Google today launched the Nest Audio smart speaker, Google’s replacement for its original Home smart speaker from 2017. The new Google Assistant speaker looks more like a smaller version of Google’s big Home Max, with a full fabric-covered body, hidden LEDs on the front and a touch-sensitive top for volume and playback control.
The new wifi speaker is 75% louder with 50% more powerful bass than its predecessor with a 19mm tweeter and 75mm woofer. It has an automatic equaliser and a smart Ambient IQ feature that adjusts the volume of the voice, news, podcasts and audiobooks based on background noise.
The enclosure – made from 70 per cent recycled plastic – is wrapped in either chalk- or charcoal-coloured fabric, and three microphones (which can be disabled at the slide of a button) are onboard for picking up voices during Google Assistant voice commands.
An Ambient IQ mode allows the Nest Audio to automatically adjust the volume of news, podcasts, and audiobooks based on current background noise, while Media EQ adapts the sound according to the type of content being played.
Naturally the Nest Audio is compatible with the company’s recently launched multi-room control, which allows the owner to dynamically group multiple cast-enabled Nest devices in real-time, rather than have to manually create speaker groups. And, as with its predecessor, it can be paired with another Nest Audio speaker in stereo mode.
Bluetooth 5.0 is onboard as an offline alternative to music streaming via Google Chromecast, too.
The Nest Audio costs £89.99 here in the UK or $99.99 in the US and is made of 70% recycled plastic. WHile it comes in five colours, it is only initially available in white or charcoal in the UK.
Nest Audio is available for pre-order now at the Google Store, with availability on October 15.
