Google’s mysterious Gemini good speaker: What we all know, and don’t know

Blink and you’ll have missed it, however Google gave us a peek at what certain appears to be like like a brand new good speaker throughout its Made by Google occasion on Wednesday. 

Was it a leak? Not likely. A “leaked” product is one which’s been mistakenly revealed, whereas the speaker we noticed throughout Google’s Pixel occasion obtained a transparent supporting position, with F1 driver Lando Norris cheerfully chatting with the gadget. Google meant for us to note the brand new and unannounced good speaker. 

So, what can we find out about this little grey (or porcelain?) speaker? Right here’s a fast breakdown. 

Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we all know for certain 

It exists 

Which will sound apparent, however so typically with rumored or “leaked” new merchandise, we’re within the land of pure conjecture. On this case (and as I simply talked about), Google clearly supposed for us to note its new speaker.  

In different phrases, it’s the true deal. A brand new Google good speaker is going on. 

It’s obtained Gemini inside 

F1’s Lando Norris was chatting with Google’s new speaker throughout an illustration of Gemini Dwell, a Gemini mode the place you possibly can have freewheeling conversations with the AI mannequin about any topic you need.  

That’s all in the best way of claiming this new Google speaker runs on Gemini, and moreover its Gemini Dwell capabilities, it’s nearly sure to boast Gemini-level powers by way of Google Residence good gadget management, too. 

It has a squashed spherical form 

From what we’ve seen of the speaker through the pre-recorded Pixel presentation, the Google speaker seems roughly the dimensions of an Amazon Echo Dot or an Apple HomePod mini.  

However moderately than an ideal spherical form (the HomePod mini does have a chopped-off prime), the Google speaker has a barely squished form, giving it a novel look so far as big-name good audio system go. I sort of prefer it. 

It has a light-weight ring round its base 

Right here’s a element concerning the new Google speaker that’s a bit shocking: It borrows a design cue from its largest rival.  

Encircling the gadget’s base is a telltale mild ring, placing just like the sunshine ring we’ve seen on Amazon’s Echo audio system. The sunshine ring on the Google speaker replaces the 4 LED dots that represented Google Assistant exercise on older Google Nest good audio system. 

That illuminated ring is one thing of a signature element so far as Alexa-powered Echo units are involved, so it’s a little bit of an eyebrow-raiser that Google selected to poach it.  

It has a material overlaying 

Like Google’s earlier good audio system—and, in truth, different competing audio system just like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Apple HomePod, and HomePod mini, the brand new Google speaker seems to have a material overlaying, good for giving it a hotter, tactile look that matches in with your property decor. No shock there. 

Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we’ve heard however don’t know for certain 

It’d are available in 4 colours 

In accordance with Android Headlines’ sources, the brand new Google speaker will are available in 4 colours: Obsidian, Porcelain, Jade, and an unnamed reddish hue. The speaker we noticed within the Pixel video is likely to be the Porcelain one (the precise speaker appeared extra grayish to me, however I’m not the most effective with colours).  

Together with Amazon and Apple, Google historically releases its good audio system in a wide range of colours, so this specific rumor sounds credible. 

It is going to doubtless assist totally different Gemini voices 

Once more, Android Headlines is predicting you’ll have your choose of various Gemini voices on the speaker, simply as you could have on a Pixel telephone or the Gemini app. 

It’s arduous to think about that the brand new Google speaker wouldn’t have this feature, however we nonetheless don’t know for certain but. 

You would possibly be capable of join the brand new Google speaker to the Google TV Streamer

Simply because the Apple HomePod and HomePod mini can each be used as audio system for the Apple TV 4K, the brand new Google speaker will likely be pairable with the Google TV Streamer, good for delivering “spatial surround-sound to your front room,” Android Headlines says. 

That’s nonetheless not confirmed, however once more, sounds about proper. 

It’d double as a Matter hub 

Once I first caught sight of the brand new Google speaker within the Pixel video, I puzzled whether or not it will have Matter capabilities. In any case, the Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and HomePod mini all work as Thread border routers that join Thread-enabled Matter units to the web and one another. So why not the brand new Google speaker, too?  

In accordance with Android Headlines, the brand new Google speaker will certainly “double as a hub that helps Matter,” though the publication stopped wanting saying it’s a Thread border router just like the HomePod. 

It could possibly be known as the “Google Residence Speaker” 

Except for the unique Google Residence speaker, most of Google’s good audio system and shows—together with the Google Nest Mini and Nest Audio—have arrived with “Nest” branding because of Google’s 2014 acquisition of Nest Labs.  

However Google appears to be slowly backing away from the Nest model. The final Nest gadget launched by Google was the second-generation Nest Hub show, which got here out almost 4 years in the past.  

So now we’ve Android Headlines calling the brand new speaker the “Google Residence Speaker,” which tracks with the branding of Google’s streaming player-slash-smart residence hub, the Google TV Streamer from final 12 months. 

Google’s new Gemini speaker: What we don’t know 

How a lot it can value 

Google’s present vary of good audio system, the Google Nest Mini goes for $49, whereas the bigger Nest Audio with upgraded sound prices $99.99. 

So, how a lot will the brand new Google speaker retail for? We don’t know for certain and there aren’t any leaks on the topic, so all we are able to do is guess.  

Personally, I can’t think about the brand new speaker costing any greater than the Nest Audio, and I’m fairly certain it can promote for at the very least as a lot because the Mini.  

Now, if the Google speaker is a Matter hub and it acts as Thread border router, that may put it in the identical league because the equally geared up Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod mini, each of which value $99.99. In order that’s my guess for the Google Residence Speaker (if that’s certainly what it’s known as): 99 bucks, give or take. 

When it can arrive 

As with pricing, there aren’t any arduous information or credible rumors a couple of launch date for the brand new Google speaker, however we are able to make an informed guess. 

With uncommon exception, Google has introduced its newest good units throughout a Made by Google occasion within the fall. This occasion usually occurs in October or thereabouts, so I believe we are able to anticipate the brand new Google speaker to reach shortly earlier than Halloween. 

This information story is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the most effective good audio system.