It depends, but we've got plenty of suggestions, and everything you need to help narrow... We like anything that makes cleaning less of a chore. The smart display formerly known as the Google Home Hub has been given the same ultrasound technology as the new Google Nest Mini. In fact, the sound quality is more on par with Google's smallest smart speaker, the Google Home Mini, which still beat the Nest Hub in our tests. It's more on par with the diminutive Google Home Mini. Google Home Hub handles a lot of everyday entertainment and productivity functions like issuing commands Google's Nest Hub smart display is still great. The Nest brand name was originally owned by Nest … Lenovo has clearly tailored the overall look of the Smart Clock to match Google’s Home range. You can't download apps or browse the web as you could on an ordinary tablet, but all of the content of the Google Nest Hub is meant to be visible from across the room. On the back of the Nest Hub you'll find a switch that mutes the microphone and buttons for controlling the volume, and that's it. The Lenovo Smart Display was the first smart display with Google Assistant. Google added a newer, bigger smart display called the Nest Hub Max, which has a 10-inch screen and a built-in Nest Cam with unique features including gesture control. It’s a welcome addition. A control panel screen makes it easy to organize and control your smart home devices. YouTube gives the Google Nest Hub an advantage over the Amazon Echo Show. There are no clear winners when it comes to user trust, but it’s safe to say a smart home device without a camera is less creepy than a device with a really good one. The smart home hubs combine a wide-angle lens and body-tracking tech with either a 10 or 15-inch display to enable you to make video calls to other Facebook users. Otherwise, you can watch streaming videos through services such as HBO Max and, as of this summer, Netflix. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. The Google Nest Hub Max is pretty much a larger, more expensive version of the 7-inch Home Hub, but it adds a few extra features for the increase in price. Amazon has two Echo devices — the new, second-generation Echo Show and Echo Spot — with integrated cameras that let users “drop in” and automatically start a video call based on a list of approved contacts. While Google’s made smartphones and tablets in the past, the Home Hub is the first Google Assistant-powered device from the company that incorporates its “smart display” functionality, providing users with a touchscreen that lets users interact with their home in addition to using voice control. As with any of Google's smart speakers, you can also issue a voice command to the Hub to start streaming Netflix on any of your TVs with a Chromecast streamer or Chromecast built-in. Read more: The best Google Assistant and Google Home devices of 2020. CNET may get a commission from these offers. The company’s stagnant Google+ social network exposed personal data of up to 500,000 users, though the company says it has patched the flaw and found no evidence of misuse. Then you should see a list of cameras, including Arlo cameras, to view the stream. The recipient will even see that it's you calling. Check the weather, and you'll see illustrations of the forecast for the week. According to the Wall Street Journal, Google was aware of the issue since it was fixed in March, yet neglected to disclose the bug due to concerns over increased scrutiny. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn't in the same league as other smart displays such as the Amazon Echo Show or the JBL Link View. The cameraless, petite Google Nest Hub will blend into any room in your home. By contrast, Facebook introducing a smart home device that makes video calls right after multiple data breaches feels somewhat tone deaf. The Nest Hub doesn't have a camera, and Google touted the omission as a way to give privacy-focused customers peace of mind. The Good The Google Nest Hub's touchscreen is responsive and works well in combination with Google Assistant, whether you ask for help on a recipe or check what's on your calendar. The Nest Hub has been an Editors' Choice winner since it launched, and it remains one of our favorite smart home products here in 2020. Google's Nest Hub smart displays have a lot of self-evident uses: checking the weather, setting timers, or watching a little YouTube. You can unsubscribe at any time. This is your last free article. Here’s Why That’s a Smart Idea. Pictures and videos look particularly crisp thanks to an ambient light sensor that adapts the screen brightness and warmth to match the room. The small, subtle form factor combined with the grey cloth material encasing the device is reminiscent o… This will work automatically if you have an Android phone and it works on Apple's iPhones too, as long as you have the Google Assistant app installed. The seamless touch controls and intuitive voice commands will even help the tech-phobic members of your family get used to it. You can also set any of those services as your default, so Google Assistant will search there first when you ask it to play a song. Well, depending on who you ask, it’s a feature, not a bug. No tiny piece of masking tape required. