![]() The Nest Hub Max is complete with a sharp display, three navigation methods, a great camera and really good audio. For $229 you’re getting an excellent addition to the Google smart home ecosystem. It’s been a while since the Nest Hub Max was first announced, but I think it’s certainly worth the wait. Google’s latest smart home device really impresses. Full control over the camera and microphones is found in the companion app. It’s actually turned off by default, as Google aims to make privacy a priority. ![]() You can of course turn this feature on or off via the Home app. You can easily use the Google Assistant to control your Nest system and integrates with other devices– all by using your Google account. So if you’re already in that ecosystem, this makes sense as the logical next step. You can even use the Hub Max to be a dedicated screen for one of the cameras. The Hello doorbell, Nest cams and even Nest Thermostats can all be controlled from this device. The Nest Hub Max can really feel like command central for Google Nest devices. It’s a pretty neat feature and performs well. But you can set up a motion zone, which means you’ll get an alert if there’s activity detected on your couch. You can even set up the Nest Hub Max as a full-fledged Nest Cam, though some of the features require a subscription to Nest Aware. Using the camera on the front of the device, you can drop in via your phone or another Nest Hub to check in on your room. The Nest Hub Max has Nest in its name, and true to form, it can function as a Nest Cam. You can hear the different nuances of each track a bit better, and when you pair the Hub Max with other Google Home’s you get a really robust experience. Not only can it get louder, but there’s less distortion. In comparison to Amazon’s Echo Show, I think the Nest Hub Max is the clear winner. You can also group the device with other smart speakers for full home audio. When you have the Nest Hub Max up against a wall, the sound is even more filling as it bounces off of walls. I didn’t experience any distortion, and the opening wall of sound from drums, guitars, piano and saxophone came through crystal clear with great definition across low, mid and high tones.Įven at full volume (the Nest Hub Max has levels from one to ten), the smart display offered a crisp experience that was still vibrant. As a baseline, I always test “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen from the original 1975 album. I tested the Nest Hub Max with music coming from a connected Bluetooth phone or linked up streaming service, specifically Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, YouTube and Google Play Music. The Nest Hub Max did not disappoint, offering great sound that really did fill the room. I certainly had high hopes for the sound on the Nest Hub Max given the impressive sound quality of other Nest Hub and Google Home speakers, especially at their respective price points. If you use Google Maps or have a work address in your account, the Nest Hub Max can give you different travel options for going to work, information about the weather and even run through your calendar for the day. This feature makes the Nest Hub Max a great gift for doting relatives, especially come holiday season.Ī swipe from the right to the left will give you a view of your Google account, which appears in the top corner. In this way, the smart display acts as a digital photo frame that automatically updates when new photos are added. The Nest Hub Max home screen can display an array of preset photos, like a gallery of images from NASA, or can pull directly from your Google Photos account. You just tap the broadcast button, record a message, then broadcast it to all the other Google smart speakers in the house. Like with Amazon smart speakers, you can use the Nest Hub Max to broadcast to other Google Home speakers. A swipe from the top lets you adjust your smart home, like setting up a bedtime routine to lock your doors, close the blinds and turn the lights off. Here you can change the brightness, volume, turn the camera on or off, engage do not disturb mode, set an alarm and access a full settings menu. A swipe up from the bottom gives you access to quick settings. You can use your fingers on the 10-inch smart display to navigate as well. While much of this is done in the Google Home app for iOS or Android, you can also add services via voice command once initial setup is complete. You can also connect this Nest Hub Max to services like Spotify, YouTube Music, YouTube TV and Pandora and set defaults for music or video streaming. ![]() Google Assistant gives you access to anything the search engine does. As with any smart display, you can use your voice to navigate the Nest Hub Max.
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