Google Introduces Gemini for Home and Expands Smart Home Ecosystem
Google is expanding its smart home offerings with the introduction of Gemini for Home, a platform integrating advanced AI capabilities into existing and new hardware solutions. This launch signifies a significant advancement in home automation, offering enhanced functionality and user experience.
New Hardware Offerings:
Enhanced Nest Cam Series: The company has refreshed its Nest Cam lineup, including the Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd gen), and Nest Doorbell. These devices feature upgraded sensors, enabling 2K video recording with High Dynamic Range (HDR) capabilities. The improved resolution is crucial for optimal performance of the integrated AI features.
AI-Powered Features: The updated cameras utilize AI to provide intelligent alerts with descriptive text summaries and short video clips. Users can leverage the “Ask Home” feature to query specific events from past footage, eliminating the need to manually review hours of video. The “Home Brief” feature offers a concise summary of activity.
Key Camera Specifications:
* Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor: 152° Field of View (FoV)
* Nest Doorbell: 166° FoV with a 1:1 image aspect ratio.
* Outdoor models (Outdoor Cam and Doorbell) are IP65 rated for weather resistance.
Availability and Pricing:
* Nest Cam Indoor: $100, available across the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
* Nest Cam Outdoor: $150 (or $250 for a 2-pack), available in the same markets as the Indoor model.
* Nest Doorbell: $180, currently available in the US and Canada only.
Gemini for Home Availability: The Gemini for Home features are initially available in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. Expansion to additional markets is planned for early 2026.
Walmart Partnership: Google has partnered with Walmart to offer onn-branded cameras fully compatible with Gemini for Home. These include the onn Camera Wired ($23) and the onn Video Doorbell Wired ($50).
New Google Home Speaker:
Google is introducing a new Home Speaker specifically designed to enhance the Gemini for Home experience. The speaker provides 360° audio and incorporates on-board processing to optimize AI interactions. It features an RGB LED ring that provides visual cues indicating Gemini’s status, including listening, processing, and responding, as well as when it is in Gemini Live mode.
The new speaker continues to support pairing with Google TV Streamer 4K and is compatible with existing Home and Nest speakers for multi-room audio playback.
The Google Home Speaker will be available in Spring 2026 at a price of $100.
Geographical Launch: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
