Google appears to have several new smart home products in the works, according to recent reports. Speculation about a potential new 4K Chromecast has been circulating, and a recent teardown of the Google Home app has uncovered evidence of a new Nest Audio speaker and a Nest Hub Max.
The teardown, conducted by 9to5Google, involved examining the app’s code for hints about upcoming products. While not all features discovered in such teardowns may come to fruition, the findings provide a glimpse into Google’s potential hardware plans.
The code in Home app version 3.16 referenced a ‘Nest Hub Max’ that differs from the existing 2019 model, suggesting that a second-generation Nest Hub Max could be in the works. The new device is expected to continue using the Google Assistant smart display software found on current Nest Hubs, though further details were not revealed in the code.
Additionally, the code also included references to a new ‘Nest Audio’ speaker. Reports from last year indicated that Google was working on a new Nest Audio speaker, but faced challenges when attempting to transition the speakers to the Fuchsia operating system. It is unclear whether the code refers to this existing project or a new one, but the new Nest Audio speaker is expected to support ultra-wideband connectivity.
The potential release of these new smart home products suggests that Google is continuing to expand its offerings in this space. With advancements in generative AI and the possibility of features like sleep tracking sensors, it will be interesting to see how these devices will integrate with Google’s overall ecosystem in the future.
