Google opens preorders for its new Gemini-powered Home Speaker

In short: Google is launching a new Google Home Speaker that uses the Gemini assistant, with preorders on June 17 and sales on June 25.

What happened

Google announced that preorders for its new Google Home Speaker start June 17, with official sales beginning June 25. The speaker costs $100. It comes in Berry, Jade, Hazel, and Porcelain, and Berry and Jade are only available in the US.

This is Google’s first new dedicated smart speaker in about six years. The biggest change is the assistant inside. Earlier Google speakers used Google Assistant, but this one is built around Gemini, Google’s newer chatbot style assistant (a chat-based helper you can talk to in a more natural way).

Google says Gemini should be easier to talk to than the older assistant. You can correct yourself mid-sentence, ask follow-up questions without repeating everything, and combine multiple requests in one go, like turning off most lights except one.

The speaker also includes features meant to make everyday use simpler. There is a glowing ring of lights around the base, so you can see when it is listening or working on a request. It has a physical mute switch, which stops the microphones from listening.

Some features require a subscription. Gemini Live, which lets you keep talking back and forth without repeating “Hey Google,” is available only with Google Home Premium. Buyers get six months of that service for free.

Why it matters

For people who use voice speakers for music, timers, and smart home control, this launch signals Google’s shift to Gemini as the default voice helper in the home. It could also increase pressure on rivals like Amazon and Apple, which are also updating Alexa and Siri.

Source: Wired