I Tried Google Home's Biggest Update, and Came Away Unimpressed

When I launched the redesigned Google Home app earlier this week, I was prepared for disappointment. My use of smart home devices had declined sharply over the past year due to Google’s decision to scale back Google Assistant, so I wasn’t expecting much from this new era that integrates Gemini AI into the Home experience.

While I haven’t yet received early access to Gemini (U.S. users should keep an eye on their emails for invites), I decided to give the redesigned app a fair chance. At first glance, it’s a well-thought-out redesign — faster, cleaner, and with key features front and center. But beneath the polished surface, not much seems to have changed where it truly matters.

Google Revives Old Devices — But With a Catch

One of my biggest concerns when Google announced Gemini’s arrival on smart home devices was what would happen to older hardware. Thankfully, Google clarified that it’s updating every smart home device released since 2015 with Gemini support. That means even your first-generation Google Home speaker will get the update — though it might just deliver incorrect answers faster than before.

Only a few older devices — specifically Nest Audio, Nest Hub Max, and Nest Hub (2nd gen) — will support Gemini Live, the full conversational AI experience. It’s a fair compromise, and to Google’s credit, the company isn’t dropping support for legacy models entirely. You can continue using your old speaker without worry, at least for now.

However, there’s still some confusion regarding Google TV devices. While Google has confirmed that Gemini is coming to the Google TV Streamer, it hasn’t clarified whether all Android 14 devices will receive the update. I use Assistant frequently on my Chromecast, and if Google removes Assistant before Gemini is ready, that device is headed for replacement.

The New Google Home App: Pretty, but Problematic

The new design — inspired by Material 3 Expressive — is easily the most attractive version of the Google Home app yet. According to Google, the redesign makes the app 70% faster, reduces crashes by 80%, and cuts live view latency by 30%. The app now feels lighter and easier to navigate, especially for users managing multiple smart home devices.

Google also simplified the bottom navigation bar, trimming it down from five tabs to just three:

• Home: View all your connected devices
• Activity: Review camera events and history
• Automations: Manage your routines and automations

Small design choices — like a toggle between favorite and all devices — make everyday use smoother. Unfortunately, my excitement quickly faded once I started testing real functionality. Moving music between my two Nest speakers proved disastrous: songs stopped unexpectedly, the app crashed multiple times, and at one point, it created four phantom speaker groups before they disappeared minutes later.

I tried the same thing with Tidal, Spotify, and YouTube Music — all failed. Strangely enough, voice commands through Assistant worked perfectly, making the app’s instability even more frustrating.

If Gemini Fails, So Does Google Home

The redesigned app has undeniable potential. The faster interface and unified control across all Nest devices are steps in the right direction. However, Google’s smart home ecosystem still feels unreliable at its core.

Until Gemini proves itself as a true upgrade to Assistant, I’m not ready to invest in any new smart home devices. A beautiful interface means little if the foundation beneath it — reliability and consistency — remains shaky.