Google Home stopped getting updates in 2021. If youâre still using one, youâre running software that hasnât changed in over four years. The device didnât fail-it was quietly retired. But what took its place? The answer isnât one product. Itâs a whole new ecosystem built around voice, AI, and seamless control-and itâs better than what came before.
Google Nest replaced Google Home
Google didnât just rename Google Home. They rebuilt it. In 2020, they launched the first Google Nest devices: the Nest Mini, Nest Audio, and Nest Hub. These werenât upgrades-they were redesigns from the ground up. The Nest Mini, for example, dropped the old spherical shape for a compact, fabric-covered cylinder. Itâs quieter, has better mic pickup, and uses Googleâs newer AI chip to process voice commands locally before sending data to the cloud.
By 2023, Google stopped selling all Google Home models. The Nest line became the only option. Today, if you buy a new Google voice assistant device, youâre buying a Nest. The Nest Hub Max, with its 10-inch touchscreen and built-in camera, now handles video calls, security monitoring, and smart home dashboards. Itâs not just a speaker-itâs your homeâs command center.
Amazon Echo took over the mid-tier market
While Google shifted to Nest, Amazon kept pushing Echo. The Echo Dot (5th gen) and Echo Show 8 became the most popular smart speakers in the U.S. in 2024, according to Statista. Why? Price, compatibility, and Alexaâs deep integration with third-party devices.
Amazonâs Echo devices work with over 200,000 smart home products-from Philips Hue lights to Yale locks. Alexa can turn on your coffee maker, check your fridge inventory, and even order toilet paper when youâre low. In 2025, Amazon added a new feature called Adaptive Voice, which learns your speech patterns and adjusts responses based on time of day, mood, and routine. If youâre usually grumpy in the morning, Alexa gives you shorter answers. If you ask for the weather while making coffee, it adds traffic updates.
For people who donât care about Googleâs ecosystem, Echo is the default choice. Itâs cheaper, works with more brands, and doesnât require a Google account to function.
Apple HomePod is the premium alternative
If you own an iPhone, Apple HomePod (2nd gen) is the most seamless smart speaker you can buy. It doesnât try to be everything. It focuses on sound quality, privacy, and integration with Appleâs ecosystem.
The HomePod uses spatial audio and machine learning to adjust its sound based on where itâs placed in the room. It also works as a HomeKit hub-meaning you can control your smart lights, locks, and thermostats even when youâre away from home. Siri on the HomePod doesnât just answer questions. It remembers your habits. If you always ask for the news at 7 a.m., it starts playing automatically.
Unlike Google and Amazon, Apple doesnât use your voice data to target ads. All processing happens on-device unless you opt in to cloud analysis. Thatâs a big reason why privacy-focused users switched from Google Home to HomePod.
Smart displays are now the standard
People donât just want to talk to their devices anymore. They want to see them. In 2025, 78% of new smart home buyers chose a device with a screen, according to a survey by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
The Nest Hub (2nd gen) and Echo Show 10 are the leaders here. Both use AI-powered cameras to follow you around the room. If you walk into the kitchen and ask for a recipe, the screen rotates to face you. If youâre in the living room and ask for the weather, it shows a live radar map. The Nest Hub also integrates with Googleâs AI assistant, Gemini, which can explain how to fix a leaky faucet or suggest a playlist based on your mood.
These screens arenât just for entertainment. Theyâre used for video calls, checking security camera feeds, controlling thermostats, and even monitoring elderly family members. Many users now treat their smart display as a digital photo frame, calendar, and control panel-all in one.
Multi-brand hubs are rising
Not everyone wants to pick a side. Thatâs why hubs like the Samsung SmartThings Hub and the Home Assistant Yellow are growing fast. These donât rely on Google, Amazon, or Apple. Instead, they connect everything-Z-Wave, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Matter-and let you control it all through one app.
The Home Assistant Yellow, released in late 2024, is a $129 device that runs open-source software. It doesnât need the cloud. All your data stays on your home network. Itâs popular with tech-savvy users who want full control and hate being locked into one companyâs ecosystem.
These hubs are perfect if you have a mix of devices: Philips Hue lights, a Nest thermostat, a Ring doorbell, and a Samsung fridge. Instead of juggling five apps, you control everything from one dashboard.
What to buy in 2025
Hereâs what to get based on your needs:
- Best overall: Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) - great screen, strong AI, works with most smart devices.
- Best for Apple users: Apple HomePod (2nd gen) - unbeatable sound, tight iPhone integration, private by design.
- Best budget: Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) - cheap, reliable, works with tons of gadgets.
- Best for privacy: Home Assistant Yellow - runs locally, no cloud, no ads, no tracking.
- Best for video calls: Nest Hub Max - large screen, HD camera, Google Meet built in.
Google Home is gone. But what replaced it isnât just another speaker. Itâs a smarter, more visual, more personal experience. The real upgrade isnât the hardware-itâs how these devices understand you.
Can I still use my old Google Home device?
Yes, but only for basic functions. Google Home devices still work for voice commands and controlling smart devices you already have. But they no longer receive software updates, security patches, or new features. Google stopped supporting them in 2021. If you rely on voice routines, timers, or multi-room audio, youâll notice delays or missing features. Itâs not broken-itâs outdated.
Do I need to replace my Google Home with a Nest device?
No, but youâll miss out on improvements. Nest devices have better microphones, faster response times, and AI features like voice match and ambient mode. If you want to use Googleâs latest assistant (Gemini), you need a Nest device. Older Google Home units canât run the new software. Replacing it isnât required, but itâs the only way to get the full experience.
