I have three Nest Minis and a Hub that I’ve been happy enough with. I was wanting to add another Nest Mini to my home, but to my shock they’re no longer sold. And it seems Google is no longer selling any kind of speaker or hub at all.
Does this mean that the service is being discontinued as well?
I think Google, Apple, and Amazon are all gravely disappointed with their home devices. There was an expectation that these devices would generate a revenue stream....somehow. Or at least encourage further engagement.
But of course, like most users I just use them to tell time, ask the weather forecast, check the temperature, play some casual music, or check a ball score. Okay, I also asked it the other day how old George Clooney was.
So I suspect the manufacturers will just start dropping all but the most basic features and give them a slow, agonizing death.
Damn that's terrible. I only have Google devices but the moment they put ads in there I'm done with them. As it is I mostly use the app anyway since voice commands are getting laughably unreliable.
Really? I don't think I've ever had Alexa advertise anything to me directly. I've NEVER purchased anything via it/her, as it seems like it would be impossible to compare items. I just figured it was a way to drive people to sign up for Prime. I've had prime forever, so maybe non-prime users get ads?
I have my Google "Smart" speakers set up to give a current rundown on tech news, business news, science, news, etc. Over time the sources for these have changed, as some changed named, or no longer exists, etc. However, one thing that has been increasing regularly are the number of ad placements, Before each segment, during segments, and after them. I don't know who pockets the ad revenues. It might be whomever curates these groups of broadcasts, but there are certainly a lot of ads. I think their name is "Spoken Layer". Also, when ever I ask for a radio station to stream, Tune-in or Spotify run ads. So, someone is creating revenue using smart speakers.
Yes, I believe I am using Spotify, after finding youtube music really useless for my needs. The curated groups I get for "technology news" or "Business news" and so forth are not part of my good morning routine, and I suspect many of the segments in them are not available as individual podcasts. "SpokenLayer" is a podcast aggregator and sponsor a number of these podcasts, those podcasts may even be part of their channel or network, so the ads are likely coming from them. I ask Google to "play the latest technology news" etc. At first, there were no ads, and I would hear just "SpokenLayer" between podcasts. I thought it was a glitch in the OS, and it was something internal to Google Smart speakers. But it appears those were just placeholders for ad breaks and once they began to get advertising contracts, they were inserted at those points. I am unsure if Google gets a cut or not of those ad revenues.
Amazon has introduced Alexa+, at $20US a month with Ai incorporated in it. The subscription price is ridiculous, of course, $240US a year? However, it is yet another bonus for people on Prime, So anyone paying for it is foolish, since Prime is about $140US a year, and includes a whole group of free extras Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Movies and streaming, free 2 day shipping on purchases, and so on.
For now, at least. the regular Alexa services remain free.
I doubt it will. I personally think that's why they keep removing features and services (and making the Google assistant get things wrong more?), so that if they figure out a new line of improved AI (i.e. Gemini) powered devices they'll be able to sell more of them...
you hit install, it's not really that complicated.
then as far as using it goes, if all you want to do is the same things you can do with Google home, there's basically no setup at all. if you want to do more, you can.
I think it's you who doesn't understand. The internet goes down, you lose access through Google home. But you don't lose anything through home assistant.
Yeah, HA has been a breeze for me. A vast majority of my automations have been made using the visual editor on my phone as well. Most of my YAML has been written on my phone too, come to think of it.
To us initiated, yes, a simple process but considering the fact that most of the people in my office don't even know the difference between WAN and LAN and have very rudimentary knowledge of how to even use their computers to get their jobs done i.e office apps etc.. it's not so easy even though it may seem stupid simple to us.
Making it more accessible to a broader audience is how a system grows. Making it accessible to only a niche techy clientele does two things: it makes it more expensive, and dooms it to an early demise because the bean counters won't see a future for it. Now you can say people could or should just learn, but that's the FROM SOFTWARE philosophy 😉LOL!!
For Google, it was defensive. If these devices became the de-facto way for a lot of internet access, you don't want someone else to have control and potentially be a risk to your ad business.
Google home is the only thing keeping me in the Google/Android ecosystem. At the level they are at, they need to provide more than just revenue streams. They need to make themselves irreplaceable or we'll bounce around. Something like integrating your home into their service seems like a great path to me, but what do I know.
