Google has officially announced the new google home speakerPrice $99.99. It is now available for pre-order and is scheduled to ship on June 25th.
The device is the first audio hub built around the new Gemini for home voice assistants. It was first shown in October 2025 and underwent nine months of development before its launch.
Aneesh Kattukaran, Google’s chief product officer for Google Home and Nest, said the company used that development time to reduce Gemini command latency by 40 percent and fix more than 2,500 reported bugs.
What’s different about Gemini for Home over the new Google Home speaker
The new speaker is designed for conversations rather than strict command phrases. Users can issue multiple commands within the same sentence, use logical reasoning in their requests, and correct themselves mid-sentence without restarting. This allows natural speech without the need to memorize specific phrases.
To support this, the device runs local models for noise cancellation, echo suppression and sound isolation. This on-device processing helps ensure that commands are heard clearly even in noisy environments and processed quickly without relying on cloud services.
Smart home integration, hardware, and audio on Google Home speakers
The device acts as both a Matter Controller and a Thread 1.3 border router, enabling local connectivity to nearby smart home devices.
It serves as a central hub for users who are part of the cross-platform Matter ecosystem, offering the option of being limited to Google devices only.
The speaker features a slightly narrower round design wrapped in a custom 3D-knit textile, with capacitive touch buttons and a new underglow light ring.
Google is marketing it as an audio upgrade to the Nest Mini rather than a straight replacement for the larger Nest Audio. Its small size makes it easy to install, while also providing balanced 360-degree sound.
Two speakers can be combined for stereo audio. They can also connect directly to the new Google TV streamer to deliver spatial surround sound in a home theater setup.
Compatibility, Pre-order Bonuses and Availability
Users who tested Gemini for Home through the Early Access program on older devices like Nest Audio won’t be left behind.
Gemini for Home continues to work on the legacy Nest speaker, though Google notes that the new $99 speaker is specifically designed to provide the most responsive experience due to its on-device hardware.
The Google Home speaker is available in standard hazel and porcelain finishes, with two exclusive colors for the US market: Jade and Berry.
Customers who purchase the speaker before mid-September will get six months of Google Home Premium for free. Google values this subscription at $60, given that it provides access to features like Gemini Live for seamless conversations, camera history search for Nest Cam, and automated home briefs.
The Google Home speaker can be pre-ordered now and will ship on June 25. You can pre-order through Best Buy, Walmart, or the Google Store. Google has not yet announced international release dates after the initial launch in the United States.
Thanks for being a Ghax reader. The post Google launches $99 Google Home speaker with built-in Gemini voice assistant, June 25 appeared first on gHacks.
