Google Home is a series of smart home speakers, with which you can arrange all sorts of tasks. There is a microphone and speaker, you can give voice commands and ask questions. This works from October 24 in Dutch, also in combination with your iPhone or iPad .
The speakers are an alternative to Apple's HomePod speaker , which works in a similar way but is more focused on privacy. Are you wondering how well Google Home works with the iPhone and which functions you can use in the Netherlands? In this guide you can read everything!
You activate Google Home with your vote by saying the "Hey Google" or "OK Google" command. With Google Home you can ask to play a song, set a timer, check flight times or turn on the lights. You get an answer from the Google Assistant, Google's Siri counterpart .
Google Home has been officially available in the Netherlands since October 2018. Earlier you could buy the speakers in Germany, France and neighboring countries at well-known stores such as Mediamarkt , Saturn and Fnac. We bought our Google Home Mini for 35 euros, but the prices may vary.
The official Google Home Mini price is 59 euros. Google also sells the Home speakers via their own shop in countries where Home is officially available, such as the Netherlands and Germany.
Also read our Google Home Mini review with practical experiences in combination with the iPhone:
The prices may vary depending on temporary actions but count on the following:
The regular Google Home was announced on May 18, 2016 at the annual Google I / O development event. In the autumn of 2017 the Home Mini and Home Max followed. They all have a built-in Google Assistant built in and can therefore respond to questions. The design and specifications are different.
The Home Max, for example, is also intended as a high-quality music speaker for home, similar to the Sonos and HomePod. The Home Mini is intended as a digital assistant for voice commands and therefore does not provide full and rich sound.
Is Google Home already available in the Netherlands? Yes, since October 2018. That it has taken longer has to do with the support of Google Assistant, which can be used in Dutch since the summer of 2018. You can also control the speakers in English, German or French. You can also set the units for European use, for example degrees Celsius instead of Fahrenheit.
What can you do with Google Home? There are roughly four application areas: music and video, smart home and asking questions.
Music and video - The Google Home speakers can play music, listen to voice commands and play back a reply. Music playback works with Spotify and some other music services, but not with Apple Music . You can also use an external speaker, provided it supports the Google Cast technology. Does not that apply to your speaker? Then you can make it suitable for a few bucks by connecting a Chromecast Audio .
Music playback works with playlists, albums and podcasts. You start the music with a voice command or via the app on your iPhone. Video playback works in the same way: ask Google Home to play a movie or TV series and it will appear on your TV screen, provided it has Chromecast works
Smart Home - The Google Home speaker is also very suitable for controlling your home automation. The devices must therefore support Google Home. This applies to various lamps, thermostats and other devices from manufacturers such as Nest, Philips and Honeywell.
Ask questions - You can ask all kinds of questions to Google Home, for example general knowledge questions ("What is the farthest planet?") Or questions related to your personal situation, such as upcoming appointments, whether there is traffic jams on the way home, or your flight is delayed and how long the travel time is to your work.
Google Home takes into account that the answers are short and concise, tailored to the use of audio. You do not want the device to read a full Wikipedia page. The idea behind the Google Assistant is that you can also ask follow-up questions, without having to repeat certain information. For example, you can ask: "Which films are playing tonight?" Followed by "OK, reserve a ticket." The latter is currently only available in the US.
Below you can see a selection of options and supported devices:
To control the Google Home speakers, use the Google Home app. This app is also necessary for the use of the Chromecast . With this app you can link your Google account with the speaker, control internet access and adjust settings. You can find the Google Home app in the App Store.
There are three different models of the Google Home speaker. The specs differ in a few points, but the basic functions are the same. For many people, the 2016 Google Home is the best-known model.
This consists of a white top and removable bottom, which you can adapt to your interior. Two new models appeared in 2017: the small Google Home Mini and the larger Google Home Max, which we will look at below.
Characteristics:
The Mini is meant as a cheap assistant, so that you have Google Home at your disposal everywhere in the house. You have access to all voice functions and you can use it, for example, to control your smart devices at home. You can also play music with it, but the audio quality is not that good. However, you can pair the Mini with Bluetooth thanks to powerful speakers, by connecting them to a Chromecast Audio.
Nice to start with or as a supplement to a larger Google Home system with multiple speakers and Chromecasts. This speaker can easily be tucked away somewhere thanks to its small size.
View Google Home Mini: 59 euros
Also read our Google Home Mini review with practical experiences in combination with the iPhone:
Characteristics:
The Google Home offers better sound quality than the Mini, but if you need a speaker for a party, the Home is likely to fall short and you better take the Home Max.
All functions of Google Assistant are in it, such as operating your smart home and requesting information through various Google services. The speaker also has Bluetooth, so you can stream your music from your iPhone , iPad or computer to your Google Home. The varied connections such as USB-C or 3.5mm can only be found on the Max.
View Google Home: 149 euros
Characteristics:
This is the speaker who will compete with the HomePod. Initially, this speaker will only be available in the US; sales in European countries will follow later. Due to the dimensions you can not hide this speaker somewhere, but you will have to make room for it, for example in the living room or bedroom.
You can also create a multiroom system with multiple speakers in the house. With two woofers and two tweeters you have excellent sound, but you can also pair this speaker with a second Home Max for stereo sound. This is the only model with a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack, to connect your home entertainment system. There is no optical audio connection.
This speaker is not for sale in the Netherlands, so you will have to move to neighboring countries.
The regular Google Home is the best consideration if you do not want to lose too much money and still want good sound. This speaker has been on the market a bit longer and has therefore become a bit cheaper.
