Quick verdict
The short answer
The Google Nest Audio is the best-sounding Google Assistant speaker Google has ever made at its price — a 75mm woofer and 19mm tweeter deliver room-filling audio that’s 75% louder with 50% more bass than the original Google Home, per Google’s claims. At $99.99 it remains the natural pick for Google households: Chromecast built-in, stereo pairing, and an Assistant that still answers general-knowledge questions better than any rival.
The catch is age. The Nest Audio launched in 2020, and Google has signaled a successor — its own store has teased a new “Google Home Speaker” for 2026 with Gemini-powered smarts — while the current model can feel sluggish as Google shifts AI features to newer hardware. If you’re all-in on Google and the price drops under $70 on sale, it’s still a fine buy; otherwise, weigh whether the next-generation speaker is worth waiting for.
One more thing shaping the decision: Google is rolling out Gemini for Home, its more conversational AI upgrade, across Nest speakers — but many of the headline features require a Google Home Premium subscription, which replaces the old Nest Aware plan. The Nest Audio will get some of the upgrade, yet Google’s newest capabilities (and its marketing energy) are clearly aimed at the incoming hardware. That makes the Nest Audio a better pick as a music-first speaker than as a future-proof AI device: buy it for the sound and the Assistant you know today, not for the Gemini features of tomorrow.
This is a research-based review. We have not tested the Google Nest Audio hands-on; every fact below comes from the manufacturer’s published specs, pricing, and independent reporting. Prices and specs checked September 30, 2026.
Key specs
| Drivers | 75 mm woofer + 19 mm tweeter; tuned for room-filling sound |
| Microphones | 3 far-field microphones |
| Voice assistant | Google Assistant with Voice Match; Gemini for Home rolling out to Nest speakers |
| Processor | Quad-core A53 1.8 GHz |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Streaming | Chromecast built-in; stereo pair two units; multi-room groups |
| Controls | Capacitive touch top (tap to play/pause, tap corners for volume); mic mute switch |
| Power | 30W DC barrel adapter, 1.5 m cable (included) |
| Size / weight | 124 x 175 x 78 mm (6.89 in tall); fabric-wrapped rounded rectangle |
| Colors | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage, Sand, Sky (availability varies by region) |
| Wired input | None — no 3.5mm aux jack |
Price and availability
Google lists the Nest Audio at $99.99 on the Google Store (and £89.99 in the UK), and it still shows as a current product. In practice it spends much of its life discounted: US retailers have repeatedly sold it for $49.99–$69.99, and two-packs for stereo pairing frequently appear around $89–$99.
The important context for 2026: Google has announced a new Google Home Speaker planned at $99 with 360-degree audio and Gemini built in, and Google Store pages have carried a “coming” banner for it. It is unclear whether the Nest Audio will be replaced, discounted further, or sold alongside the new model — check the Google Store for the current lineup before buying, especially if you want the newest AI features.
What it’s good at
- Best audio in its class for Google users: The dedicated woofer/tweeter combo and Google’s tuning produce clear vocals and genuinely powerful bass for a $100 speaker. Reviewers consistently rate it a clear step above the Echo Dot and Nest Mini for music.
- Google Assistant at its best: Voice Match recognizes household members, answers are fast and accurate on general knowledge, and integration with Google services (Calendar, Photos, YouTube Music, Nest devices) is seamless.
- Chromecast and multi-room: Cast from hundreds of apps, group it with other Nest/Chromecast speakers for whole-home audio, or stereo-pair two units — all without opening the Google Home app.
- Attractive, discreet design: The fabric-covered rounded body blends into a bookshelf or kitchen counter better than most black-cylinder speakers, and the touch controls are intuitive once learned.
- Reliable everyday helper: Timers, alarms, weather, traffic, quick calculations, and smart-home voice commands all respond quickly and accurately — the unglamorous daily tasks where a smart speaker earns its keep, handled without fuss.
- Smart home control: Works with thousands of Google Home-compatible devices, and the speaker doubles as a perfectly good voice remote for lights, thermostats, and routines.
- Broadcast and routines: Broadcast messages to every Google speaker in the house (“dinner’s ready”), chain multi-step morning and bedtime routines, and set sleep timers that fade music out — small touches that make the speaker feel woven into the household rather than bolted on.
Where it falls short
- Aging platform: Launched in 2020 on a 2018-era chip. As Google rolls out Gemini for Home — with some advanced features tied to a Google Home Premium subscription — the Nest Audio may not get the full experience. Confirm which AI features your device supports before assuming parity with new hardware.
- No wired input: There’s no 3.5mm jack, so you can’t connect a turntable, TV, or computer directly — streaming and casting only.
- Mains power only: No battery option; it’s a shelf speaker, not a portable one.
- Successor uncertainty: With a new Google Home Speaker announced at the same $99 price, buying the Nest Audio now risks instant obsolescence — or a steep clearance discount. Either way, waiting a few weeks to see how the lineup settles could pay off.
- Google’s smart home attention: Google has been slower than Amazon with new smart home hardware and has restructured subscriptions (Nest Aware → Google Home Premium); long-term software support for a 2020 speaker is a legitimate question.
Who should buy it
Google-household members who want the best-sounding Assistant speaker under $100 — especially on sale under $70. Ideal for kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms where music quality matters and you live in Google Calendar, Photos, and YouTube Music. Also a good pick for anyone building multi-room Chromecast audio on a budget.
Who should skip it
Anyone who wants the newest Gemini AI features (wait for the new Google Home Speaker), Apple-centric households (the HomePod mini fits better), Alexa power users who need the broadest smart-home device compatibility, and anyone who needs a wired aux input or battery portability.
Verdict
4.2 / 5 — Still the best-sounding Google Assistant speaker for the money, with unbeatable Google-service integration. But in 2026 it’s a 2020 product staring down its own replacement; buy it on sale, or wait to see what the new Google Home Speaker brings.
FAQ
Is the Google Nest Audio discontinued?
Not as of September 30, 2026 — it remains listed on the Google Store at $99.99. However, Google has teased a new Google Home Speaker for 2026, so the lineup may change. Check the Google Store for the current status.
Can you stereo pair two Nest Audio speakers?
Yes. In the Google Home app you can pair two Nest Audio units as a left/right stereo pair, and group any number of Nest/Chromecast speakers for multi-room playback.
Does the Nest Audio work with Apple Music or Spotify?
Yes to both, plus YouTube Music, Pandora, Deezer, and others via voice or casting. You can also stream anything from your phone over Bluetooth 5.0.
Does it have a 3.5mm aux input?
No. The Nest Audio has no wired audio input — all playback is over Wi-Fi (Chromecast) or Bluetooth.