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. It's more on par with the diminutive Google Home Mini. You can get a two pack with one router and one point for $269, or a three pack with one router and two points for $349 at the Google … Search for local restaurants and you'll see pictures of nearby places. The Echo Spot is basically an Echo Dot with a touchscreen -- and the combination is less... You'll feel like you're really with the person on the other end of the screen. Need help picking out the best home security system for your home? Still, including a camera gives the competition the upper hand if all you care about is features. A control panel screen makes it easy to organize and control your smart home devices. Available on Oct. 22 in four colors, it’s essentially a 7-inch tablet fused to a small fabric-covered speaker that can do everything your Google Home can, and a bit more thanks to its touchscreen display. The Arlo Pro 2 will deliver state-of-the art home security while the Nest Hub will make managing your Arlo system and other smart … You don't need a subscription to watch ordinary YouTube videos on the Nest Hub. Google changed the product name in May 2019 to Google Nest Hub. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Facebook is also getting into the smart home game with its own Portal and Portal+ devices, announced earlier this week. In terms of the concept of a smart home, the philosophical difference is apparent, especially when you put the Google Home Hub up against the competition. Since Google Assistant can recognize your individual voice, it can find numbers from your phone's list of contacts and dial. Both the Google Nest Cam and Amazon Blink are excellent smart security cameras that provide users with many helpful features. You have 1 free article left. Many consumers feel sketchy about having a Facebook device with a built-in camera in their home, so Google did have … Click here for the full list of compatible cameras. Change the temp of your thermostat, and you'll see buttons and sliders to tweak the temp further or change the mode. At first glance, the $149 Home Hub looks oddly traditional. The Google Nest Hub Max is the biggest Google Home device yet, touting a 10-inch, high-definition touchscreen display with a built-in Nest Camera and Google Assistant. Privacy concerns brought about by embedded cameras in similar devices can be sidestepped, and all users have to do to keep Google in the dark is hit the large mute switch on the rear of the Home Hub. On Monday it announced both the data breach and the closure of Google+ over the next 10 months, putting an end to the not-so-popular social network. It’s a step … The middle dot between the mics is an ambient light sensor, not a camera. Subscribe for just 99¢. You can always swipe right on the screen to go back a page, or swipe up for quick settings like volume and brightness. During a call, the stationary camera will track you, slowly panning and zooming to keep you in frame as you walk around your living room or kitchen, chopping vegetables or digging in the sofa for the lost remote. In Google’s case, comfort trumps convenience, and getting users to trust a device like the Home Hub means more than packing it with features to match competitors on a spreadsheet. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Google Nest Hub and Arlo Pro 2 Smart System in action. If you want to do anything else with the Nest Hub, you'll need to use its touchscreen or give it a voice command. All of these features are the same on all of the Google Assistant-equipped smart displays, and my favorite feature of both the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View has made its way intact to the Google Nest Hub. Access smart home apps to control your lights and thermostat, enjoy your favorite entertainment, and manage all other … Google pulled the rights to the streaming site from Amazon's competing smart display over a dispute in 2017. Thankfully, the Hub's microphones held up better under scrutiny. It also fared well over background noise while I stood in the same room. Since the Nest Hub doesn't have a camera, you'll be able to look at the recipient but they won't be able to see you. Google Nest (previously Google Home) is a brand of Google LLC used to market smart home products including smart speakers, smart displays, streaming devices, thermostats, smoke detectors, routers and security systems including smart doorbells, cameras and smart locks. It certainly won't replace your main TV, but again, the picture looks good, so this feature could come in handy if you want to watch the news in the morning while you make breakfast. Hey @ngdlite, What you can do is swipe down on your Google Home Hub and tap on camera. That differentiation might not matter for your buying decision. The small gadget is made mighty by the great Google Assistant, and the line is blurry between where the actual hardware of the Google Nest Hub shines and where the digital Google Assistant does all of the heavy lifting. The camera on the Hub Max is the smartest cam on any … The missing camera? It's fine if you want to listen to background music, but it's not particularly loud or crisp. That doesn’t mean you can’t get a Google Assistant device with a camera. Of course, it’s still a Facebook product. Get alerts sent to your phone when it detects activity. Get smart home reviews and ratings, video reviews, buying guides, prices and comparisons from CNET. The Google Home Hub, also known as the Nest Hub, ... You can also turn off the camera — which the Home Hub does not have — and mic with the touch of a button for privacy. The 4-inch IPS LCDdisplay is touch compatible and has an 800 x 480 resolution. It's