Google Home Review

The 3-Minute Google Home Voice Activated Review

Google’s Smart Speaker Offering

By Graeme Messina | September 6, 2018

The Specifics:

Features & Design: 4/5 ● Performance: 4/5 ● Value: 4/5 ● Sound Quality 4/5

The Best:

The Google Home Voice Activated Speaker is a great introduction to the world of smart home devices, and it operates very similarly to Amazon’s Alexa. It features similar design characteristics and aesthetics to Google’s other products, like Google Wifi, so it is a good fit if you already have those devices around the house. This device really makes sense if you are already using Google services, which is quite likely, given Google’s popularity.

The Bugs:

Google Home can only use one person’s calendar, and only one person can utilize the shopping list feature, which may or may not be a big deal for your personal applicability. The voice recognition also could use a little tweaking, as shown in many online comparisons.

Is it for you?

If you have Google accounts, enjoy listening to music, or have a smart home installation such as smart lighting or smart temperature control, then the answer is probably, yes. There are plenty of great features that make this an awesome smart speaker.

Meet the Google Home Voice Activated

The basic premise that lies behind smart devices such as the Google Home is the hands free, effortless control feature that they allow. Finding out what the weather will be like for the next week, news headlines, or what is happening on your calendar is merely a voice command away. The sleek styling and minimalist design also means that it will look right at home in a modern home.

What we like

The overall design and voice functionality make this device an asset to your home entertainment/infotainment setup. When combined with the appropriate Google service, there is not much that this smart speaker cannot do for you. The convenience of being able to dim the lights, unlock doors, fire up your favourite playlist, or simply use Google search from the comfort of your chair without getting up never gets old.

The build quality is up to Google’s usual standards, and although the synthetic materials have a distinctly plastic feel to them, the speaker cloth makes a good counter and fits really well. By not taking any crazy design leaps, Google is able to market this device to just about anyone that is wanting to take the first steps towards smart home adoption.

Although the smart speaker market is exploding right now, there are few companies that can challenge Google’s supremacy in terms of online services and digital operation, which makes this a tempting purchase.

What we don’t like

As with all relatively new technologies, smart speakers are still in the early stages of adoption and development. This means that there are still some quirks and bugs that need to be ironed out, especially with regard to multiple users. This isn’t a uniquely Google-cantered problem though, so think of it as more of a form factor issue in general than a Google product flaw.

Some people might have liked to have louder volume levels on this device, but in all honesty, those people should look at hi-fi and home theatre systems instead.

Should you buy it?

For people that already have Google services, or Chrome cast devices, then the answer is definitely a yes. There are many built in features that this device already has, such as touch sensitive user controls, and multiple voice command input that make it a good buy. If you are looking at buying a great smart speaker with good functionality, then this is the speaker for you.