Specialists liked how receptive Google Assistant was as they used the Google Nest Audio. They credited it for its ease of setup, high vocal clarity, and excellent speakerphone functionality. However, its missing AUX input, anti-climatic bass response, and hyper-sensitive touch controls were disappointing.
The Google Nest Audio is a mid-tier Bluetooth speaker launched in late 2020. As a Google product, the speaker comes with built-in support for Google Assistant. To give it a sleek and elegant design, its controls are concealed by its fabric covering. They’re situated on its top part and can control its volume levels and track playback.
The Google Nest Audio also has a companion app, just like most highly rated speakers do. Owners will be able to control its bass and treble levels through it or even pair it with another speaker for stereo sound. The speaker has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, giving it a slight edge over some of the best Bluetooth speakers on our list that don’t support WiFi.
Its lack of a battery means it is more suited for indoor use, but it does have a speakerphone functionality. These are similarities that it has with the Google Home Max, which we’ve also explored in our Google Home Max review.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Google Nest Audio impressed expert testers with how well it worked with Google Assistant and its Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. Analysts from WhatHifi liked how easy it was to set up, as all they needed to do was connect it with the Google Home app on their phone. They quickly linked it to various music and video streaming services during their tests.
Also, they appreciated how easily Google Assistant could pick up their voice with music playing at high volume. Thanks to its impressive vocal detail, they also found it great for listening to podcasts. Testers from Android Authority liked how well it worked as a speakerphone and liked that its microphone could pick up sound even from a distance.
Sadly, testers weren’t impressed with the Nest Audio’s lack of an AUX input and mediocre bass response. It was quite underwhelming, and so were its hyper-sensitive touch controls. It also doesn’t work with Siri, so check out our Apple HomePod review if this is a priority.
Reason to Buy
Works great with Google Assistant
Speakerphone functionality
Great vocal detail
Supports stereo pairing
Can play content from streaming services
Reason to Avoid
Hyper-sensitive controls
Unimpressive bass response
Google Nest Audio Specs
Battery Life
n/a
Built In Microphone
Yes
Charge Time
n/a
Driver Configuration
75mm
Height
6.9"
Smart App
Google Assistant, Hue, Nest
Speaker Pairing
Yes
Water Resistant
n/a, No
Wattage
30W
Width
4.9"
Wireless Range
25 ft
All Specs
Test Results
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The Google Nest Audio is a mid-tier Bluetooth speaker launched in late 2020. As a Google product, the speaker comes with built-in support for Google…
The Google Nest Audio is a mid-tier Bluetooth speaker launched in late 2020. As a Google product, the speaker comes with built-in support for Google Assistant. To give it a sleek and elegant design, its controls are concealed by its fabric covering. They’re situated on its top part and can control its volume levels and track playback.
The Google Nest Audio also has a companion app, just like most highly rated speakers do. Owners will be able to control its bass and treble levels through it or even pair it with another speaker for stereo sound. The speaker has Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity, giving it a slight edge over some of the best Bluetooth speakers on our list that don’t support WiFi.
Its lack of a battery means it is more suited for indoor use, but it does have a speakerphone functionality. These are similarities that it has with the Google Home Max, which we’ve also explored in our Google Home Max review.
The Google Nest Audio and the Google Nest Mini are very similar. Their only difference is that the Mini is smaller than the Nest Audio,…
The Google Nest Audio and the Google Nest Mini are very similar. Their only difference is that the Mini is smaller than the Nest Audio, weighing 0.4 pounds and 2.6 pounds, respectively. However, the Nest Audio gets louder than the Nest Mini and has a better bass level. Check out our Google Nest Mini review to see what else the Mini can do.
The Google Nest Audio gets louder than the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4, but the Gen 4 supports Amazon Alexa, while the Nest Audio works…
The Google Nest Audio gets louder than the Amazon Echo Dot Gen 4, but the Gen 4 supports Amazon Alexa, while the Nest Audio works with Google Assistant. Also, the Gen 4 has an AUX input while the Nest Audio does not, and Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices is shorter than that of the Nest Audio.
The Google Nest Audio supports Bluetooth connectivity and speakerphone functionality while the Sonos One Gen 2 does not, but the Gen 2 works with Amazon…
The Google Nest Audio supports Bluetooth connectivity and speakerphone functionality while the Sonos One Gen 2 does not, but the Gen 2 works with Amazon Alexa while the Nest Audio does not. The Gen 2 also works with Apple Airplay, unlike the Nest Audio.
