Oliver Haslam on May 8, 2019, 7:24 am

Google Announces Nest Hub Max Smart Display With Built-In Nest Cam

Google’s Home Hub has been a popular smart display for those who have been using one since its release. It doesn’t have a camera but it makes for a great way of viewing images and interacting with a smart home. Now, following an announcement during Google I/O 2019, we have a new entry called the Nest Hub Max.

The new device is now part of the Nest family, and as part of that, the device also includes an integrated Nest Cam. This move comes as Google seeks to move its smart home appliances under Nest’s wing, presumably because it is aware that the Google name isn’t something a lot of people want in their home, especially with a camera built in.

The device itself sounds very promising indeed. It has a large 10-inch display and the aforementioned camera atop it. Stereo speakers accompany a rear-facing woofer, although we need to hear this thing before we comment on its prowess as a HomePod competitor.

It’s that camera and display that are most important here, though. Video calling via Google Duo was shown off, and Face Match will allow the hub to recognize a person’s face and then tailor the on-screen data to match.

So in the morning, when you walk into the kitchen, the Assistant knows to greet you with your calendar, commuting details, the weather, and other information you need to start your day. And when you get home from work, Hub Max welcomes you home with reminders and messages that have been waiting for you. The Assistant offers personalized recommendations for music and TV shows, and you can even see who left you a video message.

All of that sounds pretty amazing, and we’re keen to see how the new Nest Hub Max pans out when it arrives later this summer for $229.