Google Nest Hub Max review: Bigger is (mostly) better

Back when Google launched the Google Home Hub – now the Google Nest Hub – it rather proudly stated that it was skipping out on including a camera in its own smart display.

Google's Smart Displays can support cameras – the Lenovo Smart Display, for example, has one – but the Home Hub would stand alone because, as per Google at the time, consumers might be a little freaked out by a camera staring into their homes all the time.

Jump forward a year and with a boost in size, it seems that Google isn't so concerned about its smart display having a camera, or at least the larger Google Nest Hub Max. It's a move that gives it more than just simple video calling features, too, although this is still a device best suited to a particular niche of smart home aficionados.

Design

Design

• A super-sized home hub, but only in two colours
• Good clear display
• Easy physical controls
• Only one switch for both the camera and the microphone

• Read more about the Nest Hub Max's design

  If I was feeling uncharitable, I might say that Google's design team took the existing Google Home Hub/Nest Hub design blueprints to the photocopier, hit the "enlarge by 20%" button and then headed down to the pub, figuring it was a job well done.

  That's because, to a certain extent, that's quite true. Put the Google Nest Hub next to the Google Nest Hub Max, and you might figure the bigger smart display is the parent of the smaller one, or that there was some kind of Russian doll magic going on. It's got the same base design as the existing Nest Hub, with a simple base and a 10-inch touchscreen display.

  While the display is bigger, it's surprising to note that the resolution of the Google Nest Hub Max is quite low, at just 1280x800 pixels. Up close you can definitely pick up that resolution difference, although it predictably drops away at any distance.

  

  Size aside, the other notable design difference lies in the fact that the rainbow of colours you can buy the Nest Hub in gets pared down to just two colour choices for the Nest Hub Max. It sells in either Chalk or Charcoal finishes, and that's it. Neither is objectionable, but it feels a little disappointing to not have the same range of colour choices as with the original Google smart display.

  The 10-inch screen acts as a touch display, although of course you're expected to primarily work with your voice to control the Google Nest Hub Max. As with the Google Nest Hub, there are physical controls for volume and for switching off the microphone and camera pickup.

  Here I wish Google's engineers hadn't stuck quite so closely to the Nest Hub design. On that device, one switch to disable the microphone made sense, but here, the one switch covers both the microphone and the camera.

  It would have been nice to have the ability to physically disable either individually. As it is, if you want only the camera off, you'll have to do so with screen swipes and software, which doesn't feel anywhere near as absolute.

Performance

Performance

• Large screen is good for photos, calling and YouTube
• Microphone pickup remains excellent
• Gesture control that isn't terrible
• You get Nest Aware monitoring – for a price

• Read more about the Nest Hub Max's performance

  Much of what makes the Google Nest Hub a joy to use also applies to the Google Nest Hub Max. It's still a great display for your Google Photos library, it still works pretty seamlessly with Google services such as YouTube and Google Play Music, and you can still add a wide range of smart home appliances to control with it via the Google Home app.

  It's not just a case of a bigger screen being better for your granny to see your baby photos, however. That larger body also allows for larger speakers, which rather corrects one of the weaknesses of the smaller Nest Hub model. There the output was good for its size but rarely great, while with the Nest Hub Max, there's a much more solid and pleasing sound output.

  Microphone pickup is also very good. I've had it mostly placed in an open plan kitchen, and while Google Assistant itself can sometimes mangle its interpretation of the Australian accent, the Nest Hub Max hasn't missed picking up command words or requests even from a distance.

  The other big difference that the Nest Hub Max brings to the mix is the integrated camera. It's only enabled for video calling via Google's own Duo service, which means that in order to get it working that way, you'll have to get your relatives Duo-ready. That's a relatively painless affair, but it'd be even nicer if Google treated the Nest Hub Max like an Android device and opened it up to competing (and arguably more popular) services such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Skype.

  The camera isn't just there to let you make video calls, however. If you enable it, it'll take a picture of your face and then use face matching to verify you whenever you walk into its range. When that happens, it'll switch to your Google profile, showing you personal calendar alerts and more relevant content based on your interests. It's a neat feature, although obviously if you've got calendar reminders that you want to keep private, it might not be for you.

  The camera also enables a very simple form of gesture control. It seems that gestures are this year's gimmick for devices, with mobile gestures that sort-of-work on the LG G8s ThinQ or the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ as an example of how to do them poorly.

  Google's take, which may well be part of its whole Project Soli initiative that we're expecting to see on the Google Pixel 4 range, is surprising for one simple reason.

  It actually works.

  If there's music playing and you're in camera range, hold up a hand and it'll pause. Hold it up again and it'll keep playing from where it stopped. It's simple, it's relatively intuitive and it's absolutely great for when you're cooking or otherwise engaged in a way that voice wouldn't meet your needs.

  Google didn't just pack the Nest branding onto its home smart displays for the sake of it. It's also because the Google Nest Hub Max is a fully functional Nest Home security camera. For a price.

  Without a subscription, you can use its camera for simple motion alerts, but you've only got 24 hours to watch them before they're gone forever. A Google Nest Aware subscription will run you from between $7 and $30 per month depending on how long you want clips archived for, with discounts available if you subscribe for a whole year.

  It's not surprising that there's only a 24 hour window for "free" Nest access, because the lowest priced paid tier only gives you 5 days, but it still feels just a little miserly.

Verdict

Verdict

• Big screen and working gestures make this a winner

Should you buy it?

The Google Nest Hub Max solves most of the issues thar we had with the smaller Google Nest Hub/Home Hub device. Its speakers are better, the larger display makes it easier to watch video content or peruse your photos, and the integrated camera gives it security and calling features that you won't find on the smaller Hub.

That being said, it's also larger and more expensive than the regular Hub, and if you're not fond of the idea of Google looking into your kitchen, living room or wherever else you place it, it might not meet your precise needs.

Alternatives

If you're keen to stay in the Google family, your other option is the $199 Google Nest Hub (formerly the Google Home Hub). It's got the same feature set as the Google Nest Hub Max, save for the camera, which means it lacks the Nest, Duo and gesture features.

If Google's style doesn't appeal – or you want a display with a slightly better resolution – consider the Lenovo Smart Display.

Pricing and availability

Price

RRP $349

Where to buy

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Specifications

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