Google Home Mini (2017)

Good looks ; Affordable

No 3.5mm or Bluetooth audio output ; No top touch controls besides volume

A neat way to add smart home control where you need it, the Google Home Mini is a great-looking mini speaker with tonnes of features but it lacks some of its rival's flexibility

Extremely affordable ; Does everything the bigger Google Home can do ; Manages many popular smarthome devices ; Speaker sounds pretty decent for its tiny size

Microphones aren't very good for voice calling ; Doesn't have as much third-party support as Amazon's Alexa ; Somehow still doesn't support professional Google accounts

There's no doubt that Google Home's capabilities have improved significantly over the past year. I called the original device "little more than a toy" last year, but now it's a legit competitor to Amazon's Echo and Alexa. The Echo might technically...

Individual voice recognition gives tailored responses ; Seamlessly integrates all the features of the Google platform ; Affordable, compact, and attractive ; Improved AI that responds quickly

Poor hands-free calling sound quality ; Spanish-speaking feature needs improvement

If you’re looking for a small, affordable home assistant, then the Google Home Mini is a great option. The small speaker is surprisingly loud and full sounding for its size, is able to understand voice commands from across the room, and integrates...

Integrates with Google Cast Offers Bluetooth support IoT-friendly Incredible value

Sound performance is weak

The Home Mini is the cheapest way of buying into the Assistant yet for those looking to buy into Google’s smart home ecosystem. While it's a good value for the price, its poor sound performance makes it a better desk buddy than a standalone speaker.

Affordable Google Assistant ; Chromecast compatibility ; Fine sound for speech radio

Sound quality is average for music ; No aux or Bluetooth output ; Device support could be better

There’s room for improvement with all AI devices, but the Home Mini does what it sets out to do in fine style

Inexpensive. Nice design. Better sound quality than the Echo Dot. Better at answering music-related queries than Alexa.

Lacks audio out. Google Home still offers less support for third-party services than Alexa.

When it comes to speakers, Google has the $50 Mini, the $129 Home, and the $399 Max. Google Assistant is also available on every recent Android phone, without you having to hunt down an app.

Good sound quality for voice responses ; Attractive design ; Impulse purchase pricing

Fabric may not last long ; Limited audio output options ; Fewer smart home tricks than Amazon’s Alexa

The Google Home Mini is a $49 voice-controlled speaker that can be used to play music, control smart home gadgets, answer trivia questions, add things to a shopping list, create calendar appointments, or play video on a Chromecast-enabled screen.