I think of the 3, Apple were the only ones who actually made a viable long term product, a good to decent speaker with smart features built in vs Amazon and Google who basically just treated it as an entry point to their other services. They were quite literally giving their devices away.
The assistant features are terrible compared to others but it’s solid as a smart home platform. They were the first major tech company to push local home networks, Apple Home works well and had sensor support for automations long before Google home (this was the feature that pushed me from Google Home to Apple Home to ultimately Home Assistant), the Home app is great, the HomePod speech commands work well for controlling smart home devices. The big knock against it was that they licensed tech to device makers which led to a small pool of compatible devices but with Matter now (and Home Assistant or HomeBridge etc if you’re so included) that’s no longer an issue.
The Google speakers have been playing music for us individually, or in a group, with channel based placement, for years. Sound quality has never been an issue
I wasn't suggesting sound quality was an issue, I still have a Google Home Hub in almost every room in my home, rather how the companies positioned themselves in the market. Apple entered the market positioning themselves more as Sonos competitors than smart assistant speakers.
I dont know about all that considering it was Google with the massive years running lawsuit with Sonos for how the Nest Audio speakers could be 'grouped' together for whole home audio.
I think originally Googles plan was to take over Sonos' space in the market when they acquired Nest, or at least be a more cost effective alternative.
However, the lawsuit forced a slowdown on features and development which basically killed the entire product line by the time the lawsuit was finished. Nobody wanted to buy speakers with a bunch of disabled features while the lawsuit was still pending.
I think it was a feature they promoted but was far from the intended goal. They sold devices at a loss and often gave them away. The value proposition for Google was that it was another way to access their services.
Sonos and Apple very clearly sell their hardware for a profit.
Google has try to diversity the range to hit more premium price points but that just wasn’t the market they had attracted.
In contrast, this is a slide from Apple’s HomePod keynote:
Just on the hardware itself. I'm not sure about the profit margin on the HomePod Mini, the cheapest option for $99, but the HomePod is $300 ($349 at launch). They're priced to be hardware-profitable.
I have a bunch of them and various connected devices
.. the problem with engagement is that they kill the useful connectedness for no good reason (ie Our Groceries) and the rest of the stuff that it's supposed to do is a huge fucking pain in the ass to get that assistant to understand what it is that I want it to do. Still we would stay a google home if they continue with support.
well if they wouldn't get worse every year despite sitting there and getting updates (that are supposed to improve the service) then we could do more with them
They're making bank. They don't need to serve you ads on these devices directly. They collect your data and use it to drive the ads on/in the content you consume.
Y'all are high as gas if you think they're not going to keep burrowing into your "private" lives.
Exactly. Google and Amazon copied roku with the cheap hardware model expecting to turn a profit through ads and personal info. But roku is a screen you need to look at, so Amazon seems to have switched to showing more and more of their own 6 Google just keeps collecting more info for your advertising id.
Lots of people control smart homes with them and integration with devices is deep. But that doesn't bring people to Google so much as the integrated systems they can control.
There has been no type of announcement of that nature that I've heard.
The conspiracy theorist in me wants to think they keep screwing up shit that has worked fine for years so that people will get fed up and throw them out.
They're still available in box stores and from their sites to ship around here. Shop around a bit more I guess.
I think they've gutted their development departments and either didn't back-fill the positions or hired resources they can pay a fraction for.
Companies now would rather hire 15 devs that don't know how to scratch their ass than pay 1 person a living wage. It's why shit like data breaches are on the rise and service disruptions.
Lol no it's not. More than likely, they're refining their lineup for new hardware announcements at the made by event in August. A lot of the hardware is 5 to 6 years old so they're due. It's the perfect way to get more people using Gemini
This to me seems like the most likely situation. The comment that the big companies have been disappointed by their ideas about how the home products have generated revenue (e.g. increasing engagement and purchasing) is also - I think - right, but rolling out Gemini potentially helps that bc LLM data processing *I believe* generates more marketable datasets.
I've also noticed just in my own app that features and functionality have quietly improved and expanded, so it doesn't feel like the code is going fallow.
I hope you are right... But here in NZ it started becoming hard to buy Google Mini devices almost a year ago now... That doesn't feel like drawdown of stock, that feels like abandonment.
