The Google Nest Audio has been around since 2020, but it is still Google's best smart speaker when it comes to audio quality. Right now, you can get it from Best Buy for $49.99 (originally $99.99), the lowest price I have seen after checking price-checking tools.
The first thing you'd probably notice about the Nest Audio is its size. At 6.9 by 4.9 by 3.1 inches, it is one of the biggest smart speakers out there. But for speakers, that's actually a good thing. It means Google is packing some powerful specs inside, and since it's a smart speaker meant to stay in place, the size and weight (2.6 pounds) aren't important.
The Nest Audio packs a 75mm woofer and 19mm tweeter on its front-facing speaker. It also has three far-field microphones that you can mute with a button in the back if you're concerned about privacy. Its sound is balanced with detailed highs, it supports Bluetooth and Google Cast (you can connect your phone's audio over wifi), and of course, it has the Google Voice assistant built in. You can read about it in more detail in PCMag's review.
Google doesn't release smart speakers as often as Amazon does. In 2024, the Google Nest Audio is still Google's latest version and its best smart speaker for audio quality. At its current price, it costs the same as the 2nd Generation Nest Mini, but it's much more powerful. If you have other Google speakers at home, you can group them to play simultaneously. You can also pair it with another Nest Audio to function as stereo speakers.
If you're looking for a smart speaker with great audio, this is the best bang for your money at its current price, especially if you already have a Google ecosystem at home.
