Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): A Smart Display with Enhanced Sleep Tracking
Nest Hub’s successor retains a nearly identical design, now with the ability to monitor your sleep without a wristband.
Design and Features
At first glance, the second-generation Google Nest Hub is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor. It retains the same slim fabric-covered base and floating seven-inch display, along with onboard Google Assistant, an intuitive interface, and a wide range of video, music, and entertainment options. It also boasts impressive home automation functionality.
Despite its almost identical appearance, there are subtle differences. The new Nest Hub is slightly taller, deeper, and heavier than the original. It introduces a new edgeless glass design for easy cleaning and now comes in a "mist" color option alongside chalk, charcoal, and sand.
One significant change is the addition of a tiny built-in radar powered by the Soli chip. This technology allows the Nest Hub to sense your breathing patterns as you sleep, providing detailed insights into your sleep quality and history.
Sleep Sensing
Sleep Sensing is an opt-in feature that offers an alternative to wristband-based sleep trackers. By analyzing your breathing patterns and listening for snoring and coughing, the Nest Hub can track your sleep without the need for additional devices.
To set up Sleep Sensing, you need to teach the display where you sleep during the initial setup process. The Nest Hub uses its radar to determine your position in bed and can even distinguish between multiple users.
After calibration, the Nest Hub will monitor your movements and breathing patterns during sleep. It provides a summary of your sleep, including duration, sleep disturbances, and insights into snoring and coughing. Sleep Sensing can also offer personalized sleep tips based on your data.
Other Features
In addition to Sleep Sensing, the Nest Hub offers a comprehensive range of existing features:
- Google Assistant: The voice assistant powers the Nest Hub, providing answers to questions, managing schedules, controlling smart home devices, and more.
- Smart Home Control: The Nest Hub works with various smart home brands, allowing you to control lights, thermostats, and other connected devices.
- Entertainment: The display supports streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube, offering a wide selection of video and audio content.
- Photo Frame: The Nest Hub can display personal photos from Google Photos, automatically creating a curated album and framing individuals without cropping. Its Ambient IQ feature adjusts the display’s colors and brightness based on the ambient light, making the photos look like printed images.
- Quick Gestures: Hand gestures, such as tapping in the air, allow you to control the Nest Hub without touching the screen or speaking to the Assistant.
Privacy Considerations
Sleep Sensing raises privacy concerns as the Nest Hub monitors your breathing and other sleep-related data. However, Google emphasizes that the data is processed locally and only the results (e.g., sleep duration, quality) are sent to the cloud. The display notifies others when Sleep Sensing is active, and users can delete specific sleep data or disable the feature entirely.
Price and Availability
The second-generation Google Nest Hub is priced at $99, just $10 more than the original. It’s readily available through Google’s online store and major retailers.
Conclusion
If you’re considering a smart display for your bedside table or are looking to upgrade from the first-generation Nest Hub, the second-generation model offers a solid choice. Its sleep tracking capabilities are intriguing, although you may want to wait and see if Google decides to charge for the Sleep Sensing feature. Otherwise, it delivers an excellent overall package with its smart home functionality, entertainment options, and enhanced design.
