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Since Amazon's first coverage in 2014, smart speakers have become commonplace in many homes: reading weather forecasts, queuing, listening to kids, entertaining kids, looking for interesting nuggets, and even more.
Google joined the fray in 2016 with the original version of Google Home, and Google Home Mini is the smallest and cheapest version, always optimized by Google Assistant, but in a simpler form. Does Google Home Mini deserve a place at home? Keep reading to find out.
Google Home Mini: design and configuration
We can not deny the aesthetic appeal of the Google Home Mini, similar to an oversized electronic roller and available in four refined colors: white chalk, black charcoal, red coral and aqua turquoise. It should fit in any room, no matter the decor.
The power supply is provided via a single microUSB port that connects directly to the mains. The only other interruption of the loudspeaker's smooth curves is a physical microphone switch. You can disable this option when you want to make sure the Google Home Mini system is not listening. .
At the top, four lights go on to indicate that Google Home Mini is listening and indicating volume levels, but you can not see them when you are not talking with the smart speaker. You can also tap at the top of Google Play Home Mini to pause and resume audio playback and to increase or decrease the volume (depending on which side of the speaker mesh you press).
This combination of cloth top and plastic bottom is a good choice of Google and makes the speaker – small enough to fit in your palm – very nice for the eyes. All in all, it's an elegant, minimal approach and more so if you can find a way to hide the power cable behind a bookshelf or book.
The rubber mat under the Google Home Mini system prevents slips and slippage when placed on a flat surface. You can paste it anywhere, anywhere. With enough DIY know-how, your Google Home Mini could be hung on the wall, but no brackets or brackets are included in the box.
The configuration is very simple, via the Google Home app for Android or iOS: just connect to your home Wi-Fi network. If you've set up Google Assistant Voice Match on your phone, you can transfer it to Google Home Mini. Thus, some requests for personal information (such as upcoming appointments in the agenda) are only read if the speaker is able to recognize who you are.
Google Home Mini: features and usability
The star of the Google Home Mini show is of course Google Assistant, just like on the original site of Google Home. The software on board is exactly the same on both speakers. If you want to enjoy all the benefits of the Google Assistant with some additional visuals and additional tips, try a Nest Hub or a Nest Hub Max.
We will not go into everything that Google Assistant can do for you – you've probably already used it in one form or another – but digital help now covers a lot of functions and of tasks, and becomes more and more intelligent.
You can get answers on the web, check your spelling, solve math problems, hear weather forecasts, get a brief news update, check trip times to destinations, set alarms and reminders, hear that will happen in your Google calendar, check out the latest info. sports scores, and much more.
The Google Home Mini system can also place calls to landlines and mobiles, and Google pays the bill for free in the UK. It works through Google contacts on your phone, even if your number appears as "private" or "anonymous," unless you change it. this in the settings of the Google Home app.
If there is a Chromecast on your home network, Google Home Mini can then broadcast photos, Netflix broadcasts, Google Play Movies and TV content, or YouTube videos on the big screen with the help of a video game. a voice command. It can also listen to music: Deezer, YouTube Music and Spotify are just some of the accounts you can link, still via the Google Home app.
The device also works like a Chromecast: if you do not want to ask your Google Home Mini to read something, you can simply transmit sound from your phone, whether you're reading music, audiobooks, podcasts or anything else. It's even possible to set up two Google Home Minis as a stereo pair, if you wish.
Audio playback is one of the reasons to consider getting a more expensive and original Google Home or Google Home Max because the sound of large speakers is much better. The sound produced by the Google Home Mini system is perfect for some melodies or a podcast and easily fills a room. However, for optimal audio fidelity, this is not the device to use.
You then have the growing number of devices running with Google Assistant, from Philips Hue bulbs to Nest Thermostats. Any device running Google Assistant can be controlled through Google Home Mini. You can also group them if necessary (to turn off all lights in your home, for example).
As far as intelligence and capabilities are concerned, it's hard to separate Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for now: they'll serve you both. If you have already invested heavily in Google apps and services and have already used the wizard on other devices (like your phone), you might want to choose Google Home Mini rather than a Amazon Echo Dot.
Google Home Mini: price and verdict
The official Google Home Mini retail price is £ 49. It's already a decent price, but you can often find it on the web at a lower price than this one. At the time of writing this article, it has dropped to £ 29 on the official Google Store. We've also seen many Google Home Mini offers, including a free speaker for Spotify Premium subscribers. At £ 49, it's a good value, and if you can find it for less than that, it's even more so.
The question that arises is why you would not want to buy one: the Google Home Mini system can do as much stuff and be useful in so many ways that it's not hard to understand why they have become so popular. They are almost expensive enough to get one for each piece, which Google probably hopes for.
If you have enough money, you can choose a Google Assistant speaker with more audio power or a smart display, or if you are more focused on Amazon products and services, you can opt for an Amazon Echo. Home Mini is a great little gadget that can serve as the center for your smart home.
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