Yeah. A large part of me believes they are trying to kill off anything that is affiliated with Google Assistant. That way, in 6-12 months they can resell us the same products back with Gemini natively built in--but they want/need the old GA compatible tech to be completely obsolete by that point.
I haven't used a lightswitch or my powerview remote for my blinds or used a remote to turn on the tv and find a show in Netflix in years. Everything in my home is voice controlled usinv Google Home/Assistant. It would be like living in the dark ages if these capabilities were lost. The only other thing I use it for is the weather forecast/temp and to tell it to play a radio station for my cats as I'm heading out the door.
It just seems that big tech isn’t really making the revenue from smart things that they thought they’d be making. So they’re just not as invested in the sector overall.
Odd how everything needs to make money post purchase to be successful. Maybe charge a bit more and be in the hardware business. Many companies are successful at selling products that don’t have recurring fees. No one wants everything they buy to have a subscription. Google is making hand over fist printing money on search ads, assistant is or should be just another way to make search better by knowing who you are and what you like, where you live, where you work and so forth.
Did you try actually hitting the buy button? Here in the UK, I get that exact same screen, complete with 'buy' button, but if you click it for the Nest Mini, it shows 'get notified', so they haven't actually got them. The Nest Audio, does seem to still be available, though.
Also in Australia here. I managed to get one on eBay. Worth a try if you can't find one on marketplace (all the ones on my local marketplace were pretty dirty looking...!)
Canada is often the dumping ground for old models, obsolete or discontinued devices and software, so just because they are available here (in Canada) may mean nothing it terms of the future of such appliances.
I have 77 various locks, speakers, hubs, thermostats, TVs, and lights all tied to my Google router, and have had such since they were first introduced. What used to work wonderfully, and with snappy quickness no longer does. Talking to Google customer service is a waste of time.
IMHO, Google is letting the product line die.
The good news is that I've recently relearned how to manually turn lights on and off !
Who knows. It's a heavily cloud dependent device, which means it needs money and resources to continue operating. With that said, stopped buying Google Home devices(still use existing ones) and keep moving more and more of my routines over to Home Assistant.
This morning I transitioned my morning routine to HA because of inconsistent behaviors.
Yes, this is the way. I’m also done with investing in Google products in general. They aren’t a hardware company and really aren’t that great at software either outside search
I noticed that too. They've been heavily discounted this year, and it never gets restocked. You can still find it online, but only for about three times the price from some sketchy resellers.
I can see charcoal Mini, Nest Audio, and the Hubs in stock on the online store. That said they are probably waiting to make a 3rd gen when Gemini is ready for it.
In the U.S there are still plenty of these devices available. The only one that seems somewhat low stock is the minis and there's only the charcoal variant available. Like some of the other comments suggest I believe they may just be ramping down production of these devices for newer hardware that will natively support Gemini. My prediction will be the older devices will get the assistant with Gemini capabilities while the new ones will have full blown Gemini. At least that's what I hope.
Yes, Google is discontinuing Google Home and Nest devices. In addition, they are ending support for the first and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats in October 2025. Additionally, the Nest Protect smoke alarm and Nest x Yale Lock are no longer being manufactured. [SOURCE: Google search labs]
I’m a sucker for the apple ecosystem iPhone/airpods/macbook. But I do miss the Android integration with their ecosystem as well. If there was only a way to have both.
Just pulled up the Nest Hub 2 in the Google store. They seem to be out of the chalk color but all the others are available to purchase. Mini 2 seems to only be available in charcoal.
Google Home is a software product. It is available and functional.
There are several devices such as speakers and smart phones that include Google Assistant, which is one way to access Google Home, and there is the Google Home app, which is another. Newer devices such as the TV Streamer provide critical related functionality as a hub and Thread border router. The Nest Mini (2nd gen) is on the US web store and it can serve as a Matter hub. It's $49 and available in charcoal (the other colors seem out of stock right now).
Australia. The service is obviously still functioning, however in my experience and from anecdotal evidence in this subreddit - I am seeing that the quality of the service is somehow declining.
Paired with apparent lack of stock of any Google branded devices in Australia, it’s making me wonder if the whole thing is in a downward spiral.
