Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): Now With Sleep Tracking

The original Nest Hub was a perfectly capable smart display, but as Google’s only model, it felt a bit lacking compared with Amazon’s Alexa-powered lineup.

- ANGELA MOSCARITOLO

The second-generation Nest Hub improves on its predecessor with a feature you won’t find on any other smart display: sleep tracking. Thanks to its built-in Google Soli motion-sensing chip, the 7-inch Nest Hub can accurately track your sleep and breathing when placed on a bedside table. Though it still lacks a camera for video calls, it offers several other upgrades, including 50% more bass for improved audio, a Quick Gestures feature that lets you pause or play content by waving your hand, and a machine-learning chip that caches your common commands for faster response times. Offering tremendous value for the price, the second-generation Nest Hub earns our Editors’ Choice award for Google Assistant smart displays.

GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW NEST HUB

At $99.99, the second-gen Nest Hub is debuting at a lower price than its predecessor, which arrived in 2018 as the Home Hub at $149. Google later renamed that model the Nest Hub and lowered its price to $89.99. The company also offers the Nest Hub Max ($229), which features a 10-inch touch screen, a webcam for video calls and home monitoring, and stronger audio, but no sleep-tracking abilities.

The new Nest Hub stands out for its Soli motionsensing chip, which allows it to track your sleep when placed on a nightstand. The new Nest Thermostat also features a Soli motion sensor, so it can automatically turn on the screen when you walk in front of it.