The next era of Google Home is here. From a redesigned app to new home hardware, Google hopes you’ll quickly forget about the problems in its smart home ecosystem and embrace Google Home powered by Gemini.
Certainly, I’m looking forward to it. The strangely delicious Google Home Speaker would be the perfect centerpiece for my dining table, and the Material 3 Expressive redesign of the Google Home app makes managing your smart devices easier than ever.
However, Google completely lost me with its Google Home Advanced subscription. It’s confusing, has low value, and bundles features you might not want.
Although I’ll probably buy the new Google Home speaker on sale thanks to its 360° audio and improved sound quality, I’ll skip Google Home Premium.
Here’s why you should also give this new subscription a cold shoulder.
What is Google Home Premium subscription?
Nest Aware, now with Gemini
The Google Home Premium subscription replaces the Nest Aware and Nest Aware Plus subscriptions. These subscriptions are replaced by Google Home Premium Standard and Google Home Premium respectively.
Google Home Premium Standard is included in the Google AI Pro Plan subscription, but Google Home Premium Advanced includes additional features to improve the functionality of your camera and doorbells.
With me so far? Great because we’re about to dive into the features.
You can view the full suite of features on the Google Home Premium store pagebut here are the highlights.
Although Google has not incorporated a price increase into new subscriptions, Nest Aware price increase in July makes this point moot.
I suspect that, knowing people’s ambivalence towards Gemini, Google separated the price increase from the new subscription to encourage adoption.
The value of Google Home Premium is questionable
I don’t see this subscription service attracting people who don’t find Nest Aware interesting.
I’ll start by saying that if you use your Nest Aware subscription regularly and are happy with the price, keep going. Nothing is removed from your subscription.
However, if you’re tempted to subscribe to the all-new Google Home app or the oddly tasty-looking Berry Google Home Speaker, think again.
First, Google Home Premium remains a Nest-focused experience. Although Google Home Premium includes more features for your smart speakers and displays, it remains a subscription service focused on improving your home security.
If you live in an apartment, most of its features will still be irrelevant. This is not a new disadvantage, but it is worth remembering that the target audience is the same.
Second, all but one of the Gemini features included in the Google Home Premium subscription are included on your phone for free.
I can access and use Gemini Live now. Do I want to pay $8 a month to use Gemini Live when I leave my phone in the other room? No.
The only Gemini feature exclusive to Google Home Premium allows you to ask Gemini to create automations for you. Ironically, the redesigned Google Home app makes it much easier to manually create automations.
Third, do you trust Gemini to summarize your videos?
One of the main use cases suggested by Google for the Advanced subscription is that you can ask Gemini questions such as “Who came to my door today?” » or “How did the dog get out?”
However, I have serious concerns about this.
On the one hand, Gemini must accurately and consistently name every face it spots in your camera feeds.
Additionally, in the example of recording a dog escape, Google shows Gemini providing unnecessary details, like “The enclosure is made of wood and there are paintings and a plant in the room.”
Is this the kind of detail we need for security measures? A dog running away is a funny example, but irrelevant information about people could be confusing.
Finally, without a subscription, you can still access Gemini.
Google’s landing page for Google Home Premium says: “Bring your whole home together with help from Gemini.” »
However, this hints at the Gemini Live and automations included in the subscription. You can still ask Gemini to set timers, adjust speaker volume, and perform other smart home-related tasks.
For those of us who have gotten used to Google Assistant, not much will change in practice.
Google Home Premium is designed to sell you Gemini
It’s hard to see this new era of Google Home as anything other than an attempt to convince us that we need Gemini Live.
I’m having a hard time finding the need for it. Gemini is free on Google Home anyway and I can easily access Gemini Live through my Pixel 8.
I see potential for AI features for doorbells and cameras, but until we can thoroughly test them, I suggest being cautious about adopting them.
There are bugs that Google needs to fix, security questions that need to be answered, and questionable value in the Google Home Premium subscription.
Nonetheless, I think this new era of Google Home is a positive development as long as Google fixes these problems.
