As part of its commitment to bring more Home products to families, Google is introducing a new device under the Nest brand. The Nest Hub Max promises top-quality functionality and access even while you’re away from home. It has everything that you love about Google Home hubs and more.
The Nest Hub Max release is set for July 15. Before you get your hands on this device, it might be worthwhile to take a closer look at its features. Is the Nest Hub Max worth your money and attention? Let’s find out.
What is a Google Hub, anyway?
Maybe you already know all about or even have a Google hub (i.e. Google Home or Google Home Mini). If so, you can skip this part and go read about how Nest Hub Max is new and different. Otherwise, here’s the rundown. A Google Hub is like a control center to monitor the activity of all your connected devices and allow you to control those devices using voice commands through Google Assistant. A Google hub lets you see and control compatible devices, including all Nest devices, in a single dashboard. So, from your hub, you can set the temperature on your Nest smart thermostat, answer the door through your Nest Hello video doorbell, or monitor your entire home with Nest Cams.
The Nest Hub Max Design
The Nest Hub Max has a minimal carbon footprint design. Its design concept is similar to its predecessor device, so you can quickly adapt to this one. However, expect an updated product that has managed to keep it is original aesthetic intact. The display is mounted on a pedestal with a fabric covering.
You have two color options available: Chalk or Charcoal. While they have scaled up the size of the device a little bit, the overall look remains the same. Perhaps you have to compromise the “cuteness” factor in exchange for performance and efficiency, but it is still a great deal!
The Nest Hub Max comes with a camera located at the top center. The volume controls, meanwhile, are on the rear side of the device. If you want to switch on the privacy feature, the button on the back will automatically disable the camera and microphone.
The new display incorporated into the Nest Hub Max design makes viewing more convenient. You can still see what’s on the screen even when you are a few feet away from the device or not facing it directly.
Camera
The new camera feature on the Nest Hub Max brings with it a host of other features, too. One of the advantages with Google devices is that the smart displays integrate with Google Assistant. That ensures that you can get the same experience regardless of which device you use. You will no longer have to adjust to the new interface – if you have used a Google device before, you will find this new one easy to operate.
But that does not mean you will be getting exactly the same features, as the new camera has a few updates. There are a few factors that make it better than its rivals. At its most basic, it allows Duo calling. What’s great about this is that Duo is cross-platform, making it possible to call both Android and iOS users, such as on FaceTime.
The camera also comes with smart features. For example, it will focus on the action during a call. It has Voice Match technology as well, which enables Google Assistant to recognize your voice. This capability, along with the Face Match feature, gives you a more personalized experience on the Nest Hub Max. There is no need to worry about security measures. Google has reassured that data is locally processed and shared to the cloud.
The Nest Hub Max camera can support up to six users, allowing everyone in the family (depending on family size) to use the device. As of now, only simple 2D imaging is available.
Here are other notable features of the Nest Hub Max camera:
- The camera is a Nest camera, which can integrate into your home security system. It provides a wide viewing angle so you can monitor your home even when you are away. You will get a notification if it spots an intruder inside your home.
- The camera comes with gesture recognition. You can pause or play your videos or music without the need for voice command or a tap on the device. A convenient feature if you are busy and cannot use your hands to perform commands.
Bigger Speakers
The fact that the Nest Hub Max will be larger means that it will also have more prominent speakers. It was one of the areas on which Google concentrated in order to improve audio performance. The bigger size means that it has a more extensive base to accommodate a larger speaker.
The 2.1 speaker arrangement
The quality of the sound and music coming from the speaker is noticeably richer. It is a significant new update given that many users of the Nest Hub Max are going to use this device in the kitchen. It will replace radios, and the improved speaker quality will bring a better experience. While the music quality is not yet up to par with most JBL devices, it does make a good impression.
Quick Summary
The second smart display device released by Google is a huge step up from the previous model. The fusion with Nest devices is not just a matter of branding. It is a fusion of the features that worked for Nest devices and Google Home Hub to provide more efficient performance. The larger size is going to appeal to those who want to get more functionality than what the Google Home line offered.
Google is also keeping the price on Nest Hub Max competitive. It will be available to the market in late summer (July 2019) for $229.
The Nest Hub is an excellent addition to the collection of products from Google’s home range. It comes with a fantastic new screen and a wide array of features. The most significant breakthrough in this new product is the camera. It has kept the core design that made the previous Google Home Hub successful and transformed it into a feature-packed device.
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