Google Nest Audio Review
Is the Google Nest Audio worth buying? It makes the most sense for buyers prioritizing Smart home that fit their specific use case and budget: best audio quality at this price, significantly better than Echo 4th Gen for music. The catch: no built-in smart home hub, requires separate hub for Zigbee or Z-Wave devices.
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Google Nest Audio
Best audio quality at this price, significantly better than Echo 4th Gen for music
View on AmazonPros
- Best audio quality at this price, significantly better than Echo 4th Gen for music
- Google Assistant handles natural language queries more accurately than Alexa
- Sound Equalization adapts volume and EQ based on room acoustics
- Pair two for stereo separation
Cons
- No built-in smart home hub, requires separate hub for Zigbee or Z-Wave devices
- Google Home app is less mature than Alexa for complex automations
- Fewer compatible third-party devices than Alexa
Our verdict
The Google Nest Audio in brief. Who it's for: buyers prioritizing Smart home that fit their specific use case and budget. What it does best: best audio quality at this price, significantly better than Echo 4th Gen for music; google Assistant handles natural language queries more accurately than Alexa. Ma in drawback: no built-in smart home hub, requires separate hub for Zigbee or Z-Wave devices.
Audio Quality: the Ma in Advantage
The Nest Audio's clearest advantage over the Amazon Echo 4th Gen is audio quality.
The difference is audible with in 30 seconds of side-by-side comparison.
Nest Audio specifications: 75mm woofer + 19mm tweeter, 75W Class D amplifier.
Echo 4th Gen: 3-inch woofer + dual tweeters, 75W amp (same claimed wattage but different driver configuration).
Google Assistant Advantage
Google Assistant excels at information retrieval.
Alexa excels at smart home control.
Alexa Routines are more flexible and have more triggers (time, device state, location, sensor input).
Alexa has more third-party skills.
Google Ecosystem Integration
For Android users who use Google services: Google Calendar: "Hey Google, what's on my calendar tomorrow?" returns calendar events correctly and can add events by voice.
Google Maps: "Hey Google, navigate to Home Depot" pushes navigation to your Android phone.
Gmail: "Hey Google, read my latest email" reads your inbox.
Privacy note: this requires giving Google Assistant access to your Gmail, which some users find too much.
Smart Home Hub Comparison
The Amazon Echo 4th Gen includes a built-in Zigbee hub, it can directly control Zigbee devices (most Philips Hue bulbs, IKEA Tradfri, Amazon Zigbee devices) without a separate hub.
The Nest Audio has no Zigbee hub.
To control Zigbee devices: you need a Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, or a Google Home-compatible Zigbee hub (Samsung SmartThings hub, Philips Hue Bridge).
For users building a Zigbee-based smart home: the Echo 4th Gen's built-in Zigbee hub is a meaningful cost advantage.
When to Choose Nest Audio vs Echo
You are an Android user with Google accounts for calendar, email, and maps Audio quality is the primary use case You prefer Google Assistant for general queries Privacy controls matter and you prefer Google's approach Choose Amazon Echo 4th Gen if:
Verdict
The Google Nest Audio in brief. Who it's for: buyers prioritizing Smart home that fit their specific use case and budget. What it does best: best audio quality at this price, significantly better than Echo 4th Gen for music; google Assistant handles natural language queries more accurately than Alexa. Ma in drawback: no built-in smart home hub, requires separate hub for Zigbee or Z-Wave devices.
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