Google is known as one of the most innovative companies in the world. And in a move that surprised no one, the Internet giant brought us one step closer to a more automated and voice-operated world by coming out with their own smart speaker-slash-voice assistant—the Google Home (and more recently, the Google Home Mini).
Consumers have long clamored for such smart home devices, and now many of those who haven’t tried any of these babies are wondering which of the two is the better option.
Google Home or Google Home Mini: What’s the Difference?
Aside from the size and price difference, what really separates the two and what are each of them good for? We’ll discuss below.
Google Home, (Shop Now)
The Google Home is the company’s flagship smart speaker and was specifically designed to work with the intuitive Google Assistant. At first glance, the device looks like an air freshener that’s rounder at the bottom and with a white upper half, which makes it easy for it to blend in with your home decor. The base comes in different colors and can be changed depending on your preference. It also features just one button for muting the microphone and is powered by a dedicated DC connector, both at the back of the device.
Some of the best characteristics of the Google Home are its two far-field microphones, which allow it to pick up (and recognize!) your voice even with ambient noise in the room or with noise coming out of the speaker, and an angled touch-sensitive surface at the top that features four colored dots that light up and dance when the device is activated or when the volume is manually adjusted with a circular motion of a finger.
Beyond its physical and technical attributes, what really makes people spend on the Google Home is its ability to work with third-party smart home products through the Google Home app. Presently, it can work with over 1,000 smart home devices from more than 150 third-party brands You can command it to play any of your Spotify playlists or your favorite Netflix TV show on Chromecast-enabled devices like your TV or home speaker. It can also turn on your home lights, control your thermostat, automate your kitchen appliances, and pretty much control any of your other smart home devices, using the hot words “OK Google” or “Hey Google.”
As if that isn’t enough, it syncs with multiple apps and is optimized for the Google Assistant, so you can ask direct questions as well as command it to remind you about where you kept your keys, add events to your calendar, or list down items for your in-app grocery shopping list.
Its speaker also has impressive low-end bass sounds, thanks to its 2-inch driver and dual 2-inch passive radiators. Finally, it utilizes your router’s dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity so you can command and receive information at high speeds.
Key Features:
- Far-Field Voice Recognition Technology
- Multi-User Capability (in selected countries)
- Dual-Band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1
- Wireless Audio Streaming
- One (1) 2″ High-Excursion Driver, Two (2) 2″ Passive Radiators
- Multifunctional Touch Control
- Controllable via Google Home App
- Works with Google Assistant
- Diameter: 3.79 in (96.4 mm) / Height: 5.62 in (142.8 mm)
Google Home Mini, (Shop Now)
The Home Mini is noticeably much smaller and more compact, which obviously sets it back a bit in terms of physical power and features. It’s basically a round, 1.65-inch tall, 360-degree speaker that has a mesh top and fits comfortably in your hand.
It doesn’t have a fully touch-sensitive top, but it features four light dots to show when the speaker is powered up and the volume level when it is being adjusted with finger taps on the front left and right side of the speaker. And unlike the Home, it is powered by a more energy-saving Micro-USB connector instead of the DC plug and has a mute switch instead of a button.
Because of its size, the Mini can be placed virtually anywhere or hidden away discreetly, but it doesn’t provide the same emphatic low-end sound that bigger, bass-generating woofers do. Nonetheless, it provides access to all of the same Assistant-powered features and is equally amazing as a home control device—and is a great steal at less than 50 percent of the Home’s original price.
The color of the Mini can’t be changed, but you can purchase it in one of the three colors that allow it to either blend in or stand out: chalk, charcoal, and coral.
Key Features:
- Far-Field Voice Recognition Technology
- Multi-User Capability
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi
- Wireless Audio Streaming
- One (1) 1.58″ Driver for 360-Degree Sound
- Touch Volume Control
- Works with the Google Assistant
- Diameter: 3.86 in (98 mm) / Height: 1.65 in (42 mm)
Google Home vs Google Home Mini: Comparison
Clearly, the Google Home Mini is the more affordable option, which is one of the biggest reasons why some consumers choose it over the bigger Google Home. Then again, both are fully functional as Google Assistants, capable of supporting a growing number of smart home products and answering questions that begin with the “OK Google” or “Hey Google” commands. Google also improves both devices and keeps them up to date with software updates.
Their main differences, however, are their physical characteristics, touch capabilities, and sound quality, which obviously can’t be upgraded after purchase. You can change the default gray-colored base of the Home for color and material (fabric or metal) customization, whereas the Mini’s color can’t be replaced.
The Home also noticeably has a wider range of sounds compared to the Google Mini, which makes the bigger device better for music playback. Still, the Mini does offer impressive sound quality compared to other speakers of its size.
Below, we compare some of their other capabilities and functions:
| Features & Specs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Google Assistant Compatibility | ||
| Wireless Audio Streaming | ||
| Multi-User Capability | ||
| Supported Audio Formats | ||
| Touch Sensitive Surface | ||
| Volume Control | ||
| Mute | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Bluetooth | ||
| Ports | ||
| Supported OS | ||
| Colors | ||
| Size | ||
| Weight | ||
Finding the Best One for You
Undeniably, there is good use for having one of each, two of each, or even both devices in every home, especially since Google’s Home ecosystem supports multi-speaker groupings to allow users to utilize its functions in virtually every part of the house.
For example, the Google Home would be perfect for your living room and/or kitchen while the Google Mini can extend the voice assistance and sound coverage to smaller areas like the bedroom or bathroom. Two Google Minis will also work, although many find the Google Home to be better for larger living areas thanks to its better sound quality and wider range of sensitivity to voice commands. Or, if you were to spend on just a single device, the Google Home would do great (especially for smaller to medium-sized apartments) thanks to its perfect sound speaker balance and simplicity.
The bottom line is that neither of them are entirely better than the other. It all boils down to your budget, your needs, and where you plan to place it in your home.
