It’s no secret that Google is overhauling its entire smart home play. The new strategy centers on powering the ecosystem with Gemini and launching refreshed Nest hardware. At the core is a new “Google Home Premium” subscription, which is expected to replace the current Nest Aware service. Evidence now confirms this service won’t stand alone and will instead be packaged directly into Google One.
The folks at 9to5Google dug into the code of the latest Google Home app (v3.41) and found strings pointing to this new Premium tier alongside a redesigned Google Home app. Bundling it with Google One is a logical next step, especially since subscribers in the UK already get Nest Aware (along with Fitbit Premium).
Most Google Home features currently don’t cost a thing, but the advanced Nest tools still sit behind a Nest Aware subscription if you want to get the most out of your smart home setup.
Global rollout for Google Home Premium is still unconfirmed. If it launches worldwide, expect it to be a core feature of the Google One AI Pro plan or higher. Per the app’s code, the service delivers expanded video history and intelligent alerts. The strings also point to its core function: deeply weaving Google’s most powerful AI across its ecosystem for a unified experience at home and everywhere else.
‘Familiar Faces’ and motion recording could stay in the mix
Google Home Premium is likely to keep the core Nest Aware function, like recording video after detecting motion and the Familiar Faces feature, allowing compatible cameras to learn and recognize frequent visitors. The real shift is toward intelligent awareness. Google bills it as “security that understands what it sees,” offering detailed AI event descriptions, smart alerts, and daily activity summaries.
When Google confirmed last month that Gemini would officially take over from Google Assistant in Google Home, it also shared that Gemini would come in free and paid tiers. Rumors suggest those paid options could be “Google Home Premium” and “Google Home Premium Advanced,” likely replacing Nest Aware Plus. For context, Plus currently offers 24/7 continuous recording and extended video history. If these new tiers follow suit, they’ll likely expand on those capabilities with deeper Gemini-powered intelligence.
Beyond the new subscription, code hints point to a full Google Home app redesign, with “Ask Home” as its centerpiece. This feature lets you simply describe the automation you want or verbally search through your home’s history. This major overhaul could likely launch alongside new Google Home hardware.
