Google has introduced a new smart speaker, specifically designed to deliver top-quality audio.
The Nest Audio is a $99 product that goes on sale Oct. 5. It’s basically an upgraded Google Home smart speaker that's 75 percent louder for a higher volume.
The bass is also 50 percent stronger, thanks to a new 75mm mid-woofer integrated inside. “Our goal was to create the very best smart speaker for listening to music for only $99,” said Mark Spates, product manager for Nest speakers at Google, during today’s product unveiling.
Meanwhile, the 19mm tweeter inside is designed to produce upper range sounds for clear audio quality. The speaker also promises to automatically adapt the audio you’re listening to, whether it be music, the news or an audiobook, for the best listening. In addition, you can pair two Nest Audios to get stereo sound.
Outside of that, the 2.7-pound product seems like a pretty conventional Google-powered smart speaker. According to Spates, the Nest Audio can integrate easily with any existing Google Home or Google Home Mini devices you already own in your home.
The Google Assistant on board means you can use voice commands to tell the speaker to play your favorite songs or podcasts from streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora and YouTube Music, or access information from other apps. (You can find full third-party app compatibility here.)
To pick up your voice commands, the speaker has three far-field microphones. The product supports both Android and iOS.
The Nest Audio is available for pre-order starting today. It’ll arrive in five colors.