For the past year, I've been relying on the "Google Nest Hub Max" in the kitchen. Thanks to this 10-inch smart display, you won't forget the ingredients while cooking, and you'll be entertained by music while you wait for the water to boil.
Having enjoyed the time with Nest Hub Max so much, I was expecting the release of the 7-inch "Google Nest Hub (2nd generation)". I wondered if putting this in the bedroom would improve the quality of sleep.
The new feature that is the centerpiece of this small smart display is the "sleep monitor." As the name implies, it is a function that monitors the user's sleep without using a camera, and gives hints for improving the quality of sleep.
I personally love relaxing in bed while wrapped in a weight blanket, but I don't sleep well every night. You can't sleep and roll over many times, you can't breathe through your nose because of allergies, or you can recall the embarrassing memories of the past.
It's been more than a month since the second-generation Google Nest Hub was installed on the nightstand in my bedroom, but sleep quality hasn't improved. However, I was able to learn about some sleep habits that I didn't even know about.
Similarities with the first generation
The 2nd generation Nest Hub can do everything the 1st generation can do. For example, playing movies and music, explaining recipes, sliding photos, working with smart home devices, and even Google search. As usual, there should be various updates related to the Google Assistant within the next year, but apart from them, nothing is new.
There is almost no difference in appearance, but new colors such as "mist (pale blue)" have been added to the color variation from this second generation [Note: Only two colors, black and gray, are available in Japan]. According to Google, 54% of the enclosures are made of recycled plastic. If you've ever used a Google smart display before, it looks exactly what you'd expect.
The first-generation Nest Hub (formerly Google Home Hub) didn't have a camera, but it's the same with the second-generation. I like that. By the way, I haven't used the video call function of Nest Hub Max personally (although it may be useful for users of the video call application "Google Duo" that comes standard with Android smartphones). Given that the Nest Hub was built on the assumption that it would be used in the bedroom, which is the most private place in the house, I'm glad I didn't have a camera.
In the second generation, the number of high-sensitivity microphones has changed from two to three, and voice commands can be picked up without problems. The performance of the speaker is also slightly improved. I don't think I'll use it when DJing at a party, but it's more than enough sound quality for a nightstand product.