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In the world of smart speakers, Google offers two diminutive devices in the form of the Google Nest Mini and Home Mini. Both are small in size but pack enough features to go toe-to-toe with their full-size counterparts. So what separates these two smart speakers?
Let’s take a closer look.
Table of Contents
Google Home Mini
The original Google Home Mini was released in October 2017. It was discontinued but is still available at many outlets. The device is small, compact, and very affordable. It has all the essential features of a smart speaker, including the ability to play music, answer questions, and control smart devices.
However, it doesn’t have some of the more advanced features that are now common on smart speakers, such as the ability to make phone calls or stream video.
Google Nest Mini
The Google Nest Mini was released in the same month of October but in the year 2019. The Nest Mini is an updated version of the original Google Home Mini. It’s still small and compact, but it now has better sound quality and more powerful speakers. It also has a few new features, such as the ability to make phone calls and stream video.
How to Choose One?
These days, it’s becoming more common to see people using smart speakers in their homes. And it’s no wonder why. These devices make it easy to get information, play music, and even control other devices in your home, all with the power of your voice.
However, not all smart speakers are created equal. Some are designed for general use, while others are more specialized for specific tasks.
So, which one is right for you? Well, that depends on what you want to use it for. If you’re primarily looking for a way to play music or watch television, then a basic speaker with integrated Bluetooth and WiFi will suffice, like the Home Mini.
However, if you’re looking for a more complete smart home experience, then you’ll need a more advanced speaker that can connect to other devices in your home and respond to voice commands, like the Nest Mini.
The editor’s choice? The Google Nest Mini.
What’s the Difference Between Google Nest Mini and Google Home Mini?
The Google Nest Mini is a small, round speaker that can be placed almost anywhere in your home. It’s the successor to the Google Home Mini, and it offers a few important upgrades. First, the sound quality is noticeably better. The bass is deeper and richer, and the overall volume is louder.
Second, the Nest Mini has a built-in wall-mounting option. This means you can place it high up on a wall, out of the way, and still enjoy the great sound quality.
Third, the Nest Mini is powered by the “Nest” brand, which provides data security and peace of mind.
Look and Construction
The first thing you’ll probably notice about the Nest Mini is its fabric exterior. The subtly textured fabric gives it a more premium look and feels than the plastic shell of the Home Mini.
The fabric also helps it blend in better with your home decor. The Nest Mini also has a wall mount on the back, so you can save valuable counter space or display it as art on your wall. The Home Mini, on the other hand, is designed to sit out in the open and is available in multiple colors to match your style.
When the Google Home Mini became popular, it faced a few serious challenges. They are well known for not having good sound quality—a feature corrected with improved speaker quality in the Google NestMini.
This resulted in a better home-using experience. This product was a mid-range smart speaker entry-level and wasn’t quite as good as some mid-range speakers on the market.
The Google Home Mini and Nest Mini are both great devices for anyone who wants to bring the power of Google Assistant into their home. One area where the two devices differ, however, is in the process of resetting them. For the Home Mini, there’s a tiny factory reset button just below the power cord that you hold down for ten seconds.
The Nest Mini doesn’t have this button. Instead, you switch the mic off, then press and hold the center of the speaker when the LED lights turn orange and hold for ten seconds. If you’re resetting, don’t get these two different processes confused.
Neither is particularly difficult, but it’s important to follow the correct procedure for your device. Otherwise, you may not be able to properly reset it and could end up with some unwanted consequences.
Features, Functionality, and Home Connectivity
Both devices can play music, update Google apps, respond to voice commands, and more. So what differentiates them? The Nest Mini comes with a few added features that may make it worth the extra money for some people.
First, the Nest Mini has a built-in machine-learning chip that analyzes your voice and processes commands faster.
Second, it has improved speaker quality over the original Home Mini, so you’ll get better sound quality from your music and movies. Lastly, the Nest Mini can detect when you’re nearby and light up to show you the time or weather conditions.
Both devices are powered by Google Assistant, which gives them the ability to control a wide range of smart devices around the home. From thermostats to lights, there’s a lot that these little speakers can do.
So, what’s the difference between them? Well, the main difference is in their design and audio quality.
The Home Mini is smaller and more compact than the Home, and it has a more basic speaker setup. This means that it’s not as good for playing music or other audio content, but it’s still more than adequate for most uses. In terms of functionality, there’s no appreciable difference between the two devices.
Mini Audio Quality
If you’re in the market for a small, affordable smart speaker, you’ve probably considered the Google Nest Mini and the Google Home Mini. Both speakers offer great features and work with many different smart devices. But which one is right for you?
One important factor to consider is audio quality. In terms of sheer power, the Google Nest Mini has a slight edge over the Home Mini. It’s equipped with a larger driver and produces richer, more detailed sound. However, the Home Mini has a few tricks up its sleeve that helps it compete with its larger sibling.
