Google Home

Google Home

Google's counterpart to Amazon's Echo. Announced in 2016, Home is a virtual assistant and wireless speaker that streams music via Google Play Music. Home can be used to control lights and other household devices and also connect to other Home speakers in different rooms. Like Echo, Home is a stand-alone device that is placed in a convenient location in the home. Google Home was one of the first Google products to use Google Assistant, the evolution of Google Now.

Home Mini and Max
In 2017, Google introduced a smaller, less expensive Home Mini and a larger, more expensive Home Max. All models have the same features as the Home with the primary difference being sound quality. See Amazon Echo and Google Assistant.

Home Hub Smart Display
The Google Home Hub adds a 7" screen and smart home control to Google Home, although it cannot video call (no camera). When not being used, the Hub can display a clock or photo slide show. Home View groups all the connected audio and smart devices for centralized control of the home, and it can display what the doorbell camera is viewing. See smart display and smart home.

The Google Home
The Home sits almost anywhere in the room, but does require AC power. Although the original Home offered decent sound quality, the smaller Mini and larger Max offer more choices.

Lenovo Smart Display
Based on Google Assistant and the Google Home app, Lenovo's Smart Display, which has an 8" or 10" screen, is used for getting answers, watching videos, video calling and smart home control. Like Google Home, "Hey Google" wakes the unit. (Image courtesy of Lenovo, www.lenovo.com)