What to Buy > Smart Home 46 46 people found this article helpful Google Nest Audio vs. Apple HomePod Which one is right for you? It depends on how you plan to use it By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 8, 2024 We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. In This Article View All In This Article Overall Findings Best Intelligent Assistant Streaming Music Sound Quality Smart Home Messaging and Calls Form Factor and Use in the House Multiple Users Ecosystem Integration Final Verdict With so many similar options available, it's hard to figure out which smart speaker is the best choice to welcome into your home. While the Apple HomePod is already in its second generation, the Google Nest Audio shouldn't be overlooked as a close competitor. We compare the two in several key areas to help you make the best choice for you. The latest models are the Apple HomePod (2nd generation) and the Google Nest Audio. Google Nest Audio. Best Buy Overall Findings Google Nest Audio Draws on Google's vast database. Supports third-party music streaming apps. Support for multi-room audio. Controls major smart home devices. Apple HomePod More limited than Google when accessing information and performing tasks. Lacks built-in support for services other than Apple Music. Best-in-class sound quality. Controls major smart home devices. Deciding whether HomePod or Nest Audio is the best device for you depends on how you plan to use it. Both speakers can do the same sorts of things—answer questions, set timers, control smart-home devices, stream music—but how they do them and the tools they use can be different. Apple HomePods in white and black. Best Buy Echo Dot vs. HomePod Mini: What's the Difference? The Best Intelligent Assistant: Google Is Hard to Beat Google Nest Audio Google Assistant is a powerful, flexible tool. Draws on Google's database of information; it's great at answering questions. Supports third-party apps and actions. Doesn't support secondary calendars. When multiple devices are near each other, all respond to the "OK Google" launch phrase. Apple HomePod Siri is more limited than Google Assistant when it comes to accessing information and performing tasks. Supports third-party apps. "Hey Siri" is smart enough to only have the correct device respond when prompted. What makes a smart speaker smart is the intelligent assistant that listens to your voice and responds to your commands. It's not the only factor in deciding which speaker is best for you, but it's a big one. There's no question that Google Assistant is far ahead of Siri. Siri responds well to a limited set of commands and questions, but Google Assistant reacts well to a broader set of scenarios and draws from a larger pool of information. Siri vs. Google: Which Assistant Fits Your Needs? Streaming Music: It's a Tie Google Nest Audio Supports YouTube Music, which is not naturally supported on other smart speakers. Built-in support for Spotify, iHeartRadio, and others, including Apple Music. Apple HomePod Built-in support for Apple Music. Also works for third-party services like YouTube Music, Pandora, etc. Streaming music is one of the best uses for a smart speaker. Just shouting, "Play some happy music," is a fun trick and a great mood lifter. Both speakers can play virtually any streaming music service you prefer. The difference is built-in support. HomePod delivers Apple Music support, which means it supports voice control, but it supports all streaming over AirPlay. The same applies to Nest Audio; YouTube Music is the go-to service, but you can add others. Your preferred service should guide your decision, but fundamentally, you can stream virtually anything on both devices. Sound Quality: Apple Is Best-in-Class Google Nest Audio Support for multi-room audio (all Google speakers in the house play the same audio). Lower-quality sound than HomePod. Apple HomePod Best sound quality among all smart speakers, according to different tests. Siri can hear you even when audio volume is high, so you don't have to shout. The range of music services a smart speaker supports isn't the only thing to pay attention to. Your music and podcasts should sound fantastic. Apple has positioned HomePod as an audio device first, a smart speaker second, and it shows in the sound quality. It sounds clear, detailed, and huge. Nest Audio delivers decent sound but can't match the room-rattling HomePod. Smart Home: Control Your Thermostat, Lights, And More Google Nest Audio Controls major smart home devices, like the Nest Thermostat or Philips Hue lightbulbs. Built-in support for Chromecast. Fewer compatible devices than Amazon Echo. Apple HomePod Controls major smart home devices, like Nest and Hue lights, using the Apple HomeKit standard. Fewer compatible devices than Amazon Echo. If you're making your home smarter with internet-connected, app-controlled smart home gadgets, Apple HomePod and Nest Audio can help. You can speak to either device and ask them to raise or lower the temperature, turn off the lights, or perform other tasks. While neither device supports as many smart home devices as the Amazon Echo, both work with most of the major offerings. HomePod has the added benefit of HomeKit support, which means people can control devices such as the Nest Thermostat from their iOS devices. Double-check that your preferred smart home gadgets work with the speaker you're interested in buying, but you shouldn't run into many problems. Messaging and Calls: To Text or Not to Text Google Nest Audio Make calls directly from the speaker. No official support for text messaging. Apple HomePod Siri reads and sends text messages. Support for multiple texting apps, including Apple Messages and WeChat. Can't make calls directly, only transfers calls started on iPhone or iPad. With a smart speaker in your house, sending texts and making phone calls doesn't require a smartphone in your hand. Both Nest Audio and HomePod have some notable limitations in these areas. HomePod has a slight edge since it supports calls and texts but has a few hiccups. Nest Audio only sends texts with awkward workarounds. Neither option is ideal. Form Factor and Use in the House: Google Gets Colorful Google Nest Audio Comes in five colors: chalk, charcoal, sage, sand, and sky. Dull overall design. Apple HomePod Comes in black or white. Attractive styling. High-quality construction and materials. Different rooms and uses may require smart speakers in different styles. The HomePod is typical of Apple hardware; it's beautifully designed and built to the highest standards but somewhat limited in its style options. If you want versatility and adaptability from your smart speaker, Nest Audio—with its multiple colors—is your best bet. Multiple Users: Tools For the Whole Family Google Nest Audio Supports up to six users and recognizes their voices. Responds with individualized content, such as calendars and playlists. Can cancel events by voice. Apple HomePod Supports up to six users in a shared home. Guests can play music, set timers and alarms, and talk with Siri. Add notes, reminders, and other content. If you have more than one person in your household, you'll have more than one person who wants to use your smart speaker. However, different smart speakers work with multiple users in distinct ways. Fortunately, Nest Audio and Apple HomePod support up to six users, so they work well for the whole family. People can talk to Google Assistant or Siri even if they're visiting. Voice recognition on both devices is often intelligent enough to tell the difference between an authorized user and a guest, so private information stays with the account holder. Ecosystem Integration: Access a Broad Range of Services Google Nest Audio Deep integration with Google services and devices, such as Chromecast. Apple HomePod Deep integration with Apple services like Apple Music, iCloud, and iMessage. When buying a smart speaker, get one that works well with the broadest range of services and gadgets you use. That kind of compatibility makes these devices most useful. Similar to the streaming music services category, this one is mostly a toss-up determined by what ecosystem you invested in. If you own Apple products, HomePod will interact with them smoothly and offer deep connections. On the other hand, Google fans will find Nest Audio gives them the best experience. Final Verdict: Google Nest Audio Stands Out It's fair to say both Nest Audio and Apple HomePod are behind the Amazon Echo in terms of features, third-party app support, and speed at which they're developing. But the Echo isn't part of this comparison. When comparing just Nest Audio vs. Apple HomePod, Google's speaker stands out with its advanced features and third-party apps. The speaker's smarts are also an advantage. Google Assistant is a lot smarter than Siri. HomePod is an excellent device if you primarily want to use it for music and other types of audio playback. Buy on Best Buy But if you're looking for a versatile smart speaker with a well-rounded feature set, Nest Audio is the pick. Buy on Amazon Google Nest Audio vs. Nest Mini Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! 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