For starters, it features a touch control panel that allows you to adjust the volume without having to use your voice. Additionally, it has a built-in equalizer that lets you customize the sound to better suit your taste.
So, which speaker is right for you? Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. If you’re looking for the best possible audio quality, go with the Nest Mini. If you want more control over the sound or prefer a smaller form factor, choose the Home Mini.
Prices and Availability
The price difference between these two devices is minimal; the Google Nest Mini retails for $49, while the Home Mini is only $10 less at $39.
So if the price is your main concern, the Home Mini saves you a few bucks. But if you’re looking for added features and slightly better sound quality, then you may want to consider spending a few extra bucks on the Nest Mini.
The Google Home Mini’s price became very cheap during its time of availability. The Google Nest Mini will cost the same as the Google Home Mini’s recommended retail prices for the same model.
Design Comparison
It would be hard to mistake a Google Home Mini for anything other than a Google product. The design is clean and minimalist, with a color scheme that screams “Google.” However, there are some subtle differences between the Home Mini and the Nest Mini that are worth noting.
For one, the Home Mini has a slightly sleeker design, with curved edges and a more aesthetically pleasing shape. The Nest Mini, on the other hand, is more functional-looking, with straight edges and a more boxy shape.
Another difference is in the speaker quality. The Home Mini’s speaker is slightly louder and clearer than the Nest Mini’s, making it better suited for music playback.
However, both speakers offer excellent voice quality for use with Google Assistant. Ultimately, the choice between the Home Mini and the Nest Mini comes down to personal preference.
Google Home Mini vs. Google Nest Mini: Similarities and differences
Similarities
To clarify, Google’s Nest Mini and its predecessor, the Google Home Mini, use Google Assistant—which appears to include many of these features too.
The Google Assistant gives you the power to control any of these smart home appliances—you can do so even while you’re not in your house. Thanks to its smart home technology, it can be easily controlled with cellular connectivity.
Differences
The speakers seem to be similar to one another. The major differences are the unique reset methods used for each device. The microphone has to be shut down on the phone for reset. When the lights start orange, you need to press the speaker center button.
After five seconds, this procedure starts. Hold for ten seconds until it is reactivated. It has the option of holding down the reset function to reset the default settings on the Home Mini.
Google Home Mini pros
The Google Home Mini is a great device for anyone looking for a low-cost way to get started with smart home devices. The device itself is small and unobtrusive, making it easy to set up and use.
One of the best things about the Home Mini is its voice recognition capabilities. The device can understand natural language requests and respond accordingly. This makes it easy to get started with using the device without having to learn a lot of complex commands.
The overall design of the Google Home Mini is compact and concise. Measuring in at only 3.8 inches wide, the Mini is one of the smallest voice-activated speakers on the market. Despite its small stature, the speaker still packs a decent punch when it comes to sound quality. With two built-in microphones, the device can easily pick up your voice from across the room.
Google Home Mini cons
The Google Home Mini is a small and affordable way to get started with voice-controlled smart home assistants, but it doesn’t have all the features of some of its competitors. One drawback is that the status light is hard to see from across the room. This can make it difficult to know when the device is listening or not.
Additionally, the Google Home Mini can’t pair with Bluetooth speakers and has no line-out like some of its competitors. This means that you can’t connect it directly to powered speakers or an AV receiver.
Finally, while the Google Home Mini can perform many useful tasks, it doesn’t have quite as many smart home tricks up its sleeve as Amazon’s Alexa. However, it is still a handy little device that can make your life a little bit easier.
Google Nest Mini pros
The new Nest Mini has been completely redesigned with sound quality in mind. It delivers rich, powerful bass that is 2x stronger than the original Mini.
The durable fabric top is made from recycled plastic bottles and the entire speaker has been designed to be more eco-friendly.
In addition, the new Nest Mini includes improved voice recognition technology. So whether you’re across the room or in a different part of the house, you can always ask for help. The new Nest Mini is the perfect way to upgrade your sound system and do your part for the environment.
Google Nest Mini cons
While the Nest Mini has many useful features, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider.
One issue is that the device is always listening for commands, which could privacy concerns. In addition, the Nest Mini lacks some of the advanced features found on other smart speakers, such as the ability to make phone calls or stream video.
Finally, the Nest Mini is powered by a USB cord, which means it needs to be plugged into an outlet. This can be inconvenient if you want to use the speaker in multiple rooms or take it with you when traveling.
Overall, the Google Nest Mini is a helpful device, but it’s important to be aware of its limitations before making a purchase.
Conclusion and Verdict
When it comes to miniature smart speakers, Google offers two excellent options in the form of the Nest Mini and Home Mini. So which one should you choose? It depends on your needs and budget.
If price is your main concern, go for the Home Mini; but if you’re looking for added features like improved speaker quality and built-in machine learning, then you may want to consider spending a few extra bucks on the Nest Mini.
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