Google Nest Audio Review: My New Intercom Set

Thanks to Google, I manage to get my hands on the latest Google Nest Audio for a review ahead of the official launch on the 15th October 2020.

The Google Nest Audio is available in two colors in Singapore, Chalk and Charcoal, the Nest Audio is available for pre-order online on the Google Store, Courts, and Challenger. It will be available in-store at Courts and Challenger from 15th October for S$139 .

The review unit comes in Chalk color. Check out my unboxing and demo video below.

Design

The Nest Audio has a minimalist look and has a quality build. On the back, it has only one slider switch to turn on and off the microphone.

Here is how it looks like when the microphone slider switch is turned off and on.

Microphone switch OFF, Microphone switch ON

And it has only one port for the power.

There is nothing on each side of the Nest Audio.

Here are some of my favorite features of the Google Nest Audio.

  • Use it to perform voice calling with any device with Google Duo anywhere in the world.
  • Use as an intercom: Call any other Nest speaker or display in the home. This is my new favorite as I only found out recently.

Did you know?

Here are some facts shared by Google.

Big sound, at an affordable price.

Nest Audio is 75 percent louder* and has 50 percent stronger bass** than the original Google Home. With a 19mm tweeter for consistent high frequency coverage and clear vocals and a 75mm mid-woofer that really brings the bass, Nest Audio can get any party started. And the best part? It’s just S$139.

Stereo sound that fills any room.

Fill any room with premium sound with a single Nest Audio device or set up two devices as a stereo pair for left and right channel separation. You can also group Nest Audio with other Nest devices, including Nest Mini, Nest Hub and even your TV via a Chromecast for sound all throughout the house.

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The center of your whole home audio experience.

Use stream transfer to easily move music, podcasts and more between compatible devices in your home. If you have more than one using the Google Home app or the touchscreen on your Nest smart display. If you’re around an Assistant-enabled device, you can also just say, “Hey Google, move the music to the living room speaker.”

Faster help from Google Assistant.

Nest Audio has a dedicated on-device machine learning chip with one TeraOPS of processing power. This makes the response time for controlling your music up to twice as fast than on the original Google Home. Over time, Nest Audio learns your most common music and smart home commands, enabling the device to quickly respond.

Adapts to your home.

Nest Audio adapts to your home to ensure that you’re getting the best
sound experience possible.

Our Media EQ feature enables Nest Audio to automatically adapt to the content that you’re listening to: music, podcasts, audiobooks or Assistant. Nest Audio also adjusts based on the background noise in the home, raising
the volume so you can hear Google Assistant.

Sustainably designed for your home.

Nest Audio is available in two colours in Singapore – Chalk and Charcoal – and was designed to have a minimal footprint in your home and on our planet. In fact, its enclosure (meaning the fabric, housing, foot, and a few smaller parts) is made of 70 percent recycled materials.

Your music, your way.

Use your voice to control popular music services like YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, Sirius XM and more on Nest Audio. Your favorite radio stations are also just a “Hey Google,” away. And through casting, you’ll have access to hundreds of compatible apps to stream in high-quality over Wi-Fi from your phone, tablet or laptop. Plus, YouTube Music and Spotify Premium subscribers can say, “Hey Google, recommend some music” and Google Assistant will offer multiple choices from artists and genres that they like, and others like them to choose from.

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Fuller, clearer, more natural sound.

We specifically tuned Nest Audio to balance the lows, mids and highs so that nothing is lacking or overbearing, which makes Nest Audio sound great for all genres: classical, R&B, and pop. We optimized the grill, fabric and materials so that you can enjoy the audio without distortion. You can hear the strumming of the guitar and the sizzle of a cymbal. Nest Audio stays faithful to what the artist intended when they were in the recording studio.

Built for your smart home.

Nest Audio works with your favorite smart home devices from top brands like Philips Hue, TP-Link, and more. Use your voice to dim the lights and turn off the TV. The Google Nest product family works seamlessly together: Nest Audio works with your other Nest speakers, Nest displays and Chromecast-enabled devices, so you can listen to music throughout your home.

Designed with privacy in mind.

Like all Nest speakers, Nest Audio is designed to respect your privacy. You’re able to turn off the microphone on Nest Audio; simply slide the hardware switch on the side of the device to “off” (you’ll see a pop of orange to signify it’s disabled). You can also view your history with Google Assistant in My Activity, which is accessible through the Google Home app and online at myactivity.google.com. You have control over your data and the ability to delete history at any time. Find more information on our commitment to your privacy at this link .

And for the geeks, here is the specification.

Specifications

  • Dimensions & Weight
    • Height: 6.9 in (175 mm)
    • Width: 4.9 in (124 mm)
    • Depth: 3.1 in (78 mm)
    • Power cable: 4 ft 11 in (1.5 m)
    • Device Weight: 2.6 pounds (without external power adapter)
  • Colors
    • Chalk
    • Charcoal
  • Materials
    • Durable fabric top made from recycled plastic bottles
    • The enclosure (fabric, housing, foot, and a few smaller parts) is made from 70 percent recycled plastic
  • Connectivity
    • 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) Wi-Fi
    • Bluetooth® 5.0
    • Chromecast built-in
  • Power
    • 30W, 24V external adapter
    • DC power jack
  • Speakers & Mics
    • 75 mm woofer and 19 mm tweeter
    • 3 far-field microphones
    • 2-stage mic mute switch (hardware mute)
  • Technology
    • Google Assistant built in
    • Voice Match technology
  • Sensors
    • Capacitive touch controls (3 touch areas)
  • Processor
    • Quad Core A53 1.8 GHz
    • High-performance ML hardware engine
  • Supported Operating Systems for Home App
    • Android
    • iOS
  • In the box
    • Google Nest Audio
    • Power adapter
    • Documentation bundle
  • Additional requirements
    • Wi-Fi network
    • Nearby electrical outlet
    • Google account
    • Google Home app on a compatible mobile device
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Summary

The Google Nest Audio is an affordable device for the house. With its minimalist look, it can blend in into most kind of house decor.

Sound-wise, it is not too bad. I like that it is very responsive to the command even when the music is playing quite loud.

If you need a smart and affordable speaker for the house this is definitely a good choice.