Google’s second-generation in-home speaker has been retuned to be a much more musical companion.
| What we like Good quality sound Goes/fits anywhere Notch for hanging Quick to respond Works w/other smart home gear Affordable |
What we don’t like Proprietary charging pin Cable not long enough |
Google Nest Mini
The Google Nest Mini hits every note. This small, Assistant-enabled smart speaker improves music quality, voice recognition, and speed. If you want a cheap Google-made smart speaker, this is the one to get.
The Google Nest Mini is a second-generation miniaturized, voice-activated home speaker. In Google’s lineup of Assistant-powered hardware, it replaces the Google Home Mini. We’ve got a tune for you if you want to know if this little speaker lives up to its lofty expectations. This is the Google Nest Mini review from Android Authority.
What you need to know about the Google Nest Mini
Google’s goal is to make its voice-powered Google Assistant available in as many places as possible. It’s already on every new Android phone and is accessible via apps and APIs to the iPhone and a plethora of other devices. The original Google Home Mini was an excellent assistant but a poor speaker. Google understands that the vast majority of smart speaker users rely on them to play music, and competition has heated up. A few audio equipment companies have begun to sell their own Google Assistant-powered speakers, the majority of which outperform Google’s in terms of audio quality.
Google set out to improve the music experience delivered by its mighty mini, and made other refinements along the way. Did Google succeed?
The Google Nest Mini is a rebranded version of the Google Home Mini. In 2019, Google consolidated its smart home products under the Nest brand. As a result, Google Hub became Nest Hub, and Google Wifi became Nest Wifi, and so on.
The Mini looks almost identical to
its predecessor, but there are
some distinct changes.
The Mini looks nearly identical to its predecessor, but there are some noticeable differences. The dimensions and basic form factor remain unchanged. This includes the microphone off switch on the side. The Nest Mini now comes in a variety of colors, including Charcoal, Chalk, Sky, and Coral. Google claims that the fabric that covers the top half of the new speaker is made entirely of recycled plastic water bottles, and that approximately 35% of the chassis is made from recycled materials. That is environmentally friendly.
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The charger is perhaps the most noticeable physical change. For the Nest Mini, Google replaced the original’s micro-USB charging cable with a proprietary pin-style DC plug. We wish Google had kept the micro-USB or, even better, switched to USB-C. USB-C has become the de facto charging port for smartphones.
Finally, there’s a small notch on the back that allows you to hang the Mini on a wall if you want. Because the device must be plugged in, the wire must be draped down the wall. This is not the most appealing appearance, but third-party accessories are now available that combine the charger, cord, and Mini itself into a single unit.
How do you use Nest Mini?
Nest Mini is simple to set up and requires only a phone, such as the Google Pixel 6, with the Google Home app installed and a local Wi-Fi network. You must complete several steps, including adding the speaker to a room, naming it, and registering your voice. Simply converse with it once this is completed.
The Nest Mini, according to Google, has three spatial microphones that listen to and analyze the surrounding environment for voices. Even when playing loud music, the Mini outperforms the original in terms of command recognition. It didn’t seem any less or more responsive to me, but it did respond to my requests even when the music was turned up to eleven.
Four lights on top indicate when the Mini has been activated and is waiting for instructions, as well as a volume gauge. Tap the left side of the chassis to lower the volume, and tap the right side to raise it. The microphone mute switch is located on the back of the device. To turn off the microphone, slide the switch until the orange background appears. You will hear an audio alert and the top lights will turn orange. Orange means no microphone.
The Nest Mini includes a machine learning chip that aids in performance. Google claims that the Mini can learn your most frequent music requests or smart home commands for faster response times.
Does Nest Mini sound any good?
Yes, surprisingly. Google claims that the Mini has twice the bass of its predecessor while keeping the highs and mids clear. I tested a variety of music on it and was generally impressed.
The speaker captures the nuances of your favourite songs with clarity that must be heard to be appreciated. At high volumes, distortion is minimal. Google designed the Mini to be played loudly.
I pumped some heavy metal into the Mini and turned up the volume to eleven. The only thing distorted about the sound was the chugging guitars in the recording. I also tried some acoustic, jazz, orchestral, and electronic dance music songs, all of which sounded clean and tight. You won’t be able to turn your room into a hopping nightclub with the Mini, but it will fill an average-sized room with pleasing sound.
Google engineered the Nest Mini
so it can be played loud.
The original Mini was mediocre at best for music listening; the sequel is far superior. I ran some A/B tests on the two and found that the Nest Mini outperformed the Home Mini significantly.
Some of the advanced features are particularly appealing to me. You can, for example, create speaker groups (two or more) and have them all play the same song. If you want, you can use this to play music in your home. I made a group out of all the speakers on my first floor, and it worked surprisingly well. You can also connect two Minis together to create stereo music playback. You must configure them through the Google Home app. It’s quite simple.
Then there’s moving music. Listening in the bedroom, but want to transition downstairs? Just ask Assistant to move the tunes to the speaker you want and the Mini does the rest.
What else can the Nest Mini do?
Lots. Nest Mini can be used as a communication tool in addition to the obvious factual queries (Hey Google, how far away is the moon?). If you enable Duo, the Mini will function as a telephone. You can have it call whoever you want and have a conversation over the phone. You can also call your Mini from afar. Simply tap the Google device you want to reach and call using the Google Home app. You can have a live video chat if you have a Hub.
Then there’s television. Make use of the Nest Mini and other Google Nest products as an intercom. To send an alert to the other devices in your home, use the broadcast command from any Google Assistant-powered speaker or the Google Home app on your phone. My favourite application is to broadcast in the evenings to notify my daughters that dinner is ready. There will be no more yelling up the stairs.
All Google Nest products can do these things, and the Nest Mini is no exception.
Google Nest Mini review: The verdict
The Google Nest Mini is now available for $29 from Google and other retailers, a significant reduction from the launch price of $49. That’s a deal in my book.
There’s no reason to replace your Google Home, Mini, or Hub with the Nest Mini if you already have one. Yes, the new speaker sounds better, but it’s not worth spending more money if you’re happy with what you already have. If you’re looking for your first in-home, Assistant-powered speaker, get the Nest Mini rather than the older Home Mini. The older version should no longer be available, but just in case, check the box.
If you already have a Google-powered
speaker that you like, there’s no reason
to replace it with the Nest Mini.
Is there a replacement for the Google Nest Mini? You’re the best. Want a louder sound? Purchase the larger Google Nest Audio ($99). This much larger speaker produces significantly more sound and includes advanced features such as the ability to tailor its audio output to the environment. If you want all of Google’s smarts in a smart display form factor, there’s also the Google Nest Hub ($99).
Not a fan of Google-powered products? Amazon is on your side. The Amazon Echo Dot ($39) is the closest competitor to the Google Nest Mini. This globe-shaped speaker is Amazon Alexa-enabled and produces high-quality sound.
Finally, the Google Nest Mini (2nd generation) is an excellent little smart speaker. It’s simple to set up, fits almost anywhere, responds to voice commands, and sounds great. Given its low price, it’s practically a steal and a good way to get started with Assistant-powered gear.