Gemini is reviving the idea of a smart speaker for Google, and the upcoming “Google Home Speaker” will be the first new hardware in years. Meanwhile, it looks like we might also be seeing a resurgence of third-party smart speakers in the Gemini era, something we haven’t seen in quite some time.
For quite some time, “Google Assistant smart speaker” didn’t just refer to Google’s own hardware. Sure, everyone knows about the Google Home Mini and, to a lesser extent, the Nest Audio, but there was once a thriving market for assistant speakers from third parties like JBL and many others. For some time, all was making an Assistant smart speaker.
Then they mostly disappeared.
The last memorable smart speaker with Google Assistant was JBL Authentics line of 2023 – which were excellentby the way.
That appears to be coming to an end as we get closer to the full Gemini launch. A product listing recently appeared on the website of CSA, the organization in charge of the Matter standard, revealing a new “Onn Smart Speaker” in the works by Walmart. The simple speaker has a sober design with Gemini voice controls and audio streaming via Bluetooth or Google Cast. There are also physical volume and play/pause controls visible on the single image of the device, while a microphone switch is also mentioned.
He list explains:
A Gemini-powered smart home speaker that integrates voice assistant, audio playback, and smart home control functionality. The device supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and enables seamless multimedia streaming via Google Cast for Audio. It features a 10W speaker and far-field microphone array for reliable voice interaction. The product includes physical controls, LED indicators, and a hardware microphone privacy switch for user interaction and privacy protection.
Walmart has not officially released this device, nor have we seen it appear on the retailer’s website or in stores. However, it would certainly make a lot of sense if it were released alongside the new Google TV hardware. Walmart has been shipping to stores lately (also without their own official announcements). The listing was stained by a Reddit user who previously discovered some First details on Walmart’s new Google TV devices.
It’s unclear when Walmart might release this device, but it sets the stage for a resurgence of third-party smart speaker hardware powered by Google’s voice assistant. Gemini is already available on a lot of older Assistant speakers, so this makes some sense, but it will certainly be interesting to see what is released in the future.
Meanwhile, the Google Home Speaker will launch in the near future, potentially within weeks. in the company’s initial schedule.
More about Gemini for the home:
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