating more capable AI assistants, and Amazon's redesigned Alexa has been a key rival. The $99.99 price point sits directly in the Alexa Echo line's mid-tier range.

Why it matters

For Google, the Home Speaker signals a renewed commitment to the hardware-ambient-AI category after years of retreat. The device is positioned less as a speaker that happens to have AI, and more as a household AI interface that happens to have good audio.

More broadly, whether Gemini's conversational depth translates well to the eyes-free, latency-sensitive use case of a room speaker will determine whether this launch expands the smart speaker market or just captures existing users looking to upgrade aging Nest Audio hardware.