Google Home Speaker finally swaps Assistant for Gemini

Gemini-powered Google – Preorders open June 17 and sales begin June 25 for the redesigned Google Home Speaker built around Gemini instead of the Google Assistant—offering more natural conversation, Continued Conversation across supported languages, and security-camera queries.

For six years, Google smart speakers have mostly lived in the shadow of the Google Assistant. Now, the company is changing the script—right as people are settling into habits that didn’t include Gemini.

The Gemini-powered Google Home Speaker finally has a date. Google says preorders start June 17, with official sales kicking off June 25. The device costs $100 and ships in Berry, Jade, Hazel, and Porcelain, with the first two colors exclusive to the US.

The redesign isn’t just cosmetic. Google is positioning this speaker as its Gemini showcase. replacing the Google Assistant that powered all previous speakers and smart displays. Google announced the speaker last fall alongside new Nest smart home cameras and video doorbells. and promised a spring 2026 launch—something that’s now arriving later than the calendar many people had mentally marked.

In day-to-day use, it should feel familiar. You wake Gemini using the “Hey, Google” hot word and ask questions. Where it differs is how flexible those questions can be. Gemini is described as far better at understanding natural conversation than the Google Assistant that came before. meaning prompts don’t have to be as rigid. And if you make a mistake mid-ask. you can stop and rephrase partway through—like talking to a person—and Gemini is expected to understand the intent rather than punish the wording.

Google also says you can pack multiple commands into one sentence. Want a level of control that usually requires several requests?. You can say something hyper-specific—like “turn off all the lights except my bedside lamp”—and the speaker should parse it. Follow-ups are another point of comfort: you can ask subsequent questions without having to drag the original context back into every new sentence. The microphone stays on for a brief window after Gemini answers. so you can continue the conversation without repeating the wake phrase.

That feature is called Continued Conversation. Google says it had been available only in English on the Assistant-powered speakers, but it has expanded to all supported languages.

The speaker also leans into the home’s already-wired reality. If you have security cameras. you can use Gemini to ask about what the cameras might have seen—like “Did FedEx drop a package off today?” or “Did the dog eat a cookie off the counter?” Google notes you don’t need the Google Home Speaker for this specific capability if you’ve already opted into Gemini for your existing Google Home. since it’s already available there. Still, bundling it into the new hardware makes it feel like a designed-for-everyday convenience.

Sound and conversation are part of the pitch too. There are 10 voices to choose from for Gemini. You can also trigger Gemini Live—Google says this “Live” capability is restricted to newer devices like the Nest Audio and the Google Home Speaker. even though Gemini expanded to older smart speakers last fall. To enter Live mode. say: “Hey Google. let’s talk. ” and the device is set up for a back-and-forth conversation without having to pause and repeat the wake word.

The shift from the Google Assistant to Gemini isn’t arriving with a totally new ritual. It’s arriving with something more subtle—and more personal: the expectation that your questions will land the first time. that you can correct yourself without starting over. and that your home’s tech will follow along as if you were speaking to someone in the room.

Google Home Speaker Gemini assistant smart speaker Continued Conversation security cameras Nest smart home cameras preorders June 17 sales June 25