Google is quietly reshuffling its smart speaker strategy as supply shortages plague the Nest Mini and the company prepares to roll out Gemini for Home across its ecosystem. With a new Google Home Speaker slated for spring 2026 and compatibility questions swirling around the Pixel Tablet, the tech giant appears to be setting the stage for its biggest smart home refresh in years.
The signs have been building for months, and now it's becoming clear that Google is orchestrating a major shift in its smart speaker lineup. The company's popular Nest Mini, long the gateway drug for smart home adoption, has become increasingly difficult to find across major retailers. Even Google's own store currently stocks just one color option, a sharp departure from the device's usual widespread availability.
This inventory crunch comes as Google prepares to roll out Gemini for Home, its next-generation voice assistant that will eventually replace the current Google Assistant. The timing isn't coincidental. According to Wired's comprehensive buying guide, most existing Google smart speakers will receive backward compatibility with Gemini for Home, but one notable exception stands out: the Pixel Tablet.
The Pixel Tablet's exclusion from the compatibility list has raised eyebrows among smart home enthusiasts. The device, which doubles as both an Android tablet and a smart display when docked, represented Google's ambitious attempt to create a hybrid smart home hub. But with the speaker dock becoming increasingly scarce and no Gemini integration promised, the Pixel Tablet's future looks uncertain.
Meanwhile, Google has confirmed plans for a new Google Home Speaker launching in spring 2026. The device, priced at $99, shares the same price point as the current Nest Audio, suggesting it may serve as a direct replacement. Early descriptions paint it as a taller version of the Nest Mini, potentially combining the Mini's compact appeal with more robust audio capabilities.
The upcoming Gemini for Home rollout represents the most significant change to Google's smart home strategy since the original Google Home launch. Unlike competitors' paid voice assistants, Gemini for Home will remain free for basic functionality. However, Google is restructuring its Nest Aware camera subscription service to include premium assistant features.
The new subscription tiers mirror the current Nest Aware structure: Standard at $10 monthly and Advanced at $20 monthly. These plans will bundle camera storage with enhanced voice features, including Gemini Live - a more conversational chat mode - and AI-powered video history analysis. Users will also receive personalized "Home Brief" summaries at day's end.
