Google is holding an event on October 4 where they’re expected to reveal their two new flagship phones, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. It looks like phones aren’t the only thing on the agenda because Droid Life has leaked information about a new smart speaker that is also expected to be revealed that day. The new device, called the Google Home Mini, will compete directly with Amazon’s Echo Dot.
The Google Home Mini appears to resemble a squashed down version of the larger Google Home speaker. It will come in three colors, Chalk (white), Charcoal (black), and Coral. While the Home Mini appears to have the same fabric top as the larger Google Home, it does not appear as though the base will be interchangeable.
It’s difficult to tell the exact dimensions of the Home Mini from the images, but it appears as though four lights will peak through its soft top to give the user a visual indication of what the smart speaker is doing. The wire coming out of the back suggests it will not have a built-in battery.
The Google Home Mini is said to cost $49 when it is released, making it an obvious competitor to the Amazon Echo Dot, which has the same price. Amazon is expected to release at least one new Echo device this year, but I have my doubts that the Echo Dot will be updated.
If anything, this new Google Home Mini could give Amazon a reason to lower the price of the existing Echo Dot if they, in fact, don’t plan to update it for another year. Amazon lowered the existing Fire TV 2 price from $99.99 to $89.99 when competing devices, like the Chromecast Ultra and Mi Box, were released. The existing Echo Dot could see a similar price reduction to stave off competition from the Home Mini, although I think that’s unlikely since it’s Amazon’s best-selling device.
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I like the idea of having a google and an amazon device. I love Google Music that I can upload all my music for free, but Amazon doesn’t allow that unless you have Prime.
you mean you can’t upload your own music unless you have Prime Music.
I mean Amazon music unlimited. Prime you can’t
Youre thinking of music storage which is £21.99py, this is seperate to music unlimited according to the settings.
Yes, with Google I can upload all of my music, including my custom recordings of friend’s bands and listen through my phone. Amazon doesn’t allow that without paying, and even then I’m not sure I could upload the custom mp3’s. Google does, but there are not skills that run with Alexa without running a server that I’ve found.
This device from Google could be a big step for them, and just think if they eventually added some of the Amazon ordering, etc. I could see them doing that.
Amazon needs to allow more services to work with Alexa or it could be in trouble down the road. My opinion only of course.
Google Home has Google Express which is a direct competitor to Amamzons ordering.
It has multiple retailers built into the same service like walmart, costco, walgreens, etc.
I guess it depends on how much music you have to upload. Google has a 50,000 song limit. Amazon has 250 limit on the free tier and unlimited for paid.
Amazon loves to nickle and dime you. If you pay for prime music unlimited you should have unlimited upload of songs.
Too late Google! I would have gone for this over Echo Dot but I’ve already got 3 Echos. I would have prefered this had it had been available earlier
I have to tell you, I would not buy another echo or dot. I love the show and any future additions to my fleet will have a screen.
Would love if they offered Ethernet as my Echo is always disconnecting because it’s so far from the router and it doesn’t connect well to secondary routers in the hosue
https://madeby.google.com/wifi/