It’s been almost two and a half years since Google launched its Nest Hub smart display, which includes a 7-inch touchscreen, built-in speaker, and access to Google Assistant. The Diddy Smart Home device became a great success as a night alarm, cooking assistant in the kitchen or small display in the living room to manage smart lights, thermostats or security cameras without always having to rely on voice commands.
In the time since the Google Nest Hub (nee Google Home Hub) hit store shelves around the world, Amazon has updated its rival Echo Show range several times, Lenovo launched alternatives to the Google Assistant’s Nest Hub, and Facebook debuted its own option known as a portal. Despite all of these changes, Google doesn’t seem to be in a rush to update its hardware.
Of course, there have been a number of clever new software features introduced for existing Nest Hub owners in the past two and a half years, but not new hardware. That could change in the coming months, according to sources speaking to the Google blog 9To5Google.
Those who hoped that Google has spent the last 28 months completely redesigning the design and coming up with new hardware innovations may be deeply disappointed with what appears to be just around the corner. That’s because 9To5Google claims the successor to the Google Nest Hub will be almost indistinguishable.
Insiders speaking to 9to5Google claim the next Nest Hub will “keep the same design language” – that is, we expect the same floating touchscreen and clunky, cloth-covered speaker as a base. Also expect the frame and screen to be the same size.
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According to those familiar with Google’s plans, some new colors are in the works. A light blue could be on the way as well as the already available gray, black, aqua and delicate pink. Other enhancements include improved audio output quality and three far-field microphones – instead of the two in the current model – to improve the distance from which you can utter the wake-up phrases “Hey Google” or “OK, Google” to get Nest Hub’s attention.
It is also whispered that the gesture control system known as Soli, which debuted in Pixel 4, could be incorporated into the next Nest Hub. Presumably this is used to pause music and alarms with a wave kid of the Nest Hub.
However, some sources speaking to 9To5Google suggest that it could also be used to track your movements throughout the night and monitor sleep quality. Sounds and movements are analyzed to give a score for those who use the Nest Hub on their bedside table. This is similar to the sleep tracking system built into Fitbit that Google now has.
According to sources speaking to 9to5Google, the new Nest Hub is arriving “sooner rather than later”. So stay tuned for the next few weeks to find out more about it.
