Google Nest Mini vs Google Home Mini
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Considering the sound improvements and the built-in wall-mounting option, we certainly think so. While the heavy lifting is all done in the cloud, there is no noticeable lag between asking Google Home Mini to do something and receiving a response. The experience is a lot like talking to a person since you use natural language to interact with the device and receive responses in natural language as well. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.
Music playback was more passable with the Home Mini, too -- though, like the Dot, you really shouldn't plan on using it for anything more than close-range, casual listening. To wake it up, you say "OK, Google" or "Hey, Google," and then you give it a question or command. You can ask it to play music, turn your smart home gadgets on and off, look up a fact for you, control Netflix and YouTube on your Chromecast-enabled TV plus a whole host of other tricks. It puts the power of the internet just an utterance away, with the Google Assistant as your concierge. We're seeing more Alexa-enabled speakers than Google-enabled speakers coming down the pike in the next few months, and Alexa has maintained its lead in third-party services.
How is the Google Home Mini Different From Google Home?
You plug the Mini into the wall and set it up through the Google Home app on Android or iOS. Then, when you say "Hey Google," four soft LEDs light up in the middle of the speaker, and Google Assistant answers. The app is very similar to the Alexa app (and, like the Alexa app, it buries many of its options and third-party services under a hidden menu).
In almost all of my tests, they were able to hear me about as well as the ones in the Echo Dot. Both did a great job in a quiet setting, but required the occasional raised voice during music playback. Small speakers like the Mini aren't going to replace your full-scale home audio setup anytime soon. Still, Google made a point of saying that people would be surprised by how much sound the Mini can put out. Sure enough, it sounded stronger than I expected -- and noticeably stronger than the Echo Dot -- as I began testing it out.
Audio and Features
While very few products are Matter-enabled at the moment, Google says you'll see more come out these holidays and in early 2023. All devices that support the standard will be marked with the Matter badge and will work with the aforementioned Google products and all other Matter devices out of the box. Unlike the Home Mini, the Nest Mini comes with a built-in wall mount. It also provides better sound, with improved bass response, although the physical speakers in both devices use 40mm drivers. The Google Home has a single speaker with two passive radiators, which really help it produce decent sound for a device of its size. The Home Mini, on the other hand, has a smaller speaker and lacks the passive radiators.
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How Does the Google Home Mini Work?
You can also connect two speakers to obtain a cool stereo effect, which is definitely worth looking into. To do this, you just need to set up the speakers around 10 feet apart from each other. It will work best if they are both on approximately the same level. After this, you can then join the two speakers through the Google Home app. When you do this, you suddenly transform a large space into an epic surround-sound theatre. Here we come across one of the biggest differences with the Nest Mini, the speaker upgrade.
—they connect them to bigger, better-sounding speakers using the audio-out port, which the Home Mini lacks. You'll be able to use Google Home and Nest devices as hubs for Matter-enabled products. Google Home Mini lets you select between several voices; you can play samples of each and decide on the one you want.
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For a limited time, you can play Google Assistant in John Legend's voice. The two biggest differences between the Google Home and the Google Home Mini are size and price. The Home Mini is significantly smaller and fades more readily into your home decor, and it also costs a lot less. The Home Mini can also do everything the regular Google Home can do, but the larger device does provide richer sound that does a much better job filling a room.
Google Assistant has been chasing Alexa since Google debuted it in 2016. Google Home Mini joined the race late last year to chase the popular, affordable Echo Dot. At this point, Google Assistant is just as capable as Alexa, so the Mini is a great alternative to the Dot, especially since both speakers cost just $50. Andrew loves writing about cool, futuristic technology. He's reviewed everything from vacuum cleaners to beer brewing robots in pursuit of the perfect smart home. He wants the smart home to make him feel powerful, and it's getting there.
Originally hailing from Troy, Ohio, Ry Crist is a text-based adventure connoisseur, a lover of terrible movies and an enthusiastic yet mediocre cook. A CNET editor since 2013, Ry's beats include smart home tech, lighting, appliances, and home networking. Cleared payment cleared payment - opens in a new window or tab.
And use that to help you make your final call. Both assistants -- and thus both speakers -- are very capable at this point and will adequately respond to most questions and commands you can think to throw at them. If you already own a Dot or an Echo, the Mini doesn't offer you anything compelling enough to warrant throwing away your current investment.
Just start with “Hey Google” to get answers from your Google Assistant, tackle your day, enjoy music or TV shows, and control your compatible smart home devices. And with Voice Match, the Assistant can tell your voice from others—up to six people can get personal assistance on each device. The difference is clear when you listen to the two assistants speak. With the Echo Dot, Alexa's voice is a little tinny-sounding, and music playback not much better than what you'd get from your phone. By comparison, the Home Mini makes the Google Assistant sound warmer and more natural.
And while Google's third-party "actions" are catching up to Alexa's, Alexa is still ahead when it comes to support for third-party services. You can ask Alexa about concert tickets via Stubhub, to order you a Lyft, or to get groceries through Peapod. Alexa can connect to your YNAB home budget or tell you TV schedules. Google Assistant can't do any of those things, yet. In general, Google Assistant is better at interpreting loose, natural-language queries than Alexa is.
Retro Alarm Clock Stand for the Google Home Mini & Google Nest Mini White
That information is passed to the cloud, where Google's powerful servers get to work. The Google Home Mini is ready to take its place alongside the Dot as one of the best affordable smart speakers out there. Since the Google Home Mini has all of the same functionality as the Google Home, it makes a good entry-level smart speaker. With a very affordable price point, you can pick up a Home Mini and try it out to see if you could benefit from having smart speakers in your home without spending a lot of money.
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