Only a few days have passed since Google revealed Gemini’s arrival within Google Home, accompanied by a newly designed Home app. Alongside this, the company introduced several additions to its smart home family – a fresh Nest Cam, a Nest Doorbell, and a new Home Speaker. Yet among these devices, one absence was plain to see: there was no new Nest Hub. The omission stirred speculation that Google’s smart displays might be quietly fading into the past.
However, that may not be the full story. In a short exchange with The Verge, Anish Kattukaran, who oversees Google Home, offered a hint of what may come next. While he stopped short of confirming any new model, his words suggested that the line has not been abandoned.
Google Confirms Ongoing Interest in Smart Displays
Kattukaran remarked that Google remains “definitely committed to smart displays,” adding that though there is nothing new to reveal at the moment, users should “definitely expect that we’ll have news to share there.” The comment, measured but deliberate, implied that a successor could already be taking shape behind the scenes.
He also observed that smart displays offer a remarkable way to engage with something like Gemini for Home. With their union of screen, speaker, and microphone, they enrich voice interaction by giving shape to sound – allowing the spoken word to be seen as well as heard. In Kattukaran’s view, this combination makes the smart display nearly the ideal device for bringing intelligence and comfort into the home.
Why Google Might Still Bet on the Nest Hub
It seems, then, that smart displays still hold a place in Google’s vision. Though Kattukaran avoided confirming that a new Nest Hub is in the works, his words implied that the idea has not been discarded. Yet there is, at present, no firm evidence of an active project or forthcoming release.
It has, after all, been some time since Google last produced a new Nest Hub. The original appeared in 2018, followed by a second version three years later. Between the two came the larger Nest Hub Max, a bolder attempt that has not since been repeated.
From the Pixel Tablet to the Future of Home AI
Then came the Pixel Tablet – a curious hybrid that served as both tablet and smart display when placed upon its dock. Yet, like several of Google’s past experiments, its successor was quietly abandoned before it could find a firm place in the market.
For some time, it has appeared that Google was prepared to leave the smart display behind, turning its attention to other devices. But Kattukaran’s recent remarks suggest a different story. Even as the present Nest Hub line prepares to receive Gemini integration, it is clear that this family of devices is in need of renewal – a genuine step forward rather than another small revision.
Final Words
The history of Google hardware releases can be read like a mystery novel, with all the usual elements of great start, twist of the plot, and the character who disappears without a trace. (Looking at you, Pixel Tablet 2.) The well-selected words used by Kattukaran provide a sufficient amount of hope so that the enthusiasts would not necessarily pack their smart displays away permanently.
It is yet to be seen whether his hints will lead to a real device or just another installment of the long history of Google of almost announcements. In the meantime, owners of Nest Hub can rest assured that their gadgets are not forgotten, merely waiting in line behind whatever new shiny projects has drawn the attention of Google, known to be wandering. Stay tuned, they say.
