Google's New Home Speaker Falls Short of 6-Year-Old Nest Audio in Sound Quality

Google’s latest “Home Speaker,” introduced in 2026, has faced harsh criticism regarding its sound quality. Jon Gilbert, a journalist at Android Police, reported that instead of purchasing the new product, he opted to buy an additional Nest Audio from the secondhand market, despite its production being discontinued since its release in 2019. According to Gilbert, the older speaker outperforms the latest model in terms of acoustic performance.

Background on Product Comparison

Google launched the Nest Audio in 2019 at a price of $99. The device was positioned as the company’s first smart speaker “dedicated to music playback.” Equipped with a 75mm woofer and a 19mm tweeter, it delivered sound capable of filling a room. Its internal structure omitted a heat sink, resolving the muffled audio issues present in the earlier Google Home. On the software side, compression was limited, allowing richer audio quality to emerge.

In contrast, the subsequently released Nest Mini featured a 40mm driver and aimed to be a compact and budget-friendly ($50) model. While it delivered sound quality appropriate for its price, it lacked the impactful audio experience of the Nest Audio. Gilbert reported that he used the Nest Audio in his kitchen and the Nest Mini in his bedroom but found the disparity in sound quality noticeable every time he moved between the rooms.

”New Doesn’t Always Mean Better”

The new Home Speaker, introduced as the latest model in 2026, failed to surpass the Nest Audio in sound quality, according to Gilbert’s comparison of the specifications. While the article does not disclose specific driver configurations or frequency characteristics of the new model, Gilbert argues that the fundamental design of the Nest Audio—its “75mm woofer and 19mm tweeter”—still holds an advantage over the new speaker.

As a result of this conclusion, Gilbert decided to cancel his preorder for the new Home Speaker and is now searching the secondhand market for another Nest Audio unit. He cited the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” as the guiding principle for his decision. Despite using the Nest Mini for years, he has chosen the seemingly paradoxical route of upgrading by purchasing an older product rather than a newer one.

Implications for the Smart Speaker Market

This case highlights a potential challenge for product development strategies within the smart speaker market. Google has transitioned from producing the Nest Audio and Nest Mini to its new Home Speaker. However, the fact that the successor product does not necessarily outperform the predecessor in sound quality for audio-focused users may lead to calls for a reevaluation of Google’s product strategy.

Smart speakers are expected to deliver both voice assistant functionalities and high-quality music playback. While Google has made strides in software evolution, such as Gemini integration and smart home compatibility, if hardware fundamentals—especially audio quality—are perceived as regressing, it may discourage users from upgrading.

Should the popularity of Nest Audio on the secondhand market increase, Google risks losing not only sales opportunities for its new products but also facing the reputational challenge of having its older products considered superior. This could undermine the short-term replacement cycle that is essential to the hardware business model.

Editorial Opinion

Short-Term Impact: This case brings to light a significant issue in Google’s smart speaker strategy—the balance between hardware and software features. The evolution of voice assistant capabilities alone cannot drive upgrades for audiophile users, as demonstrated in this scenario. Over the next three to six months, we may see a rise in secondhand Nest Audio prices or attempts by Google to address criticism through firmware updates aimed at improving the sound quality of the new Home Speaker. Industry observers will closely watch how Google responds to these challenges.

Long-Term Perspective: The smart speaker market is increasingly competitive, with rivals like Amazon and Apple prioritizing better sound quality. Over the next one to three years, if Google focuses solely on “AI functionalities” and neglects the importance of audio hardware, it risks losing music enthusiasts and home entertainment consumers. As the market evolves, achieving a balance between sound quality and smart features will become a crucial differentiating factor. Emerging technologies like spatial audio and high-resolution audio support are likely to shape the criteria for evaluating next-generation models.

References

• I’m ditching Google’s new Home Speaker for a 6-year-old Nest Audio, and the specs prove I’m right - Android Police — Published June 27, 2026
• Google Home is about to get faster and smarter - Android Police — Published June 27, 2026 (Related Article)