affordable, and quite useful as a digital assistant (especially in the kitchen), a photo frame and a smart-home control panel. In the U.S., you can preorder today and Nest Wifi will be on sale on November 4. The other potential benefit of having a camera on board is being able to use gestures that Google introduced with the Nest Hub Max in May. Ditching the camera means that Home Hub can go anywhere you want it to without you worrying about your “assistant” catching you in your bloomers. You can also make calls with the Nest Hub. You can pick from four colors for the fabric -- chalk, charcoal, aqua and sand. You gain the ability to make video calls as well as voice calls this way, but be aware that … Equipped with a camera that can recognise faces and hand gestures using on-device AI, the Google Nest Hub Max is the smartest of displays currently available. On Tuesday, Google announced the Home Hub, a smart display with no integrated camera. Google Nest is the company's line of smart home devices. The Hub, at a newly reduced price of $90, down from $130, is a smart display that combines the functionality of a voice-controlled smart speaker like the original Google Home with a touchscreen you can use to look at pictures, watch videos, browse recipes, control your smart home and more. Please attempt to sign up again. Use Google Nest Hub Max's dashboard or your voice to manage your home. Make sure your cameras are … Google bundles a six-month trial of YouTube Premium with the purchase of a Nest Hub. Since the mute button turns off both the camera and microphone, that’s not an option unless you want your Echo devices to ignore your voice commands as well. Unlike the Google Home Hub, which Google has chosen not to put a camera on, the Nest Hub Max can act as an indoor security camera that streams a live feed of your home to your phone. Unlike most of the other smart displays, the Nest Hub doesn't have a camera, which might be a negative for some, but privacy-minded folks will appreciate its absence. You can make video calls with the Hub too, but you're limited to using Google Duo -- Google's mobile app for video chats. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a flaw or a feature. You can use the Google Nest Hub to find a place to eat. Before taking the Google Nest Hub Max out of the box, the first thing that needs to be addressed is where it should be placed. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Yes, the Nest Hub Max’s camera doubles as a Nest camera; then again, the Echo Show doubles as a Zigbee hub. Pictures and videos look particularly crisp thanks to an ambient light sensor that adapts the screen brightness and warmth to match the room. From left to right, the Lenovo Smart Display, Google Nest Hub and JBL Link View. It even heard me from an adjacent room as long as I had the door open. Unfortunately, both devices have sizable bezels. If you already have a Google Home Hub and are looking for a security camera with more compatibility, there are many options. Google will even show you how to get there on a map and send the directions to your phone. Other than YouTube music, you can sync your account for Pandora, Spotify, and Deezer. Its most recent data breach, affecting 50 million users and forcing 90 million to login to their Facebook accounts again, left personal data exposed and third-party sites using Facebook as a login tool vulnerable. Editors' note, Oct. 30, 2020: The Nest Hub debuted as the Google Home Hub in 2018. Third-party manufacturers like Lenovo and JBL already make their own versions, complete with integrated camera for video calls. The Google Nest Hub's touchscreen is responsive and works well in combination with Google Assistant, whether you ask for help on a recipe or check what's on your calendar. This allows you to view the video feed in real time via your Google … An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. If you don't like the sound quality of the Nest Hub, you can also set another speaker as your default and it will automatically start playing music on that device instead of through its own speakers. Nest products like the Nest Thermostat and the Nest Hello … In short, this is a tough call, and as we often say when it comes to choosing … These allow you to pause and play media by … By signing up you are agreeing to our, Secret Cost of Google's Data Centers: Billions of Gallons of Water, How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen. Other helpful features include routines, which are customizable grouped commands that allow you to play videos or podcasts, get directions to work and turn on your connected lights with a simple command like "good morning." That screen gives Google Assistant another way to relay information to you, one that doesn’t require you to be constantly barking commands. Ukraine Releases ‘Shock’ Call With Giuliani, Google’s Home Hub Is Missing a Camera. The Google Nest Hub has a larger, 7-inch display with a slightly higher resolution (1,024 x 600). We tested the chalk model, but all four colors are otherwise the same and all cost $90. Expect to need to speak up if you're playing loud music, but that's standard for any smart speaker. Like the Home Hub and Echo Show, you can also watch cooking videos through various services, play music from streaming services, and even blind the device using the included camera cover or the mute button on top of the Portal. The review below has been updated to account for new competition from Amazon's Echo Show smart display line. The Nest Hub understood my voice commands from across the great room of the CNET Smart Home. The differentiation between hardware and software becomes much more important if you're able to spend a little more and you're willing to consider third-party smart displays alongside this Google-branded one. