Here’s Every Smart Speaker That’s Getting Gemini

Google is finally starting the rollout of its all-new Gemini for Home voice assistant to its lineup of smart speakers and displays. The big promise here is that Gemini is far more conversational and capable than the current Assistant, and if you have a compatible speaker, you can use it.

The best part of the news is that, instead of locking the new AI to brand-new hardware, Google is bringing the Gemini for Home voice assistant to all Google speakers and displays made since 2016. So your old Google Home Mini from 2017 is getting the same core upgrade as the brand-new Nest Hub. I was completely expecting the opposite, but it seems like those who have been loyal to Google are getting rewarded.

This is also fantastic news for anyone with a house full of Google gear, and the upgrade is coming at no extra cost. According to Google's FAQ, the full list of compatible devices includes:

• Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)

• Google Nest Hub Max

• Google Nest Hub (1st gen)

• Google Home Max

• Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)

• Google Home Mini (1st gen)

• Google Nest Audio

• Google Home

• Google Nest Wifi point

Even though the brain inside is different, you'll still use the "Hey Google" wake word to get its attention. From there, the experience should feel fundamentally new. Gemini maintains short-term context, so you can ask a question and then ask a follow-up without having to repeat the subject all over again.

You'll also know you have the upgrade if you see new UI elements on your smart display, or if the LEDs on your speaker glow a blue/purple color when responding. Of course, you can just ask it, "Ok Google, who are you?" and it will respond with the new voice or the old welcome message.

Google is also rolling out Gemini Live, which is the feature many of us have really been waiting for. This lets you have a back-and-forth conversation instead of just giving orders. You can talk, pause, interrupt, and pivot to a new topic, all without having to repeat "Hey Google" for every single interaction. This is meant to feel like a real chat where you can brainstorm ideas or get advice.

The catch is that Gemini Live is not free. It requires a Google Home Premium subscription. It's also only available on a smaller subset of the newer devices, including the Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Audio, Nest Mini (2nd gen), and Nest Hub Max.

This update isn't being forced on everyone just yet. To get it, you need to sign up for the early access program. You'll need to be on version 4.1 or newer of the Google Home app. From there, open the app, tap on Settings, and then click on Early Access to sign up. You'll get a notification inside the app once the Gemini features are available for your home.

Before you rush to the app and hit that button, there is another massive catch you need to know about. Once you upgrade to the Gemini for Home voice assistant, you cannot switch back to Google Assistant. This is a one-way migration. Upgrading is optional, but it's permanent once you do it.

For now, the rollout is limited to English in the US, with Google "expanding to other locales in early 2026".

Source: Google Nest Blog