Google is expected to launch the Nest Hub smart speaker in India next week.
At Rs 8,999, the Google Nest Hub will compete directly with the Amazon Echo Show 5 when launched.
Google clearly wants a say in the smart speaker and smart home devices market in India, which is largely occupied by the Echo line-up of devices by Amazon. According to a tweet by popular online tipster Ishan Agarwal, Google will launch the Nest Hub smart speaker in India next week at a price of Rs 8,999. The Google Nest Hub was originally launched in international markets as the Google Home Hub in October last year.
The Google Nest Hub is a smart speaker with a 7-inch touchscreen display. Unlike the Amazon Echo Show, its closest competitor, the Nest Hub does not sport a camera for video calling. This is due to privacy concerns raised by users in the past. The Nest Hub is powered by Google Assistant, Google’s virtual assistant that provides answers to users’ queries with audio-visual feedback. A Google Nest Hub user will be able to use the device to watch YouTube videos, play slideshows of their photos and videos, and control smart home devices.
Exclusive for @mysmartprice: Another smart device enters India! The Google Nest Hub will launch in India in a week or so and I have already got my hands on its pricing. It will retail for Rs. 8,999. Are you planning to get one?#Google #NestHub
LINK: https://t.co/kK1vo1sEcR pic.twitter.com/gDvv6WYH74
— Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) 12 August 2019
Google launched the Home Hub smart speaker on October 9 last year but, at this year’s I/O event in May, decided to rebrand it as the Nest Hub. At the same time, it introduced a larger 10-inch version of the same device called the Nest Hub Max. Unlike its smaller cousin, the Nest Hub Max is capable of making video calls through Google Duo, in addition to face recognition. It also sports larger speakers and a rear-facing subwoofer. Agarwal’s tweet does not mention anything about Google launching the Nest Hub Max in India.
When launched in India, the Google Nest Hub will compete directly with the Amazon Echo Show 5, which is currently priced at Rs 8,999 on Amazon.in. It has a 5.5-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 960 x 480 pixels. In addition, it features a 1MP camera and a 1.65-inch speaker. The Amazon Echo Show 5 sells alongside the second-generation Echo Show, which is a larger 10-inch premium version of the same. We will learn more about the Nest Hub next week when Google announces it officially in India.
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