The Gemini-powered Google Home Speaker arrives on June 25 for $100

After much anticipation, Google has officially announced the release of its latest smart home speaker, set to hit the market on June 25. This marks the tech giant's first new home audio device in nearly six years, following the launch of the Nest Audio in September 2020. Available for preorder at a price of $99.99, the Google Home Speaker is designed in a sleek, compact shape, technically referred to as an oblate spheroid. It comes wrapped in a partially recycled fabric, with color options including hazel, porcelain, jade, and berry, although jade and berry are exclusive to the US market. One of the standout features of the Google Home Speaker is its ability to deliver 360-degree sound, allowing for a consistent audio experience throughout the room. Unlike previous models that included illuminated Assistant-style lights, this new speaker showcases a light ring at the base that illuminates in different colors to indicate when it's listening, processing, or responding to commands. This feature aligns with a new design trend that Google is adopting across its devices, including the upcoming Googlebook laptops. Equipped with three far-field microphones strategically placed for optimal voice recognition, the Google Home Speaker is designed to better capture your commands. Additionally, it has a mute switch for users who wish to disable the device’s listening capabilities. Under the hood, the speaker is powered by a quad-core A55 processor running at 2GHz, complete with a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This advanced technology enables the speaker to run local AI models, enhancing its sound isolation capabilities and reducing the chances of miscommunication. For those who prefer not to use voice commands, capacitive touch controls on the top of the device provide an alternative way to manage media playback.