Google’s unveiled its first smart home device in India today with the launch of the Nest Hub for a price of INR 9,999 and though the search giant is marketing this Google Assistant-powered display as a digital photo frame and it’s a lot more than just that.
What does the Google Nest Hub offer?
Now, smart display’s aren’t as common as smart speakers in India yet but one qualm that most smart home device owners have — now, more than ever before — is how safe is my data having this around? Well, for starters, Google’s been self-aware enough to offer a camera-free 7-inch smart display in the Nest Hub. Google, in fact, also throws in a handy microphone switch directly to the rear of the display in order to cease the Hub from listening.
However, not having a camera built-in also means that the Nest Hub is incapable of placing video calls like the Echo Show 5. You can, however, place audio calls via Google Duo, in-case you don’t have your phone lying around nearby.
What you might also find a little odd is that Google does not rate this as a smart display and likes to rather call it digital photo frame which doubles up as a hub to control all your connected devices.
You control the Google Nest Hub via Google Assistant voice commands, or with the touchscreen. The screen is on the small side for smart displays, which for some people might be a turn-off. But that certainly helps while placing it on your bedside table or when you plunk it down on your kitchen counter. Guiding you through recipes is one thing every Google-powered smart display excels and the Nest Hub will let you stream YouTube videos directly on the device, play music/games, get step-by-step cooking instructions, and cast albums from Google Photos.
Google Nest Hub: A digital photo frame and more
As a digital photo frame, the Nest Hub is super simple to get your head around, letting you pull photos and albums from Google Photos and showcase them. The feature lets you set up a slideshow of your photos from Google Photos, or select albums from Photos that you’d like to show up on the device. You can also see your recent highlights — which will surface your latest photos synced to Google Photos — or choose specific people and pets that you’d like to see photos of.
If you don’t want to use the Nest Hub as a photo frame in the background, there’s also the option of using a curated list of images or artwork. You can also use a full-screen clock, with several watch faces to choose from. As of now, customizing information you want to see on your watch face(a common feature of smart watches) isn’t a thing but that can possibly be added with a future update.
Once you’re bored of that, you can also ask Google to surface photos from a particular location or a memorable trip you’ve had. But as I’ve stated earlier, the Nest Hub is a lot more than just a convenient digital photo frame. It’s more of a Google Home speaker, with the addition of a display which lets you interact better.
SEE ALSO: Amazon challenges Google with smaller, cheaper Echo Show
Google Nest Hub: Who is this smart display for?
If you’re used to smart speakers, having a screen (which looks like it floats by the way) changes the way you interact with Google Assistant. Every time you ask Assistant a query, you get a card that lets you explore additional information about the subject. Being a Google product with a display, there’s the option to stream YouTube videos on the Nest Hub, and use the device as a chromecast built-in device. You’d think that this means you can cast content from Netflix, Prime Video to the Nest Hub, but that isn’t really the case. In my time with the Nest Hub, I was only able to cast content from YouTube and Hotstar.
The Nest Hub is also great for streaming audio. Just ask Assistant to play your favorite Spotify, YouTube Music playlists or use the card that shows up on the home screen to choose from your albums. The best part about streaming music on a smart display is that you get a card with the album art and seek controls, allowing you to seek forward, pause, or switch to the next song in the playlist directly from the device.
That’s not the only card that’ll pop up for you as you scroll from right to left of the screen. The cards are personalized based on your activity, barring a few which keep featuring anyway. The Nest Hub is also lets you set up alarms and reminders on the device and also add stuff to lists.
Does the Google Nest Hub warrant a purchase?
At a price of INR 9,999, the Google Nest Hub is certainly priced higher than the Amazon Echo Show 5 which offers a smaller display but adds video calling. But if you’re planning to buy the device as a replacement for your old radio alarm clock or as a kitchen-bound product, the Nest Hub will serve your cause perfectly. Albeit expensive, the Nest Hub also does the job of a hub quite well, letting you control your smart bulbs and plugs across the house without having to flick your smartphone out.
To make the deal of getting yourself a Nest Hub even sweeter, Google is also bundling the Xiaomi Mi Security Camera, worth INR 1,799 with every purchase if you pick up the device from Flipkart or Tata Cliq. Overall, the Nest Hub is a smart addition to Google’s connected home portfolio in India but you’ll probably buy this only if you’re willing to splurge.
