Google Home Speaker in spring 2026
Will the Google Home smart speaker ever get a release date?
In October 2025, Google finally announced that its smart speaker ecosystem was getting a new member. The Google Home Speaker was given a vague release date of spring 2026, and it would be equipped with Gemini, the AI model from Google, to provide more advanced smart home functionality.
Well, if you haven’t checked out your calendar in the last few months, it’s currently spring 2026. In fact, we’re more than halfway through spring 2026, with only one more month to go before it’s officially summer 2026. Unfortunately, there has been no news, no release date, and no announcement of the Google Home Speaker since then.
So what is Google waiting for? Surely, Google has some kind of release date in mind if the device is actually going to release in the next month. And if not, Google should probably start ramping up the “sorry for the delay” messaging before users start getting itchy for a pre-order.
As someone who has been enthusiastic about adding a more modern anchor to his vast Google smart home ecosystem (I’ve still got an OG Google Home speaker that I basically use as a white noise machine), this lack of information from Google on the new smart speaker is nothing if not frustrating.
The long wait for a new Google smart speaker
It’s been more than half a decade
In the world of consumer technology, time is very much relative. New smartphones are expected to launch every year no matter what, while it’s perfectly fine for other devices, like smart speakers, to go years without an update.
Even by those particularly loose standards, though, Google has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to new smart speakers. The Nest Audio is currently the most recent smart speaker released by the company, and it launched in 2020… six years ago.
To be fair, there are some slightly more recent smart displays that have been released, but even those are far from modern by today’s standards. The second-generation Nest Hub was released in 2021, making it the most recent smart home device from the company. That was five years ago.
That is simply too long to wait. Google, I beg of you, please give me an update on your smart home technology, so I can finally stop worrying about all these outdated devices.
What is taking Google so long?
It’s probably because of AI
Google has lofty aspirations for its new generation of smart home technology. The advanced home automations, the communicative AI assistant, and the calendar integrations alone will take a serious upgrade to the technology, which currently mixes up audio and video controls on a regular basis for this user.
Presumably, that AI injection is slowing things down a bit. A Gemini-powered smart speaker may have seemed more achievable in 2025, but getting it done is obviously quite different from promising things at a Google event.
It’s safe to assume that, in the next few weeks, we will get some kind of announcement from Google about the fate of the new speaker. We’re going to cross our fingers for a release date, but if there’s a delay announcement, we’ll be anything but surprised.
The Google smart home ecosystem
Better together
Obviously, Google isn’t the only name when it comes to smart speakers. Plenty of other businesses out there are offering capable smart speakers that work with the latest AI models to provide you with the best results.
Still, if you want to ensure that your smart home is as cohesive as possible, sticking with one brand goes a long way, and Google has arguably the most far-reaching ecosystem for your home. Speakers, displays, streaming devices, locks, thermostats, cameras, doorbells, and alarms are all available directly from Google.
Granted, there are no Google-branded smart lights out there, but given the fact that most brands offer a Works With Google Home designation, you don’t have to be too concerned about compatibility.
All that to say, Google may not realize that its delayed devices are having a negative impact on smart homes around the world. But as someone who has been becoming increasingly frustrated with devices that barely work together anymore, it’s time to give us a bit of hope for the future of Google Home.
