Google Nest Mini
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Today we're looking at the Google Nest Mini — the little puck that's most people's first smart speaker. But is it worth it? Let's be honest.
It's Google's compact, inexpensive Assistant speaker: voice control, decent sound for its size, and a wall-mountable design meant to seed Assistant into every room.
The genuine strength is the value and footprint. CNET keeps it on the list as an easy, affordable way to add voice control and music to a room, and at around fifty dollars it's the cheapest honest way into Google's smart home.
The honest caveat is that the sound is fine, not good — this is a utility speaker — and Google's slower pace of Assistant updates applies here too.
This is for anyone wanting cheap voice control, a second-room speaker, or a first step into Google's ecosystem. Clean and family-safe, standard privacy caveats.
My verdict? Worth it — eighty-two out of a hundred. The right cheap way in, as long as you know what fifty dollars buys. That's Penny's take. See you at the next one.