Why is nest hub2 so cheap and is there an alternative?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Why is nest hub2 so cheap and is there an alternative?

TeaLeaf

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#302979 8-Jan-2023 11:17

Im trying to find the catch behind the price of a smart screen that sounds awesome, particularly the 10" max version, but even the standard 7" sounds good. Either way $120-160 (depending when and where you buy) just seems insanely cheap. There is no apple alternative, outside putting a Homepod and iPad together, but that price tag is way outside the boundary of the nest hub (although they do sound great).

So what is the catch?

Im fairly unfamiliar with smart gear or home automation as the partner doesn't like the idea of privacy concerns, I've tried to convince her otherwise.

But the nest hub2 for me really takes it to a new level where Im tempted to just dive into the home automation world regardless

(I tried a GZ search, but couldnt find a nest hub2 thread)

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#3018543 8-Jan-2023 11:27

I bought a nest hub 2nd gen over Christmas. The 7" versions were down to $79 from the likes of the warehouse. It was to replace a nest mini which one day will be moved elsewhere. Not much changed for me other than now I have a screen I can do things from as well as voice control. Works great.

Batwing

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#3018549 8-Jan-2023 12:09

I was just reading today that all my nest minis supposedly support matter, if there is a hub, which could be a nest hub 2.

What I'm wondering is what changes, if I talk to my speakers do they pass their request back vis the hub via matter instead of traversing individually vis their own wifi connections

gzt

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#3018553 8-Jan-2023 12:43

I've had a next hub max for a long time. I thought there was no v2 max yet?

It's a solid device. Google have slowly added functionality to it over time. For instance Netflix last year and a few other tweaks. The pace or adding new stuff has been a bit slow imo. It's clear Google sees it as a home centric device and long term automation play rather than just another screen.

I've been tempted to pick up a v2 7" for the sleep monitor function esp at the special prices. Nothing else about it is motivating me at this point.

Apps were kind of restricted last time I looked. It is not a general purpose Android device. That could be your catch. Sideloading? I have not tried that.

TeaLeaf

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#3018558 8-Jan-2023 13:11

gzt: It's clear Google sees it as a home centric device and long term automation play rather than just another screen.

Yep, I think you have pin pointed the reason as simple as it is.

Yeah I think only v1 Max at the mo, sorry for confusion. Was watching a comparison review and the sound quality of the Max is closer to the original larger Apple smart speaker, a clear difference over the v2 7".

The funny thing is, it actually makes a damn handy tablet screen for the price given its smart features. Although Im unsure of the technical specs.

Im hoping they announce a Hub2 max soon, Id buy it release day for sure.

The sleep feature Im not so sold on yet, but you are right it is the one bigger feature over the Max. :-)

Senecio

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#3018563 8-Jan-2023 13:36

There's no catch, it's just a subsidised piece of hardware where the manufacturer doesn't expect to cover the cost from the initial purchase price but rather from ongoing subscription services and additional purchases. Similar business model to Amazon Echo devices.

gzt

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#3018566 8-Jan-2023 13:47

TeaLeaf: Was watching a comparison review and the sound quality of the Max is closer to the original larger Apple smart speaker, a clear difference over the v2 7".

I'm not sure there will be another hub max. Maybe, maybe not. There's a rumor the next version will have a detachable tablet.

Doing it today I'd get that special v2 + a Nest Audio. I think that would be equivalent or better sound than nest hub max. I'm thinking another audio is required for stereo, which would be a month later upgrade for me if needed. I'd mostly use the audio or two with Chromecast for tv, since I've been putting off a soundbar, maybe the v2 would stay in the bedroom iniitlaly to evaluate the sleep function.

gzt

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#3018572 8-Jan-2023 14:00

Senecio: Similar business model to Amazon Echo devices.

Amazon device division retrenched recently. Going forward will be interesting. Google may have the first mover advantage with Matter now.

