Google officially launched the second generation of Nest Hub in Taiwan. If you want to briefly explain what the Nest Hub smart screen is, the simplest way to say it is probably a combination product of a smart speaker and a tablet. It has the functions of playing music from the smart speaker and voice-activated Google Assistant. It can also function as a tablet computer to touch, play videos, and add a smart photo frame. So are there any must-buy advantages or lesser-known disadvantages of the Nest Hub compared to Google's own Nest Mini smart speaker? Here's a look at our review.
Familiar operation interface and smart home hub
Nowadays, there are more or less smart home devices in people's homes. For example, TVs, electric lights, sockets, or various small appliances may have the function of connecting to the Internet. If the products comply with the Google Home specification, they can be connected in series through the Nest Hub. Operate with your voice, without necessarily needing to use your phone to control it.
There is a 7-inch touch screen on the Nest Hub, and with a quad-core ARM processor, it is probably the smoothness of an entry-level tablet. Although this screen can also be used for streaming video, in most cases, you should not stare at the small 7-inch screen to watch videos on the 55-inch TV at home. But if you put the Nest Hub in the kitchen, you can cook while you put recipes. In addition, the Nest Hub screen is probably the biggest role to use as a smart photo frame, playing selected photos in Google Photos, making you recall the memory of traveling to various places.
Having said that, operating smart devices in the home by voice or touch is an important function given by Google. From the menu page, you can see the independent smart home operation page, where you can operate the opening and closing of each device, or adjust it. Bulb brightness, speaker volume and other functions. However, most of the time, I am used to operating through "Hey, Google" or "Ok, Google", and the experience will be more intuitive and convenient.
▲ This time, the second generation of Nest Hub is sold in the Google store in Taiwan, and the packaging maintains the Google white style.
▲ The Nest Hub is equipped with a 7-inch screen and a quad-core ARM processor. Although it feels like a smart speaker with a tablet, it is still not as free as a tablet.
▲ There is a fabric material and power interface on the back. This material is the same as the version used by the Nest Mini. In addition, the other end of the power cable is a plug, not a USB interface.
▲There is a physical switch at the top of the back of the screen, which can be used to turn off the microphone. After it is turned off, voice operations cannot be used.
▲ There are volume buttons on the right side of the screen to adjust, generally, the volume is very loud at about 30% to 40%.
▲The bottom is anti-slip material, and it is quite stable when placed with a low center of gravity.
▲After booting, you can see that the interface is dominated by large images, and there are various categories at the top for you to quickly switch.
▲The home control system is the hub of the smart home, through which you can operate TVs, lights, sockets and other devices. It can be operated by touch or voice, and it also supports Google Assistant services.
▲Media is also the selling point of Nest Hub. After all, if you have more screens, you will want to play videos or pictures.
▲ What is more special is that the Nest Hub supports Google Duo, which can be used to make calls.
▲When your hands are out of time, you can make phone calls through voice broadcasting.
▲ You can also ask various questions through Google Assistant, such as stock prices, weather, calendar and other information.
▲If it is placed in the kitchen, it is very convenient to use voice to ask if you want to know the calories of the ingredients temporarily.
▲At the bottom of the screen, you can adjust the brightness, volume, do not disturb, alarm clock, settings and other functions.
▲You can ask about today's weather before going out. Compared with Nest Mini, it has more screen information and is easier to read.
Loudspeaker sound quality with Nest Mini variable home surround device
In addition to the screen, the Nest Hub also has a smart speaker function, which is almost the same as the Nest Mini, and can be used to play streaming music such as YouTube Music. In terms of sound quality, for my fungus, there is no obvious difference from the Nest Mini. However, if you have multiple sets of smart speakers in your home, you can connect them to play synchronously through Google Home. For example, when playing music, the Nest Hub in the living room and the Nest Mini in the bedroom can play the music synchronously, so that you can synchronize the music wherever you go. Music feeling.
