The Google Nest Hub 2, Instead of Google rumored for the Google Home Hub, finally officially confirmed with the available 7-inch smart display pre-order now and goes on sale on March 31st, priced at $ 99.99 / £ 89 / AU $ 149.
Google Nest Hub 2 can look similar to its predecessor with a ‘floating display’ design, but has some useful built-in technology that really makes it Google’s most advanced smart display to date – especially because it can track how well you sleep without asking you to wear a smartwatch or a fitness tracker.
We’ve picked out some of our favorite features about the new Google Nest Hub 2, which could make our list of the best smart displays, as well as a couple we were disappointed not to have. seen in Google’s latest smart display.
Sleep management
The Google Nest Hub 2 comes with built-in Soli radar technology, a technology already featured in the Google Pixel 4 smartphone and the company’s latest Nest smart thermostat.
Providing the basis of its sleep tracking activity, the radar will be able to detect when you are awake, asleep or out of bed at night, while also monitoring your breathing, and coughing. or any snoring.
The tool analyzes this data and provides a daily report that outlines how well you slept, and the cause of any breakdowns you may have during the night.
Quick movements
The Soli radar is only useful for tracking sleep on Google Nest Hub. Similar to the way it is used in Pixel smartphones, it also enables the Quick Gestures feature, allowing you to play and stop music and video by moving your hand in front of the display 7-inch smart. This is especially useful if you are cooking and have green fingers, as you can still control the appliance without having to mess up the screen.
Sounds better
We found that the original sound quality of Google Home Hub was not lacking when it came to powerful bass, so we are pleased to see that Google has improved the sound on Google Nest Hub 2. The tech giant says that the new smart display offers 50% more bass than before, and we look forward to proving this. While the stylish display is not your main way of watching TV, it may be your speaker for the room in which it is located. If the audio experience isn’t okay when listening to music or watching videos, the device could end up languishing in the corner, leaving you feeling frustrated with it.
Thread Support
Google has introduced support for the wireless smart home protocol Thread in Google Nest Hub 2. The relatively new technology allows smart home appliances from different manufacturers to work together, without the need for a third-party service such as IFTTT, for example switching on lighting fixtures if your luxury weather station finds it cloudy dull day. It also uses less power, so if any of your smart home appliances have battery power, they last longer between charges.
In addition, Google is going one step further, ensuring that Google Nest Hub 2 can be a Thread Border router – this means you will be able to control the those smart home devices when you are not connected to your home Wi-Fi network. . So if you notice that your fancy lights have been turned on but you have left the house, you will still be able to turn them off.
There are currently only a handful of smart home appliances on the market that support Thread, including Nanoleaf’s essential range of smart lights and Eve’s smart plug and connected weather station. However, more are expected in the future.
Stable materials
Google has also given the Nest Hub 2 some eco credentials: the clothing base of the smart display is made from recycled plastic bottles.
This is just like the Google Nest Mini 2, the tech giant’s most affordable smart speaker. The clothing is available in four colors: Chalk, Charcoal, Sand and Mist – a soft pastel blue that Google said was designed to provide a calm presence in the bedroom.
Without camera
In the original Google Nest Hub, or Home Hub as it was originally, there was one omission – a camera for video calls. At the time of its launch, Google said it was protecting users ’privacy by not introducing a camera.
However, the company rinn add a camera to its larger luxury display, the Google Nest Hub Max. So, we are disappointed to learn that Google has not introduced a camera on Google Nest Hub 2.
This is a feature that all Amazon Echo Show smart displays offer, and would be welcome from those who want to use the smart display for video calls.
Web browser
Currently, none of Google’s smart displays have a web browser – including the new Google Nest Hub 2 – but Amazon’s range of Echo Show smart displays offer the ability to surf the web.
We think this would have been very useful for Google Nest Hub 2: if you want to quickly find something on the web, and you don’t have a smartphone or tablet at hand, you wouldn’t have to stop. put on what you are doing to find your device. Unfortunately, Google did not feel the need to introduce a web browser to this updated tool.