Google snuck a new smart speaker into its big Pixel event

Over the past several months, the question surrounding Google’s next smart devices hasn’t been when they will arrive, but if they will arrive. 

After all, Google’s been slowly but steadily discontinuing older smart products (the Nest Protect, the Nest x Yale Lock) while leaving their replacements to third parties. At time same time, its aging line of Nest smart speakers and displays has been languishing. 

But Google has previously hinted that new Google Home smart devices are on tap for later this year, and during the company’s big Made by Google event today, we may have gotten a glimpse of one. 

During some pre-recorded banter between Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo and F1 driver Lando Norris, the camera panned over to reveal a small, slightly squished sphere with a gray exterior and a telltale light ring encircling its narrow base. 

That sphere was clearly a smart speaker housing Gemini, with Norris chatting with the assistant in its Gemini Live mode. 

The speaker only appeared in passing and was never mentioned directly during the presentation, but it seems likely to be the first new Google smart speaker since the Nest Audio debuted in 2020. I hesitate to call it a new Nest speaker, as I’m not entirely sure Google will stick with the Nest branding in this new age of Gemini. (That’s just a guess on my part.) 

Speaking of Gemini, note that Alexa-like light ring replacing the four pulsing LEDs that used to represent Google Assistant. Google did just tell us that Google Assistant will soon be replaced by Gemini on its existing and forthcoming smart devices, so perhaps the light ring on the new speaker visually calls out the changing of the voice-assistant guard. (Of course, the four LEDs will remain on Google’s older Nest speakers.) 

So, when will we find out more about this mysterious new speaker? If Google holds a fall Made for Google event as it has in the past, the new speaker might officially break cover then. Stay tuned. 

This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers.