Thelatest edition of the Google Home releases notes today are not tied to a specific version of the app, and focus on Gemini for Home improvements.

• Apps & Updates
• Google Home
• Material Design
• Material 3 Expressive

Yes, the Google Home app now has M3 Expressive’s short bottom bar

Abner LiNov 19 2025 - 10:51 am PT

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Material 3 Expressive switched back to a shorter bottom bar, but not all apps — like Google Home — adopted that at launch. That has now changed.

I’m not really a huge fan of modern AI. For the past couple of years, it’s just been shoved intoeverything online, and usually not for the better. Google, though, has really hit its stride lately in finding incredible, out-of-the-box ways to use AI to just make things better, and there are a couple of key examples of this.

Google isrolling out Home app 4.3 forAndroid (not yet widely available) andiOS (already live) today as a more sizable update.

Outside of Gemini, work on the Google Home app continues today with “Improved device controls” in the Public Preview program.

Welcome to The Sideload episode 12, a 9to5Google podcast. This week, Will welcomes Ben Schoon back to the show to discuss his experience using Gemini for Home, Google’s AI-optimized suite of tools now available in early access. It’s a surprisingly positive experience in Ben’s eyes, but does that just make its letdowns sting that much more? Plus, Ben and Will talk through how Gemini can shine on Google TV, whether it’s improving the right parts of Android Auto, and Ben’s favorite smartphone of 2025.

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Gemini for Google Home has arrived and, with it, a glimpse of Google’s view of the future of the smart home. But that future is still held back by the simple fact that, like anything with AI, it makes too many mistakes.

IKEA has announced over 20 new Matter-connected smart home products coming to market soon.

Google Assistant is officially being shown the door, and Gemini is sneaking in through the back. As early access opens for users, adding Gemini to Google Home requires signing up – here’s how.

Following thelast edition on Friday (which theGemini for Home voice assistant requires),release notes for Google Home 4.2 are now available.

Google isbeginning to roll out theGemini for Home voice assistant in the US for devices set to English on all Nest speakers and displays from the past decade. Make sure you’re enrolled in the Early Access program.

• Google Home
• Walmart

Some users report issues with Walmart’s Google Home-integrated cameras [U]

Ben SchoonOct 27 2025 - 4:07 pm PT

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Walmart’s Google Home-integrated cameras promise the feature set of Nest but at a fraction of the cost. But, for some users, there have been some issues in getting these cameras working.

• Apps & Updates
• Google Home

What’s new in Google Home app 4.1 for Android, iOS

Abner LiOct 24 2025 - 3:17 pm PT

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Release notes for Google Home 4.1 are now available. This is the first major app updatefollowing the redesign.

Ahead ofGemini for Home early access coming at the end of October, Google is rolling out a firmware update that brings new light colors to the Nest Audio and Mini. 

In the drought of new Nest Hub updates, Google’s head of Home has confirmed that, yes, the Nest Hub is not dead, but there’s also no “explicit news” just yet.

Google’s efforts in the smart home have been a mixed bag, and that’s a nice way of putting it. For many users, Google’s handful of fumbles in Home, Nest, and especially Assistant, have burned trust, but Google says it is “committed” to earning that back.

Gemini for Home is the umbrella term for Google’s renewed smart home effort with several distinct aspects: app, camera, and voice assistant. From what the company has shared so far, here’s when Gemini for Home is rolling out.

Following new announcements this week, the future of Google Home is brighter than ever, and that’s exciting.

The Google Home team is answering the “top questions” it has received from users since Wednesday’s Gemini for Homelaunch. 

Welcome to episode 72 of Pixelated, a podcast by9to5Google. Abner, Damien, and Will reconvene to talk all about Google’s recent smart home announcements. From Gemini for Home and Google’s revised subscription service to the new Home Speaker and that very, very red Nest 2K smart cam, it’s feeling like a fully revitalized smart home platform, and we’re here to talk you through every announcement.

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Alongside Google’s Gemini for Home push this week, the company also unveiled its Google Home Speaker, but it’s not coming until next year. That “delay” has drawn some criticism, but it’s actually a good thing.

ADT has confirmed that its subscribers will have to wait a bit longer to access Google Home’s new Gemini features, but nothing is breaking for the time being.

Google’s latest lineup of Nest Cam devices has arrived, but there are no new battery models in the 2K refresh. Why? Google has an understandable answer.

Every single Home speaker and Nest smart display that Google released in the last decade will support Gemini. However, Gemini Live requires newer devices and a subscription.