Remember Google Home? The last truly new smart speaker product from Google feels like ages ago. Now the category is making a comeback — with Gemini as its brain.
What’s happening
Two things at once: Google is releasing a new ‘Google Home Speaker’ with Gemini (already listed at Best Buy in three colors), and — here’s the real surprise — third-party manufacturers are allowed back in.
A ‘Onn Smart Speaker’ from Walmart has surfaced, equipped with Gemini voice controls, Google Cast, Bluetooth, and a 10-watt speaker. There’s a hardware microphone switch too. It sounds like what Google Home Mini always wanted to be — just with a significantly smarter voice assistant behind it this time.
Gemini for existing speakers
Google is also opening ‘Gemini for Home’ access to older devices and third-party speakers. They can use Gemini for questions and smart home controls — though without Gemini Live (that stays exclusive to the new hardware).
My take
Smart speakers were considered a dead category. Alexa is stagnating, Siri HomePod is a niche product. But with a genuinely intelligent language model behind them, the category might see a renaissance.
The crucial difference from 2018: back then, you could ask your speaker about the weather and set timers. With Gemini behind it, real conversations, summaries, and context-aware help become possible. Whether people actually want that? Google’s timing just before I/O on May 19 is certainly no coincidence.
Sources: 9to5Google, Best Buy Listing