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The speaker utilizes an array of six far-field mics to pick up your voice commands from a distance. Recently discounted to $99, the US Google Store has likely depleted its original Home inventory, and is no longer getting new stock. The UK Google Store is still selling the device, while there’s a waitlist in Canada. With Google Home, your Nest and Matter devices work together reliably to help with your household needs.
Just look for smart devices with a Works with Google Home or Matter badge. Just when we thought our favorite Google Home speaker was completely done for, it has made a resurgence on the Google Store and it is nearly as affordable as it has ever been. Sure, there have been a few flash sales that got it down to $149 a few times in 2020, but they never lasted long and were usually tied to some sort of bundle. This time, the Google Home Max is resurfacing in Google’s own store and both the black and white models are marked down to $179 each. At $99 apiece, it’s much cheaper, and buying two for stereo is more palatable. While announced in October, the speaker did notlaunchuntil December 2017.
Audio Performance
When the new Nest Audio speaker was announced in September 2020, the audio upgrade provided by custom speaker drivers was one of the main talking points. A single Nest Audio speaker looked to give a good enough room-filling sound for most uses. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
The latter was also possible through “Ok Google,” with the company adding a physical button on the rear to disable the microphone. That privacy switch has remained available across all subsequent speakers and Smart Displays from Google. As you can tell from my timbre and the video above, we love this speaker here in the office and are sad to see it go. I don’t know if there’s enough interest in a speaker of this size for Google to make a Nest Audio Max, but I sure hope they consider it. I like the Nest Audio just fine and I think it is a great replacement for the original Google Home, but no speaker with the Google Assistant can touch the Home Max when it comes to sheer audio quality. With the Home Max now leaving the lineup, it really feels like Google needs to fill the hole.
Nest Cam with Floodlight
If you had your eye on the Home Max but were waiting for a good sale price, don't wait any longer. This might be your last chance to get your hands on Google's AI-powered Hi-Fi monster. The officially retired but still supported super-speaker is now super cheap. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
Meanwhile, the “Coral” fabric Base is “out of stock,” but the two metal variants remain available. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time, but as of today – reported by 9to5 Google – our favorite speaker in the office is no longer for sale. This isn’t a big price reduction, out of stock alert, or future warning from Google. This time around, the Google Home Max is finally gone for good, and my hopes for a proper replacement may be gone as well. It can be placed vertically or horizontally, while it supports stereo configuration if you have a pair.
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Now marked down to $179 consistently , it is hard to recommend any other speakers at this point. Sure, you could get a pair of Nest Audio speakers for almost the same money, but I promise you even a stereo pairing of those fantastic speakers pales in comparison to the Google Home Max’s massive sound stage. Several audio-centric reviewers found the stereo sound provided by two linked Nest Audio speakers to significantly improve overall sound reproduction when compared to previous offerings. And, to state the more or less obvious, it blows away the audio performance offered by the smaller Google Home speaker, though that speaker offers some decent bass depth for its size. If Google Assistant is a priority and solid audio performance is also high on the list, you won't be disappointed with the Home Max. A silicone rubber base ships with the Home Max, and can be placed beneath it to keep it from dancing across tabletops.
The fact that the in-stock status returned at full price really had me hopeful that the end wasn’t so close after all. The Home Max, and Mini, launched in 2017 as the first expansion of Google’s smart speaker lineup. After three years, Google has officially discontinued the Home Max as inventory is depleted. Sure, the Home Max has all of the same brains as the newer models, but it can't compete in terms of hardware anymore.
Not only is the device out-of-stock in the US Google Store, but the company told Engadget it discontinued the line. You may still be able to find them through other vendors, but only while supplies last. Other than cost, there was never any reason not to buy this excellent speaker from Google. At $399 when it debuted, it was always a bit pricey for many users, but recent discounts to $299 on a regular basis have made it far more palatable.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions.See how we test. Even though I'm a freelancer now, PCMag has been my home for well over a decade, and audio gear reviews are still my primary focus. Prior to my career in reviewing tech, I worked as an audio engineer—my love of recording audio eventually led me to writing about audio gear.
I have one nest audio in a 12x10 bedroom and it fills the room with sound at ~70% volume. In my opinion, definitely go with one nest audio for a start as mine fills the room and I have it close to the wall to amplify the bass. We fully expect Google to sell through this final stock and then put the oh-so-excellent Google Home Max out to pasture, so if you’ve ever considered one, you should jump on this deal while you can.
It can recognize up to six different voices for different Google accounts, synchronize music between rooms, and even broadcast messages to all of the Google Home devices in your home. While the original, smaller Google Home speaker looks like an air freshener or scented candle, the Home Max is simple and beautiful. Its smooth contour has rounded edges and a lovely cloth speaker grille that is so seamlessly installed, it looks like it and the surrounding matte plastic are one piece. The cloth has a slight sheen to it, and white LEDs glow behind its surface to display volume levels. Beneath the grille, dual 0.7-inch tweeters and dual 4.5-inch woofers deliver the audio.
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