The Google Home Hub doesn’t cost too much more than a standard smart speaker and it’s much more tempting to plump up the extra cash to have the option of a screen for things like recipes, morning briefings and Youtube. There are caveats though. Google still doesn’t support all the smart home devices that Alexa does, the audio quality isn’t as good as on a dedicated speaker, and there are a lack of basic video apps at this stage. The ability to Chromecast covers some of these issues, but we had problems casting from Netflix and Google’s own apps at launch. That said though, there’s lots to love about the Google Home Hub, and given that highly attractive price, we can easily recommend it as the best screen-based assistant on the market right now.

Compact design; Fantastic screen; High value price point;

No camera for video calls; Limited number of apps at launch; Lacks oomph in the bass;

If you’re more interested in controlling your smart devices than you are watching movies or making video calls, the Google Home Hub makes a compelling claim to be the center of your smart home.

Cheaper than Echo Show; Google Photos integration; Innovative Home View UI; Music on-demand;

Smaller screen; Limited video calling; Weak audio

The Google Nest Hub is an excellent example of smart display thanks to its affordable price tag, compact and elegant design and the ability to interact with the Google Assistant with visual elements. There are a number of small quibbles we have, though, and using the Hub can be quite frustrating at times. It's usefulness will also depend on things like what other smart home devices you have around the house.

Affordable; Compact design; Useful features;

No camera; Sometimes frustrating;

If you've got compatible smart home products installed, the Google Nest Hub is totally worth its cover price – and absent of any unwanted video calls/privacy issues. But if you're already invested in Amazon then it might not make sense for you. Otherwise it's the perfect addition to any smart home.

Great design and display; Fantastic smart home control; Adequate sound quality; Excellent as a digital photo display; YouTube integration; Excellent price;

No Zigbee support built-in; Google Home app could be a little more intuitive;

We've seen a few Google Assistant smart displays, but until now they've been third-party devices like the JBL Link View and the Lenovo Smart Display. Google only recently decided to create its own first-party answer to the Alexa-powered Amazon Echo Show and Echo Spot, in the form of the $149 Nest Hub. The Nest Hub looks similar to the $230 Echo Show, but is much closer in price, size, and sound quality to the $130 Echo Spot. It's a solid option if you want a simple Google Assistant alarm clock and photo frame near your bed, but JBL and Lenovo's devices are much better suited to being desk and counter companions thanks to their larger screens and better audio quality. A Small, Simple Design The Nest Hub looks like a scaled-down version of the Echo Show. It's a 4.8-by-7.1-by-2.7-inch (HWD) device with a 7-inch, 1,024-by-600 touch screen facing forward, tilted slightly back like an easel and bordered by a 0.5-inch glossy white frame. The screen is mounted on a stretched-oval stand c...

The small, affordable Google Assistant-powered Nest Hub smart display is functional and convenient, but won't impress anyone with its sound quality.

Relatively inexpensive; Small footprint; Useful touch screen

Weak audio; No camera for video calls

Compact design; Fantastic screen; High value price point;

No camera for video calls; Limited number of apps at launch; Lacks oomph in the bass;

Google's smart screen is rough around the edges but still a fine smart display for your home

Great value; Control smart devices on screen; Shows Google Photos;

Low-resolution display; Average sound quality;

Powerful, flexible and brilliantly using the screen to deliver more results, the Google Home Hub pulls in the full power of Google's services, but this isn't the best display for video and music.

Easy to converse with; Touchscreen displays extra information; Dedicated smart home controls; Integrated YouTube;

Doesn't like G Suite accounts; Can't play Netflix; No webcam;