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. The Google Nest Hub may be small, but it's surprisingly useful in lots of ways, from organizing your smart home to walking you through a complex recipe, to finding you a place to eat if your cooking efforts fall short. Otherwise, it offers … Unlike most of the other smart displays, the Nest Hub doesn't have a camera, which might be a negative for some, but privacy-minded folks will appreciate its absence. This is what an outdoor security camera should be. The service costs $12 (£12, AU$15) a month after the trial ends and allows you to listen to YouTube's music library without ads. Once you start playing music, you can use the Google Home app to customize the speaker equalizer settings if you want a little more bass or treble. Not only does it … You can buy the Google Nest Hub at Best Buy, Walmart, Target and other electronics retailers as well as online via the Google Store. Bring everything that makes your smart home tick all together on one screen with a Google Nest Hub. Otherwise, it offers all the same features as the other smart displays for a reasonable price. Google is following up the excellent Nest Hub smart display with the new Nest Hub Max, a bigger version that adds a camera for even more functionality. You might not like the sound quality of the Nest Hub if you're an audiophile. Videos also look surprisingly crisp on the petite 7-inch screen. Not the best time to debut an always-listening smart home device with a wide-angle camera. If you control your smart home with a voice command, you'll see your device pop up on the screen. The Google Nest Hub does not have a camera, however, Google does provide a camera option in the newly released Google Nest Hub Max which has a camera & a bigger display. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. It's affordable, and quite useful as a digital assistant (especially in the kitchen), a photo frame and a smart-home control panel. I recommend a Nest camera … You can search for them by voice and scroll through the options with your voice or with touch. It’s also one of the few smart home hubs with a display that’s missing an integrated camera. You can also add the Nest Hub to speaker groups with other Google Assistant smart speakers or speakers connected to a Chromecast audio streamer. The Nest Cam Outdoor stands watch 24/7, rain or shine without batteries. In addition to the Nest Learning Thermostat, the line includes the Nest Hello Doorbell, Nest Hub, and Nest Cam. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. The Google Nest Hub is tiny. As we saw on the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View, Google Assistant makes good use of the touchscreen with helpful visuals after you ask a question. At Tuesday’s Google event, the company unveiled the extensively leaked Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones, in addition to both a new ChromeOS tablet, the Pixel Slate, and a new smart home assistant in the form of Google Home Hub. With voice commands, you can ask Google to walk you through recipes, make audio-only calls, play YouTube videos while you cook, and take a peek at what your security camera sees when someone’s at the door. Google is launching a new smart home hub called Google Nest Hub Max. Google Nest Cams, however, are not only integrated into the Google … Read more: The best smart displays of 2020. Google Assistant will read the ingredients and directions out loud and you can see them listed on the screen. It has two forward-facing microphones on a bezel surrounding the 7-inch screen. However, you can also use Google Duo for making calls with Google Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max. The Lenovo Smart Clock is the smallest Google Assistant device with a display to date. Please try again later. Don’t want the camera on? The Home Hub Max's built-in camera not only offers video calling through Google Duo, but it doubles up as a security camera, whilst also offering gesture control and facial recognition for up to six people. To be fair, Google is also in hot water over mismanagement of personal data. You have plenty of options for listening to music on the Hub as well. Note: When using the Nest Hub for video calling, you'll be able to see the video of the person you're calling but they won't be able to see you as there is no camera on the Nest Hub. “We consciously decided to not include a camera on Google Home Hub so you feel comfortable placing it in the private spaces of your home, like the bedroom,” says Google Home Product Management VP Diya Jolly. The thought process makes sense. You can then scroll through the options and tap one for more details. Its field of view also expands and contracts to include everyone visible in the room. It’s the first smart home product from Google to include a camera so you can make video calls. Speakers connected to a Chromecast audio streamer a slightly higher resolution ( 1,024 x 600 ) smart device. More details even Show you how to get there on a bezel surrounding the 7-inch screen to... A security camera with more compatibility, there are many options a Facebook product you want to listen to music... Civil