Google teases its new Gemini-powered Google Home speaker, coming in spring 2026 | TechCrunch

On Wednesday, Google offered an early preview of its next flagship smart home device, the AI-powered Google Home speaker, launching in spring 2026. The device, priced at $99, will be built around the company’s AI assistant Gemini AI and will come in four colors: Porcelain, Hazel, Berry, and Jade.

The somewhat delayed timing of the launch is an intentional choice on Google’s part, explained Anish Kattukaran, chief product officer at Google Home and Nest, in a press briefing ahead of Wednesday’s event.

The company first wants to ensure the new Gemini functionality reaches its other Google Home customers on older devices and gives them time to work out the kinks. Those existing customers will be able to try out Gemini in Early Access, offer feedback, and report bugs, he says.

“It’s got to work for the existing users. We don’t want to force you to buy a new one unless you want to,” said Kattukaran. “And by the way, we think you may want to, but you don’t need to,” he added.

Being built for Gemini means the new speaker will have a processor capable of handling Gemini AI, which will also handle things like background noise suppression, reverb (echo effects), and echo cancellation. That way, the speaker won’t (in theory) get confused if you’re talking to Gemini Live and someone else who’s farther away in the room begins to speak.

The new device will also have a light ring underneath it that will deliver more expressive, visual feedback of what Gemini is doing, like listening, thinking, reasoning, or responding in Gemini Live mode. (Gemini Live will require a Google Home Premium subscription.)

In terms of its speaker capabilities, the Google Home device will offer 360-degree audio and the ability to add the device to speaker groups — collections of multiple speakers that play audio simultaneously — in the Google Home app, as before. Users will also now be able to pair two Google Home speakers with a Google TV Streamer — Google’s streaming device for TVs — for a surround-sound-style setup, which is something its users have long requested.

The device is covered with 3D-knitted material that is said to reduce fabric waste and be more eco-friendly.

Google plans to launch the new device in spring 2026 in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.