Leak reveals Google’s first Gemini smart speaker and its features

Google’s Pixel launch was supposed to be about new phones, watches, and AI tools. Yet sharp-eyed viewers noticed something unusual in the background of a Gemini demo with Formula 1 driver Lando Norris. Sitting on a table was a small, fabric-wrapped speaker glowing faintly at its base. It wasn’t mentioned by the presenters, but the internet quickly zeroed in. Days later, reports confirmed it wasn’t a prop, it was an unreleased smart speaker.

That small glimpse might have revealed the future of Google’s smart home strategy. Keep reading to see what we know so far about its design, features, and what it could mean for Nest’s future.

Early reports reveal the design and color options

Unlike the Nest Mini or Nest Audio, the new device has a rounder profile with a glowing light ring positioned at its base. Leaked images shared by Android Headlines show it wrapped in fabric, giving it a softer and more modern feel compared to Google’s earlier, more utilitarian designs. The speaker is expected to launch in four colors: red, green, black, and white, a palette that signals a shift away from the muted tones Google has relied on for years.

This more expressive design approach suggests Google wants the device to fit naturally into living spaces, not just as a piece of tech but as part of the décor. Combined with the new lighting placement and updated materials, the speaker seems intended to look as good on a coffee table as it sounds in a room.

Leaked features point to a stronger AI focus

An image of smart speaker displaying lights — *Source: [email protected]/Depositphotos*

The most significant shift is that the speaker will run on Gemini, Google’s advanced AI, instead of Google Assistant. With Gemini Live, conversations are expected to sound more natural and context-aware, with users able to interact more fluidly than before.

Other features surfaced by 9to5Google include:

360 audio for immersive, room-filling sound

TV pairing with a Google TV Streamer for enhanced spatial audio

Noise detection, alerting users if it hears breaking glass or smoke alarms

Matter support, making it a central hub for smart home devices

Together, these features suggest Google isn’t just refreshing its design. It is positioning the new speaker as a central living room device that blends advanced AI conversations with reliable sound, safety, and smart home control.

Google may be preparing to retire the Nest branding

Another detail hidden in the leaks points to a shift in Google’s branding. Strings in the Google Home app refer to the upcoming device as the Google Home Speaker, not a Nest product. Nest has been the label for thermostats, cameras, and smart displays since Google acquired Nest Labs in 2014, so this marks a notable change in naming and direction.

The same app findings indicate that Nest Aware will be renamed Google Home Premium, signaling a direct subscription rebrand. Nest Aware has long offered cloud video storage and smart alerts for cameras and doorbells, and moving it under the Google Home banner brings the service in line with the rest of the ecosystem. These changes point toward a broader effort to unify Google’s smart home hardware, services, and branding under a single, consistent identity.

Before diving deeper, check out the video “Google Accidentally Revealed Gemini-Powered Smart Speaker At Google Event” to see the moment for yourself. Then come back and read on for the full breakdown

The new speaker could challenge Apple and Amazon directly

Apple’s HomePod Mini and Amazon’s Echo Studio have already pushed smart speakers toward higher-quality audio while doubling as smart home hubs. Both work closely with their respective TV platforms, allowing users to enjoy richer, more immersive sound as part of their entertainment setup. These integrations also highlight how smart speakers are no longer just voice assistants but central pieces of home entertainment.

With support for 360 audio and TV pairing, Google seems to be aiming at the same space. The question is whether it can deliver sound quality that competes with Apple’s finely tuned HomePods. If it does, Google could finally offer a real alternative for users who want both solid audio and deep smart home integration in a single device.

Key details like pricing and availability remain uncertain

Despite all the leaks, much remains unknown. Google hasn’t announced the product officially, so there are no confirmed details on:

Price: Which will determine whether it competes with entry-level smart speakers or premium audio setups

Feature tiers: We don’t yet know which features will be free and which will require a Google Home Premium subscription

Compatibility: Especially whether the TV pairing will work with all Google TV devices or only with the company’s upcoming streamer

These unanswered questions are crucial because they’ll determine whether the new speaker becomes a mass-market success or remains niche. Until Google provides official information, speculation will continue, and expectations will depend heavily on how these missing details are addressed.

Gemini for Home is set to reshape Google’s smart home strategy

Source: rafapress/Depositphotos

Google has already confirmed its Gemini for Home initiative in an official Google blog post. The rollout begins in October and will replace Google Assistant on Nest speakers and displays. According to the blog, users can expect more natural conversations, better reasoning, and features like Gemini Live, which supports back-and-forth dialogue. The blog also highlights improvements such as contextual memory, proactive assistance, and smarter routines that adapt over time.

These enhancements are meant to make daily interactions more fluid and personalized, moving beyond simple commands to create a more conversational experience. Google frames this as a major evolution of the Home ecosystem, ensuring that even existing devices feel new and more capable with Gemini powering them.

The bigger picture of Google’s smart home ambitions

Stepping back, the leaked device represents more than new hardware. It signals a strategy shift in at least three ways:

AI first

Gemini, not Assistant, will be the foundation for future Google Home devices. Google has already confirmed that Gemini will replace Assistant on existing speakers and displays, signaling a major long-term shift in strategy.

Subscription focus

Advanced features like sound detection and smarter notifications could be tied to premium plans, adding steady revenue streams. Leaks around Google Home Premium suggest the company wants to anchor more services under paid tiers for consistency across its ecosystem.

Brand consolidation

Moving away from Nest simplifies Google’s lineup but risks losing consumer trust tied to that name. Nest has built recognition over the past decade, so this transition could help unify branding while also challenging customer loyalty.

How well Google balances these elements will determine its competitiveness. Apple and Amazon already command strong ecosystems; Google needs to prove its AI advantage translates into daily usefulness while also offering clarity in branding and value in subscriptions.

A small teaser with big implications

The speaker spotted in Google’s Pixel event may have been easy to miss, but it carries big weight. With fresh design, immersive audio, TV pairing, and deep Gemini integration, this device could become the centerpiece of Google’s smart home lineup.

Google is shifting its smart home strategy from Assistant to Gemini, marking a major change in how devices work.

Branding leaks suggest Nest may be phased out in favor of a unified Google Home identity.

Subscription models like Google Home Premium could play a bigger role in the ecosystem.

Key details like pricing, compatibility, and feature tiers remain unknown until official announcements.

Google’s challenge will be proving Gemini’s AI advantages against Apple and Amazon’s strong ecosystems.

The challenge will be convincing users that the best features won’t all live behind a subscription. If Google handles pricing and branding carefully, the Gemini smart speaker could mark the company’s most important home hardware release in years.