Google to launch a Nest-branded smart speaker codenamed ‘prince’

Google entered the smart speaker space with the entry-level Google Home Mini, the mid-level Google Home and the premium Google Home Max. The company later upgraded the Google Home Mini with a Google Nest Mini while the other two speakers did not get an upgrade.

Now, according to sources, there is a new Google Nest-branded smart speaker on the way that can act as an upgrade for the mid-level Google Home. It could ideally be slotted as replacement for the Google Home Max being placed somewhere between the two tiers.

There aren’t too many details out about this new Nest-branded speaker as yet except that its internal codename is ‘prince’. Speculations suggest that it might be a reference to the late musician.

Sources have said that the speaker is going to be familiar and unassuming and “fit in nicely” with the Google Nest Mini. That possibly means that it might feature the same fabric design of the Mini and come in the same set of colours - Charcoal, Chalk, Sky and Coral.

The new speaker is not going to come with a display though, and will only work with voice commands. Given that Google has two different Google Nest smart displays that you can pick on, there is no need for a third at this point.

Since Google did not upgrade the Google Home and the Google Home Max, it’s a good call to come up with a smart speaker that’s without a display - something that works well with the Google Assistant and also sounds good. So far, in that domain, you only had the Google Home Max. For those who thought that the Google Nest Mini wasn’t adequate, you will have a better option now.