Google confirmed a June 25 launch for its first home audio product since the 2020 Nest Audio, and the company began accepting preorders at a $100 price point. The device, simply called the Google Home Speaker, marks a return to the smart‑speaker market after a multi‑year hiatus.
Designed as an oblate spheroid, the speaker is wrapped in a partially recycled fabric that comes in hazel, porcelain, jade and berry. Jade and berry are limited to the United States, while hazel and porcelain are offered globally. The fabric skin not only gives the unit a soft tactile feel but also aligns with Google’s sustainability goals.
Google touts "360-degree sound" from the compact unit, promising a uniform listening experience regardless of where a listener sits in a room. Inside, a quad‑core ARM Cortex‑A55 processor running at 2 GHz is paired with a dedicated neural processing unit. The on‑device AI models run locally, helping the speaker isolate voice commands from background noise more effectively than earlier models.
Three far‑field microphones are positioned around the speaker’s body, capturing voice commands from virtually any angle. A physical mute switch lets users silence the microphones when privacy is a concern. When the device is listening, thinking or responding, a light ring around the base glows in distinct colors, a visual cue that echoes the illuminated rings seen on previous Google devices.
Interaction isn’t limited to voice. Capacitive touch controls on the top surface let users pause, play, skip tracks or adjust volume with a tap or swipe. The speaker also supports the familiar "OK Google" wake word, but the added processing power reduces mishearing incidents that plagued earlier generations.
Google’s last foray into smart speakers was the Nest Audio, launched in September 2020. That model featured a cylindrical shape and a fabric grille but lacked the advanced on‑device AI and lighting feedback now standard on the Home Speaker. The new device’s design cues—particularly the glowing light ring—signal a broader aesthetic shift that Google plans to extend to upcoming hardware, including the anticipated Googlebook laptops.
Preorders are available now through Google’s online store and major retailers. Shipping is slated to begin shortly after the June 25 release, with the speaker expected to arrive in the United States first, followed by other markets. Early buyers will be among the first to experience the combination of premium sound, AI‑driven noise cancellation and a privacy‑focused hardware switch.
Industry analysts see the $100 price tag as a competitive move aimed at recapturing market share from rivals such as Amazon and Apple, whose devices sit in similar price ranges but differ in ecosystem integration. Google’s emphasis on local AI processing may appeal to privacy‑conscious consumers who have grown wary of cloud‑dependent voice assistants.
Overall, the Google Home Speaker represents a significant hardware update for the company’s smart‑home portfolio, pairing a familiar voice assistant experience with tangible upgrades in sound quality, visual feedback and on‑device intelligence.
Este artículo fue escrito con la asistencia de IA.
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