Google may be making its own smart speaker with a seven-inch LCD touchscreen that looks like someone stuck a tablet on a shrunken Google Home Max, according to a new leak today.Sure, the Lenovo Smart Display launched in the US in July and UK release date is next month, but were now seeing evidence of a Googles own Assistant-supporting smart speaker-and-screen device from MySmartPrice.This backs up all of the rumors of a Google smart speaker-and-display that emerged last month, so todays leak isnt a total surprise.
The Home Hubs screen has a somewhat thick bezel filled with sensors, but not a camera, so dont expect to make video calls with it.The tablets backside has a microphone-muting switch, while the rectangular base has a speaker wrapped in the same Chalk White cloth as the rest of the Google Home line.
Reports state that it will also come in dark gray charcoal hue.The Home Hub will allegedly be coming out later this year and it will be priced at $149 (around 113 or $206 AUD today), according to additional reporting by Android Authority.
This puts it a bit above the basic Google Home price but well below the premium Google Home Max price.
Its also cheaper than Lenovos Smart Display for the 8-inch model.The Google Home Hub may only run on Google Assistant, with no other mobile operating system, according to the leak.
Despite the screen, Google seems to be positioning the device as primarily voice, not display-controlled.
It will allegedly work with over 5,000 smart devices: As an example provided in the alleged press materials, users can ask it to display the feed from their Nest camera.
It will also link up to Google Photos, allowing users to summon their images from the cloud, as well as play tunes from YouTube Music, Spotify and Pandora.Its unclear when or even if well hear official word about the Home Hub, but its a good bet that an announcement will come during Googles annual hardware event on October 9, when we expect to see the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL unveiled.
Previous rumor suggested that Google was hustling to ship 3 million of the Home Hub devices in time for the holidays.