The Google Nest Hub (2nd Generation) is the latest iteration of Google’s popular smart display, offering a perfect blend of functionality, design, and convenience. This 7-inch smart display continues to serve as a central hub for managing your smart home, while also bringing new features like sleep tracking and improved audio. With Google Assistant built in, it allows you to control smart home devices, access personalized recommendations, and use voice commands seamlessly.
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and help you determine if it’s worth upgrading or purchasing for the first time.
Design and Display: Minimalist and Modern
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) sticks closely to the design of its predecessor, offering a clean, minimalist aesthetic that fits comfortably in any room. The 7-inch touchscreen is framed by soft edges and is supported by a fabric-covered base that acts as the speaker. This design ensures the device is compact and blends into various home environments, whether it’s sitting on a kitchen counter, a nightstand, or in the living room.
Unlike other smart displays, the Nest Hub doesn’t include a camera, which may be a relief for privacy-conscious users. Instead, it focuses on functionality and interaction through its screen and Google Assistant.
The display itself offers vibrant, sharp visuals with excellent brightness, making it perfect for watching YouTube videos, checking the weather, or glancing at your calendar. It adapts to your environment with an Ambient EQ sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness and color temperature to match the lighting in your room, giving it a sleek and adaptive look whether it’s day or night.
Key Design Features:
- 7-inch touchscreen with Ambient EQ sensor
- Compact, modern design that blends into any home
- No built-in camera, emphasizing privacy
- Available in multiple colors to suit your decor
New Features: What’s Improved in the 2nd Gen Google Nest Hub?
While the design remains largely the same, the 2nd Generation Google Nest Hub introduces some new features that significantly improve the user experience.
Sleep Sensing
One of the standout features in this new model is Sleep Sensing. With the built-in Soli radar technology, the Google Nest Hub can track your sleep without needing any wearable device. The radar tracks your movement and breathing, analyzing your sleep patterns to provide insights on how well you’re resting. It can detect when you fall asleep, how long you slept, and even identify issues like snoring or disturbances in the night.
Sleep Sensing integrates with Google Fit to give you a detailed breakdown of your sleep quality, offering suggestions to improve your sleep habits. While this feature is free for the first year, it’s worth noting that Google plans to offer it as a paid subscription service in the future.
Improved Audio Quality
The 2nd Generation Google Nest Hub boasts better sound quality than its predecessor. The improved speaker setup offers 50% more bass, making the audio experience richer and more immersive, especially when playing music, podcasts, or video content. While the Nest Hub isn’t designed to replace a dedicated speaker system, the audio enhancements are a welcome improvement for casual listening.
Google Assistant Integration
Like all Nest devices, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) excels in its integration with Google Assistant. You can ask it to control smart home devices, check your schedule, set reminders, and much more. The voice recognition is highly responsive, and the Assistant’s ability to offer personalized results based on the user (via Voice Match) ensures the experience feels tailored to each individual in the household.
Additionally, the Quick Gestures feature allows you to control the Hub without touching the screen. By simply waving your hand in front of the display, you can pause or play media, stop alarms, and more—offering a truly hands-free experience.
Thread and Matter Support
The 2nd Generation Google Nest Hub is equipped with Thread and supports Matter, the emerging smart home standard. This means that in the near future, the device will be even more versatile when connecting and controlling a wide array of smart home devices from different manufacturers, making it a future-proof addition to your home.
Performance: How Well Does It Work?
In terms of performance, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is responsive and easy to use. The Google Assistant reacts quickly to voice commands, and the Soli radar technology is precise when detecting hand gestures. Navigating the touchscreen feels smooth, and whether you’re streaming YouTube videos, checking your Nest cameras, or controlling other smart home devices, the experience is fluid and intuitive.
One of the major improvements over the first generation is the improved audio quality. While it’s still not a speaker that audiophiles would prefer for high-fidelity music, the 50% increase in bass makes the Nest Hub a great option for casual listening and home use.
The Sleep Sensing feature works surprisingly well without being intrusive. You simply place the Hub next to your bed, and it does the rest—tracking your sleep patterns, breathing, and even environmental conditions like temperature and light. For those looking to improve their sleep health, this is a standout feature.
Performance Highlights:
- Quick, responsive Google Assistant functionality
- Improved bass for richer audio
- Soli radar provides precise sleep tracking and gesture controls
- Future-proof with Thread and Matter support for smart home connectivity
Google Nest Hub vs. Amazon Echo Show: How Does It Compare?
In the world of smart displays, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)’s closest competitor is the Amazon Echo Show series. So, how does it stack up?
- Design: The Google Nest Hub stands out for its camera-free design, which appeals to privacy-conscious users. In contrast, the Echo Show includes a camera for video calls and security purposes.
- Assistant Integration: If you’re invested in the Google ecosystem, the Nest Hub offers smoother integration with Google services like Google Calendar, Google Photos, and YouTube. On the other hand, Amazon’s Echo Show excels in its seamless use of Alexa and integration with Amazon services.
- Sleep Tracking: The Google Nest Hub’s Sleep Sensing feature is a unique, standout feature, giving it an edge over most Echo devices if sleep health is important to you.
- Sound Quality: While the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) offers improved sound over its predecessor, the Amazon Echo Show devices typically have better overall audio performance with larger, more powerful speakers.
Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to which smart home ecosystem you prefer: Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
Pros and Cons of the Google Nest Hub (2nd Generation)
Pros:
- Sleep Sensing is a standout feature for sleep tracking without wearables.
- Improved sound quality with 50% more bass.
- Gesture controls allow for hands-free interaction.
- Privacy-friendly with no built-in camera.
- Thread and Matter support for future smart home compatibility.
Cons:
- Sleep Sensing may require a subscription after the first year.
- Audio, while improved, is not powerful enough for audiophiles.
- Lacks a camera, which some users might want for video calls.
Final Verdict: Is the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen Worth It?
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Generation) is a well-rounded and feature-packed smart display that’s ideal for those already invested in Google’s ecosystem. The introduction of Sleep Sensing, along with the improved sound quality and privacy-friendly design, makes it a standout option in the smart home market. The Hub offers robust smart home controls and intuitive integration with Google Assistant, ensuring you can manage your home and enjoy personalized interactions seamlessly.
For users who value privacy, sleep tracking, and smooth integration with Google services, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is a fantastic choice. However, if you’re looking for better audio performance or a device that supports video calls, you might want to explore alternatives like the Amazon Echo Show.