Google's New Gemini-Powered Home Speaker Finally Available for Preorder After 10-Month Delay

Six years after releasing its last dedicated smart speaker, Google has finally unveiled the new Google Home Speaker, powered by its advanced Gemini AI assistant. The device became available for preorder on June 17, 2026, with official sales launching on June 25 at a price of $100.

The speaker marks a significant departure from previous Google Home devices by replacing the older Google Assistant with Gemini, which demonstrates substantially improved natural language understanding. Users can engage with Gemini using the familiar "Hey, Google" wake phrase, but the new assistant excels at understanding conversational context, allowing for more flexible and natural queries. Multiple commands can be strung together in a single sentence, follow-up questions don't require repeating context, and the system can handle mid-sentence corrections—much like speaking to a person. The device also features Gemini Live, enabling continuous back-and-forth conversations without needing to repeat the wake word, though this requires a Google Home Premium subscription (available free for six months with purchase).

Designed as a compact, round speaker with a partially recycled fabric exterior, the device comes in four colors: Hazel, Porcelain, Jade, and Berry, with the latter two exclusive to the US market. Technically, the speaker is an oblate spheroid that produces 360-degree sound for uniform audio throughout a room. Its hardware includes a quad-core A55-based processor operating at 2 GHz with a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for running local AI models. Three far-field microphones distributed around the device handle speech detection, while a bottom-positioned light ring indicates when the speaker is listening, processing, or responding. A mute switch allows users to disable listening, and capacitive touch controls on top provide alternative media playback control without voice commands.

The speaker incorporates advanced sound isolation technology that filters background noise more effectively than previous smart speakers, addressing a common frustration with earlier devices. Google's chief product officer at Nest and Google Home, Anish Kattukaran, highlighted that local AI models enable superior sound differentiation, helping the speaker better identify when users are addressing it. Additional features include integration with Nest security cameras, allowing users to ask Gemini specific questions like "Did FedEx drop a package?" The device offers ten voice options for Gemini and supports ten languages for natural language queries.

The preorder announcement comes approximately ten months after Google initially announced the speaker in August 2025, with an original promise of a spring 2026 release. The delay extended into early summer, but the device is now positioned as Google's answer to competitors in the premium smart speaker market. Subscription tiers for Google Home Premium unlock features including natural language automation setup, 30 days of security camera event history, and enhanced camera notifications, with an Advanced tier offering additional capabilities.