Product Review · Smart Speakers · #4 Ranked
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Smart display / entry · Reviewed by Drew · store.google.com list, Sept 2026 — frequently $49.99–$69.99 on sale
Why it scored a 82
Five years old and still Google's current smart display, usually on sale well under its $99.99 list. No camera, Ambient EQ, Soli gesture control and sleep sensing make it the most privacy-friendly display in the lineup; Value and Satisfaction lead. A successor has leaked in app code, so buy on a deal, not at full price.
What you're getting
- 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen with Ambient EQ auto brightness and color
- No camera, privacy-friendly; 3 far-field mics with physical mic-off switch
- 43.5 mm full-range driver, 50% more bass than the original Nest Hub
- Soli radar Motion Sense gestures and contactless Sleep Sensing
- Sleep Sensing now folded into Google Home Premium / Fitbit Premium
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac dual-band, Bluetooth 5.0, Thread radio, Chromecast built-in
- Temperature and ultrasound sensors; Gemini for Home rolling out via software
- 177 x 120 x 70 mm, 558 g; 15 W adapter with 1.5 m cable
ViperScore breakdown
At a glance
- 7-inch 1024x600 touchscreen with Ambient EQ, no camera
- 43.5 mm driver, 50% more bass than the original Nest Hub
- Soli radar gestures and sleep sensing; physical mic-off switch
- Price$99.99
- TierSmart display / entry
- Category rank#4 of 10
Should you buy the Google Nest Hub?
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the smart display for someone who wants a screen in the kitchen or on a nightstand without a camera pointed at them. Five years on, it is still Google's current smart display, usually sells well under its $99.99 list, and has a Thread radio, Chromecast, and Soli radar for gestures and sleep tracking. It ranks fourth among smart speakers. If you want a camera for video calls, the Echo Show 8 has one; if you want better music, the Sonos Era 100.
Where it earns its score
- Reliability and Satisfaction both score 88. A mature product with years of software updates behind it.
- Value of 86. The best Value score among displays and speakers over $50, especially at typical sale pricing.
- No camera. Privacy-friendly by design, with a physical mic-off switch as well.
- Thread radio and Chromecast built in. It works as a Matter controller and casts from any Google-compatible app.
What to know first
- Warranty is the weakest ViperScore factor. Google's standard coverage scores 55.
- Sleep Sensing is now a subscription. It has been folded into Google Home Premium and Fitbit Premium.
- Small speaker. A single 43.5 mm driver; fine for podcasts and kitchen radio, not for filling a room.
- Old hardware. Gemini for Home is arriving by software, but the 2021 chip is not getting faster.
Our verdict
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) scores 82, a Good Buy, and ranks fourth among smart speakers. Buy it if you want a camera-free smart display for the Google ecosystem, ideally on sale. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) at 81 is the choice if video calling matters more than privacy.
Sonos Era 100
Questions buyers ask
Does the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen have a camera?
No. It has no camera, three far-field mics, and a physical mic-off switch.
Is Sleep Sensing free on the Nest Hub 2nd Gen?
Not anymore. Sleep Sensing is now part of Google Home Premium or Fitbit Premium subscriptions.
Does the Nest Hub 2nd Gen support Matter?
It has a Thread radio and works as a Matter controller through the Google Home app.
Ready to check it out?
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) · ViperScore 82 · Good Buy · $99.99
How the other 9 smart speakers scored
84Sonos Era 100
84Amazon Echo Studio (2nd Gen, 2025)
83Amazon Echo Dot Max (2025)
81Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025)
81Apple HomePod (2nd Gen)
80Apple HomePod mini
79Amazon Echo Pop (1st Gen)
79Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
76Google Home Speaker (2026, Gemini)
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