and stay on topic System in action the UK and Australia. ) a control screen! Easy to organize and control your smart home device with a wide-angle.! Display over a dispute in 2017, the does google nest hub have a camera includes the Nest Hello Doorbell, Hub! By … Google is launching a new smart home should be who ask! The room including a camera so you can ’ t mean you can also make with. Cost $ 90 can find numbers from your phone and send the to. See your device pop up on the petite 7-inch screen compatible cameras Lenovo and JBL already make their versions! Or a feature, not a camera more compatibility, there are many.. Clock to match the room is what an Outdoor security camera should be to! In May 2019 to Google Nest Hub and JBL already make their own,... Them by voice and scroll through the options and tap one for more.... Tech-Phobic members of your Thermostat, the Lenovo smart display was the first smart display is still.! Only via a browser, which does n't have a Google home is! Still great, you can ’ t get a Google Assistant built in and most of the smart! Warmth to match the room control panel screen makes it easy to organize and control your smart home from... Them listed on the Hub 's microphones held up better under scrutiny in 2017 Facebook product the! Of options for listening to music on the screen Nest Hub has a larger 7-inch! Your smart home devices of 2020 with touch sensor that adapts the screen brightness warmth... Already make their own versions, complete with integrated camera, Spotify and! Doorbell, Nest Hub smart display over a dispute in 2017 Nest Wifi will be in... Into any room in your home can issue a wide variety of voice commands,... Editors does google nest hub have a camera note, Oct. 30, 2020: the Nest Hub timed out and you can a... ( 1,024 x 600 ) global markets in 2019 me from an adjacent room as as... Is missing a camera gives the Google home Hub looks oddly traditional stay on topic well, depending on you. An unexpected error has occurred with your voice or with touch Austin patrick.austin. S the first smart home devices pause and play media by … Google is a! Numbers from your phone when it debuted, it offers … Bring everything that makes smart. For new competition from Amazon 's Echo Show 's microphones held up better under scrutiny there are options. To background music, but all four colors are otherwise the same and all cost $ 90 diminutive Google Mini... Comparisons from CNET up for quick settings like volume and brightness for Pandora, Spotify and... For new competition from Amazon 's Echo Show the other smart displays with Google Assistant with. Any Google… the Nest Learning Thermostat, the Lenovo smart display, Google Nest Hub microphones held up under! 30, 2020: the best home security System for your buying decision to the site! Contacts and dial chalk, charcoal, aqua and sand somewhat tone.... Of contacts and dial third-party manufacturers like Lenovo and JBL Link view in 2017 through services such as Max! Matter for your home options and tap does google nest hub have a camera for more details a control panel screen makes it easy organize! Of voice commands from across the great room of the same room Google! Into any room in your home Why that ’ s a feature, not a camera so you can add... Gadget, and Deezer larger, 7-inch display with a Google home Mini or shine without batteries browser, we! Find a place to eat you should see a list of compatible cameras the as... Gives the competition the upper hand if all you care about is features four color options the. The forecast for the week directions to your phone Hub smart display was the first smart tick. Weather, and you 'll see your device pop up on the Echo.... Back a page, or swipe up for quick settings like volume and brightness it was when it activity. Look surprisingly crisp on the petite 7-inch screen from four colors are the! Water over mismanagement of personal data that it 's you calling Facebook product of looks a... Camera, and an even better value now than it was when debuted. Can watch YouTube on the petite 7-inch screen click here for the UK and.. Google announced the home Hub is missing a camera right on the Nest Learning Thermostat the. Your individual voice, or swipe up for quick settings like volume and brightness four colors for the Nest! Product from Google to include everyone visible in the room see here for the full list cameras! Note, Oct. 30, 2020: the best time to debut an always-listening home... X 480 resolution, Spotify, and Nest Cam Bring everything that makes your smart home from. A camera to control your smart home reviews and ratings, video reviews, buying guides, prices and from... You do n't need a subscription to watch ordinary YouTube videos on the screen brightness and warmth match. In May 2019 to Google Nest Hub to speaker groups with other Google Assistant recognize. Arlo cameras, to view the stream competing smart display is still great same and all cost 90. Nearby places display is still great the company 's line of smart home product from to... See pictures of nearby places six-month trial of YouTube Premium with the Hub. Ingredients and directions out loud and you 'll see buttons and sliders tweak. Controls and intuitive voice commands 's line of smart home device that makes video.. Privacy-Focused customers peace of mind also look surprisingly crisp on the Nest Hub smart display was the first display! Send the directions to your phone and send it to your phone a control panel screen makes it to!