▲The speaker is located in the fabric directly behind, and the sound quality is not much different from the Nest Mini.
▲It’s a pity that it can’t be played in full screen through YouTube Music, and there will always be a timeline that’s a bit unsightly.
▲If you play music through MyMusic, dynamic lyrics will also appear.
▲ Not only streaming music, such as Netflix can also be put on the Nest Hub, but you should not want to watch movies on a small 7-inch screen.
▲Using voice or mobile phone, YouTube videos can also be placed on Nest Hub.
▲ Netflix videos can be placed on the device without any problem, but the screen is a little smaller.
The sleep function is practical and can detect snoring and coughing, but the activation conditions are slightly strict
I think the most interesting feature of the Nest Hub this time around is the Sleep Sensing feature, which assesses your sleep status and syncs it to Google Fit. The report will display various sleep stages, including wakefulness, rapid eye movement, light sleep, and deep sleep. After the enhanced detection function is turned on, it can also record the time period and distribution of snoring, coughing, sound interference, and light interference. There are few analysis functions in sleep detection.
First, let's talk about how the Nest Hub detects sleep. I think it is a pity that the conditions for placing the device are a bit strict. First of all, the Nest Hub needs to be placed at the same height as your bed, and you can face your face when you sleep on your side, about an arm's distance away. The device cannot be placed on the head, it needs to be placed on the front side, and there are height and distance restrictions.
When most people sleep on the side of the bed, it is difficult to have a space where the Nest Hub can be placed in the direction facing the face. Even if there is a Nest Hub, it must always be facing the face and there should be no obstacles in this distance. It is necessary to adjust the position specially. can be detected accurately. Moreover, if the couple sleeps on the double bed, its detection function will also be interfered, and there are more restrictions on the use.
The Nest Hub sleep sensing function integrates microphone, light sensor, and Soli radar. Old users of Soli radar should be familiar with it. It is the sensor that was used in Google Pixel 4, which allows you to operate with gestures. Nest Hub also supports parts. Gesture function. What is special is that there is no lens on the Nest Hub. Google uses Soli radar to detect your various postures and directions, and uses microphones and light sensors to detect the environment and snoring.
If you have a smart watch, you should be familiar with the sleep analysis function. It can list the state distribution during the entire sleep process. Because of the microphone, light sensor and Soli radar, it can also provide additional environmental disturbances and snoring sounds, The analysis of cough is its greater value.
▲ After the sleep sensor is turned on, the state will be recorded as long as it is sleeping, whether it is nap, night sleep or nap.
▲After the sleep behavior, the device will record the various states of this sleep, and click the sleep state to see the analysis data.
▲ Nest Hub will first display the sleep interval, sleep time and quality, and then you can swipe the screen to see the data.
▲If you have enhanced sleep detection turned on, coughing, breathing rate, and snoring will appear.
▲The sleep data of Nest Hub will be synchronized to Google Fit, and you can see that the information imported this time is marked with Nest Hub.
▲The sleep analysis is quite detailed, including each sleep stage, as well as the analysis of rare sleep disturbances, such as the period of snoring, the number of coughs, and the impact of light changes.
It's a pity that the practical sleep sensor function is slightly expensive
To fully utilize the functions of the Nest Hub, it must be placed in the bedroom. Its sleep sensor is the best analysis function I have experienced recently, and it can be integrated into its own Google Fit storage. However, if it is placed in the bedroom and needs a fixed orientation, the flexibility of use will be much less. During this period of time, I always feel that "just buying one is not enough".
The speakers and system of the Nest Hub are not very good. They are entry-level products. I personally think that buying the Nest Hub and the Nest Mini may be a more eclectic choice. The current price of the Nest Hub in the Google store is 3180 yuan, but you know, Google products can wait and see the "sweet prices" of major festivals, when the Nest Hub will be more valuable.
▲Although it is a smart screen, the most commonly used function is to use it as a smart photo frame to play photos from Google Photos in turn.