Is Alexa better than Google Assistant?
It depends on what you want. Alexa supports more smart home devices-over 200,000 compared to Googleâs 100,000+. But Google Assistant understands natural language better. If you say, âWhatâs the weather going to be like this weekend?â Google responds with a detailed forecast. Alexa might just say, âItâs sunny on Saturday.â Google also integrates better with calendars, emails, and Google Maps. Alexa wins on compatibility. Google wins on smarts.
Can I use Google Nest and Amazon Echo together?
Yes, but not seamlessly. You can link both to your home Wi-Fi and use them in different rooms. But you canât combine their assistants. Saying âHey Google, turn on the lightsâ wonât work if your lights are controlled by Alexa. Youâd need to say âAlexa, turn on the lightsâ instead. For true multi-brand control, use a hub like Home Assistant or Samsung SmartThings to bridge them.
Whatâs the difference between Nest Mini and Nest Audio?
The Nest Mini is small, quiet, and designed for kitchens and bedrooms. Itâs good for alarms, timers, and quick questions. The Nest Audio is bigger, with a 75mm driver and better bass. It plays music louder and clearer. If you listen to podcasts or music often, go for Nest Audio. If you just need voice help, the Mini is enough.
Are smart displays worth it?
Yes-if you use them. People who use the screen for recipes, video calls, or security checks get more value than those who just use them as speakers. A screen turns a voice assistant into a control center. You can see your calendar, check your doorbell feed, or follow a workout video without touching your phone. If youâre always looking at your phone anyway, a smart display saves time.
Whatâs next?
The future of smart home assistants isnât just about voice. Itâs about anticipation. New devices in 2025 use sensors to detect when youâre tired, stressed, or hungry-and respond before you ask. A Nest Hub might dim the lights and play calming music when it notices youâve been sitting at your desk for three hours. An Echo might suggest ordering groceries when it sees your fridge is low.
Google, Amazon, and Apple arenât just selling speakers anymore. Theyâre selling intuition. And if youâre still using a 2017 Google Home, youâre not just behind-youâre missing the next step entirely.
Sandy Dog
November 16, 2025 AT 20:24OMG I switched from Google Home to Nest Hub Max last year and I CRIED when I saw how it rotates to follow me around the room like a loyal golden retriever đ⨠Itâs not just a speaker-itâs my emotional support AI. I asked it to play âI Will Surviveâ after my breakup and it did⌠then added a playlist of cats doing yoga. Iâm not even mad. đąđ§ââď¸
Nick Rios
November 17, 2025 AT 09:17I get why people love the Nest and Echo, but I still use my 2018 Google Home for alarms and weather. Itâs not broken, just⌠quietly aging like a good wine. I donât need AI reading my mood or rotating screens. Sometimes, simplicity is the upgrade.
Amanda Harkins
November 17, 2025 AT 22:07Itâs funny how weâve turned our homes into therapy sessions with machines. We used to talk to pets. Now we talk to speakers that know when weâre stressed before we do. I donât know if thatâs progress or just capitalism with a voice assistant. Either way, my Nest Hub dims the lights when I sigh too much. Iâm both creeped out and deeply comforted.
Jeanie Watson
November 18, 2025 AT 16:15Yeah sure, the new stuff is fancy. But I just want my speaker to play music without a 3-second delay. Thatâs it. Iâm not here for AI mood detection or camera tracking. I just want silence when Iâm trying to nap.
Tom Mikota
November 18, 2025 AT 22:16Wait-so Google âquietly retiredâ Google Home? Thatâs not retirement-thatâs abandonment with a PR spin. And calling Nest a âredesign from the ground upâ? The Nest Mini is literally a Google Home with a new fabric coat and a slightly better mic. Also-âAdaptive Voiceâ? So Alexa now does emotional labor? Cool. Now itâll apologize when it messes up. Next theyâll make it bring you tea.
Mark Tipton
November 20, 2025 AT 11:45Letâs be clear: this entire narrative is a manufactured obsolescence campaign. Google, Amazon, and Apple are not âupgradingâ your experience-theyâre locking you into proprietary ecosystems so they can monetize your biometrics, voice patterns, and daily routines. The Home Assistant Yellow isnât just a âhubâ-itâs a digital rebellion. Every cloud-connected device is a surveillance node. You think your Nest is âhelpingâ you? Itâs logging your sighs, your pauses, your late-night snack requests. And youâre paying for it. The real question isnât âwhat replaced Google Home?â-itâs âwhat replaced your autonomy?â
Adithya M
November 21, 2025 AT 20:52Actually, the Nest Hub 2nd gen has better latency than Echo Show 10 because of Googleâs Tensor chip optimization. Also, Alexaâs âAdaptive Voiceâ is just keyword-triggered sentiment analysis-nothing AI. And HomePod? Itâs overpriced for what it does. If you want privacy, use Home Assistant. If you want performance, go Nest. If you want to pay for Appleâs logo, fine-but donât pretend itâs superior.
Jessica McGirt
November 22, 2025 AT 18:07Thank you for finally acknowledging that Google Home wasnât âkilledâ-it was evolved. The real win isnât the hardware-itâs that these devices now understand context. My Nest Hub knows I ask for traffic before my morning shower. Thatâs not magic. Thatâs thoughtful design. And yes, Iâm still using my old Google Home for timers-but Iâm not surprised itâs slow. Itâs like using a flip phone in 2025. You can, but why?