Google launched the low-cost Home Mini smart speaker as an affordable partner to the Google Home, with a hugely attractive pricetag.
Google Home Mini at a glance
What is the Google Home Mini? It's a smaller, cheaper version of Google's voice-controlled smart speaker, Google Home.
When does Google Home Mini come out? The Google Home Mini is available now, having launched back in October 2017 alongside the Pixel 2 family of smartphones.
How much will Google Home Mini cost? AUD$79.
What is Google Home Mini?
First rumoured back in August, Google Home Mini is a miniature version of the Google Home smart speaker released in Australia earlier this year. Like its bigger brother, Google Home Mini supports a wide range of hands-free functionality, including the ability to report the latest news or traffic conditions, play music from services like Google Play Music and Spotify, and manage your appointments through Google Calendar.
Google Home Mini retains Google Home's smart home compatibility, giving you the ability to control other smart devices in your house with the power of your voice. This functionality allows you to do things like dim smart lights, adjust your smart thermostat and stream content to your smart TV without lifting a finger.
Google Home Mini makes use of the voice-recognition capabilities of Google Assistant, the virtual personal assistant that powers the full-sized Google Home. Like Siri and Amazon's Alexa, Google Assistant listens for a command phrase – in this case, "Okay Google" – before responding to your requests. It's also worth remembering that Google Assistant requires a constant Internet connection to function.
What's the difference between Google Home Mini and Google Home?
Google Home Mini retains all of Google Home's functionality, with only a few small concessions separating it from its bigger brother. Prime among these is the fact it'll need to be wired into a power outlet directly, rather than running off a battery like Google Home. This is likely a necessary sacrifice to make the Mini as small as it is.
The Mini ditches the swappable base of Google Home, with only a set range of colours for the entire unit. Available colours are Chalk, Charcoal and Coral.
When will Google Home Mini be available?
Google announced the Mini at its 4 October event, with orders available for Australians immediately thereafter. At launch, shipping was stated within 2-3 weeks, but there's no current word on availability through bricks and mortar retailers.
How much does Google Home Mini cost?
The Google Home Mini retails for US$49, and here in Australia it sells for $79 outright.
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Back to topStay tuned for our full Google Home mini review.
Back to top| Name | Google Home Mini |
|---|---|
| Assistant | Google Assistant |
| Wireless Network | 802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Weight (grams) | 173.0 |
| Height (mm) | 42 |
| Width (mm) | 98 |
| Depth (mm) | 98 |
| Speaker Information | 40mm driver |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Min. Frequency Response (Hz) | 0.0 |
| Max. Frequency Response (Hz) | 0.0 |
| Audio Out | No |
| Water Rating | N/A |
| Review Score | 0.0 |