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richms

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#3018573 8-Jan-2023 14:06

Supporting matter is a very variable thing, since it may just support wifi matter, or it may have thread which is the zigbee low power replacement in it.

Im not worried about matter since its main goal is to make things easier to setup for people who cant set things up.

Richard rich.ms

ianganderton

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#3018574 8-Jan-2023 14:07

gzt:
Senecio: Similar business model to Amazon Echo devices.

Amazon device division retrenched recently. Going forward will be interesting. Google may have the first mover advantage with Matter now.

Alexa has Matter 😎

“ Matter devices can now be controlled via Wi-Fi by the following 17 Echo devices, hooking up millions of owners with the new standard:

Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Echo Dot (5th Gen) with clock
Echo (4th Gen)
Echo Dot (3rd Gen, 2018 release)
Echo Studio
Echo Show 8 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)
Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)
Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release)
Echo Show 15
Echo Dot (Gen 3 with Clock)
Echo Dot (Gen 4 with Clock)
Echo Show 5
Echo (v3)
Echo Dot Gen 4
Echo Input
Echo Flex
Echo Show 8”

PUBLISHED DEC 20, 2022 - https://www.androidpolice.com/matter-rollout-amazon-echo/

TeaLeaf

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#3018575 8-Jan-2023 14:07

gzt: maybe the v2 would stay in the bedroom iniitlaly to evaluate the sleep function.

The feature pretty much selects location of the device by default, where I have seen people often locate them in the kitchen or similar central location. I guess portability its a non issue, other than some people would like it permanently located in a central location of the house for the entire family. But, if you do not require a new sleep monitorng device I suppose its not a huge problem for most buyers. Of course you can connect devices to mitigate that somewhat too.

Making a 10" tablet version would make a lot of sense to me.

How flexible is the device with connecting to home automation, does everything have to be a Samsung device?

The one thing I would like is the front door bell camera.

gzt

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#3018585 8-Jan-2023 14:48

The feature pretty much selects location of the device by default,

That's true. My hub max migrates between kitchen, lounge and bedroom occasionally. I was not going to buy three. At $79 special for the v2 you can have three for the price of a hub max.

Tbh I find a Chromebook to be handier in the kitchen than hub max. I have used the hub max for recipes, Chromebook more often. The smaller v2 screen might be just as good.

Def when I bought hub max it I thought of it as a general purpose tablet, and it really is not. We iniitlaly used it as a smart music player with great sound and with YouTube so that was perfect. Adding Netflix and Disney later has been useful occasionally when someone is banished from the lounge tv for some reason. Duo/Meet calls it's been used a bit for that - wide angle camera and seek etc is excellent.

Edit: The security recording side on hub max was interesting just a little bit pricey and not many super smart features when I last looked, presumably there is something similar with v2.

gzt

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#3018589 8-Jan-2023 15:00

I tried the recipe feature on the new firmware just now, it has improved since I last used it. It has a 'start cooking' button giving steps. Interesting.

neb

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#3018612 8-Jan-2023 16:21

Senecio:
There's no catch, it's just a subsidised piece of hardware where the manufacturer doesn't expect to cover the cost from the initial purchase price but rather from ongoing subscription services and additional purchases.

You forgot the most important bit: This is Google, with Nest they can finally get inside the physical perimeter of your house and harvest everything that goes on in there. The value to them of this is enormous, they'd probably be paying you to install them if they could.

gzt

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#3018616 8-Jan-2023 16:50

With a device that cheap they actually are. I think you're over egging the harvesting aspect. Personally I have a lot of trust in the way Google does things. On device private voice recognition instead of in the cloud for example.

ianganderton

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#3018618 8-Jan-2023 17:00

gzt: With a device that cheap they actually are. I think you're over egging the harvesting aspect. Personally I have a lot of trust in the way Google does things. On device private voice recognition instead of in the cloud for example.

I trust that their privacy is non existant! Their entire business model is around leveraging data to deliver effective highly advertising to who ever pays for it [full_stop]

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