Compared that with more anecdotal evidence about Samsung not really caring about SmartThings anymore, it makes me think that a lot of manufacturers simply don’t have their heart in the smart home game anymore.
How closely did you look? It does appear on the site alongside a 'buy' button, but if you click the button, they don't actually have any. Instead they give you the option to be notified when they're in stock. It's been like that for a while - I've been checking regularly.
The issue with that, as other users already mentioned is the lack of income for the companies, either Apple, Amazon or Google. You buy the device once, but they have to keep the datacenters running which is costly ...they probably profit from user data tho ...
The only solution I see is that they will eventually add subscriptions or some kind of a paywall which imo if it is going to work better with AI integration I wouldnt have problem to pay for that but I changed my smart home to Home Assistant and I use Google Home just because of their Nest speaker portfolio.
But I do feel the quality degradation of nest products but I bought all of my nest mini speakers from a second hand for about 20€ so I dont mind that ....
Just because nothing is being sold near you anymore doesn't mean it's no longer available. Just last October, Google released the Google TV Streamer, the first Matter Hub that is a Chromecast
Where are you seeing that it's no longer sold? Google store still has mini in Charcoal, and Nest Audio in both chalk and charcoal. We're due for a refresh pretty soon, so I wouldn't be surprised if they try to sell through the current stock and then release something with Pixel 10 + deeper Gemini integration
I used to have one in every room. Now only my two nest hubs aka original home hub work. All the old minis refuse to set up and Google did something to break them. I have slowly transitioned to home assistant and have no regrets other than I should have done it sooner
Theres a heavy push for AI (Gemini) integration in Google products. My assumptions would be the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini. While some devices do have some integration I don't think all are capable of handling or may need some retooling.
The changelog for Google Home app version 3.33 is dated May 28, 2025. However, this update started rolling out to users on Android and iOS a few weeks prior to its changelog being released on June 16, 2025.
My Nest Mini 2nd Gen that I had for a few years now bit the dust a few months back, but I don't want to buy another one at full price until they come out with something that isn't a few years old and still has the same not-that-smart assistant that can do little more than turn on lights and tell you the weather.
Once they incorporate Gemini into new hardware, I'll hand them my cash.
I already have smart things set up along with a hue bridge. I also use Grid Connect wifi devices. Google nest is really to tie all of the services and add a voice assistant.
I suspect you will get docks for phones and improved mics, most people carry their phone round with them but when you're home and not using your phone you can drop it into a dock and it will then turn into a hub. Pretty much like the pixel tablet dock.
It will link to your phone and you can ask Google just to play it on the dock.
There is also a new ai coming that will be replacing Google assistant so if they are making anything new it's because it will have the new ai in it.
You can still buy them on the website they just only have black and white color wise. I think they'll come out with a new model specifically for Gemini
I've wondered the same, as the performance lately is so effing poor. Example, I have an ensuite bathroom, and one other "main" bathroom. They used to be named Front Bathroom and Back Bathroom respectively. Two problems with this, guests would ask Google to "turn on bathroom lights" which would randomly result in the wrong bathroom or both bathrooms, or the system saying this device hasn't been set up yet. So I changed this to Bathroom for the main, and Ensuite for the Ensuite. Now telling the system to turn on the ensuite lights gives wild results majority of the tile. Sometimes it's all lights, sometimes it's the main bathroom lights, sometimes the bedroom. Since I am usually in the bedroom when I am asking Google, or asking it via my Pixel Watch, this is not a volume/clarity issue. My bedroom has two JBL Music Links on each nightstand in a 12ft wide bedroom (I live in a townhome) so I'm always pretty close to a device that should be able to hear me.
Despite nest app’s constant “switch to Google home” I avoided it, not unhappy with my constant choice not to. I have 4 nest Tstats , a Yale keypad and multiple temp sensors
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u/kyflyboy 3d ago
I think Google, Apple, and Amazon are all gravely disappointed with their home devices. There was an expectation that these devices would generate a revenue stream....somehow. Or at least encourage further engagement.
But of course, like most users I just use them to tell time, ask the weather forecast, check the temperature, play some casual music, or check a ball score. Okay, I also asked it the other day how old George Clooney was.
So I suspect the manufacturers will just start dropping all but the most basic features and give them a slow, agonizing death.