If you want to start with Google Home and do not invest too much, the Google Home Mini is a better option, especially if you want to use the speaker for smart home applications and voice commands. For listening to music you better use a different speaker.
The Google Home Max is not yet recommended: it is a hefty speaker that is not yet available in Europe. If you are an Apple user and you are looking for a speaker with a good sound, you can probably better wait for the HomePod , which will appear in the course of 2018. Which is also a few tens of cheaper: the Google Home Max costs $ 400 while you pay € 349 for the HomePod . Due to the large size and weight of more than 5 kilos you can not just put this speaker in your suitcase during a visit to the US.
If you want to extend an existing Google Home system, the Mini is the best choice. Especially if you can find a bargain of 35 euros or less, it is attractive to provide your entire home with Google Home coverage. If you want to, because the always-on assistant can also be a violation of your privacy. Maybe not in the bedroom anyway?
There are a number of differences between the Google Home speakers and the Apple HomePod :
The speakers are an alternative to Apple's HomePod speaker , which works in a similar way but is more focused on privacy. Are you wondering how well Google Home works with the iPhone and which functions you can use in the Netherlands? In this guide you can read everything!
What is Google Home?
There are three Google Home speakers:- Google Home: 149 euros
- Home Mini: 59 euros
- Home Max: approx. 400 euros
You activate Google Home with your vote by saying the "Hey Google" or "OK Google" command. With Google Home you can ask to play a song, set a timer, check flight times or turn on the lights. You get an answer from the Google Assistant, Google's Siri counterpart .
Which Google Home to buy?
The official Google Home Mini price is 59 euros. Google also sells the Home speakers via their own shop in countries where Home is officially available, such as the Netherlands and Germany.
Also read our Google Home Mini review with practical experiences in combination with the iPhone:
Google Home price and release date
- Google Home Mini: 59 euros
- Google Home: 149 euros
- Google Home Max: € 400, not in the Netherlands
The regular Google Home was announced on May 18, 2016 at the annual Google I / O development event. In the autumn of 2017 the Home Mini and Home Max followed. They all have a built-in Google Assistant built in and can therefore respond to questions. The design and specifications are different.
The Home Max, for example, is also intended as a high-quality music speaker for home, similar to the Sonos and HomePod. The Home Mini is intended as a digital assistant for voice commands and therefore does not provide full and rich sound.
Use Google Home in the Netherlands
Google Home features that you can use
Music and video - The Google Home speakers can play music, listen to voice commands and play back a reply. Music playback works with Spotify and some other music services, but not with Apple Music . You can also use an external speaker, provided it supports the Google Cast technology. Does not that apply to your speaker? Then you can make it suitable for a few bucks by connecting a Chromecast Audio .
Music playback works with playlists, albums and podcasts. You start the music with a voice command or via the app on your iPhone. Video playback works in the same way: ask Google Home to play a movie or TV series and it will appear on your TV screen, provided it has Chromecast works
Smart Home - The Google Home speaker is also very suitable for controlling your home automation. The devices must therefore support Google Home. This applies to various lamps, thermostats and other devices from manufacturers such as Nest, Philips and Honeywell.
Ask questions - You can ask all kinds of questions to Google Home, for example general knowledge questions ("What is the farthest planet?") Or questions related to your personal situation, such as upcoming appointments, whether there is traffic jams on the way home, or your flight is delayed and how long the travel time is to your work.
Google Home takes into account that the answers are short and concise, tailored to the use of audio. You do not want the device to read a full Wikipedia page. The idea behind the Google Assistant is that you can also ask follow-up questions, without having to repeat certain information. For example, you can ask: "Which films are playing tonight?" Followed by "OK, reserve a ticket." The latter is currently only available in the US.
Below you can see a selection of options and supported devices:
- Listen to audio through the speaker itself or a speaker connected to Chromecast Audio.
- Listen to music via Spotify, Google Play Music and YouTube (no Apple Music).
- Play videos from YouTube and Netflix via a Chromecast screen.
- You can watch video in 4K and HDR quality if you have a Chromecast Ultra.
- Smart home control without having to have a smartphone at hand.
- Increase or decrease the temperature of the Nest thermostat (also works with some Honeywell Lyric thermostats).
- Drive vacuum cleaner and other devices working with Google Home, such as the Neato Botvac Connected.
- Control Philips Hue bulbs via Google Home: on / off, dimming and color change (2nd generation hub required).
- Controlling LiFX lamps and light strips also applies to TP-Link and Osram Lightify.
- Managing Nanoleaf Aurora with Google Home commands.
- Samsung SmartThings, accessories from different manufacturers.
- Create assignments and automations with IFTTT.
- Control smart devices from Wink, iHome, iDevice and Belkin WeMo, such as light buttons and smart plugs.
Google Home app
Google Home: the speakers
This consists of a white top and removable bottom, which you can adapt to your interior. Two new models appeared in 2017: the small Google Home Mini and the larger Google Home Max, which we will look at below.
Google Home Mini
- Dimensions and weight: 98mm diameter, 42mm high, 173 grams
- Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.1
- Audio: 40mm driver
- Audio formats: HE-AAC, LC-AAC +, MP3, FLAC, WAV, Vorbis
- Google Assistant: always-on, with voice control
The Mini is meant as a cheap assistant, so that you have Google Home at your disposal everywhere in the house. You have access to all voice functions and you can use it, for example, to control your smart devices at home. You can also play music with it, but the audio quality is not that good. However, you can pair the Mini with Bluetooth thanks to powerful speakers, by connecting them to a Chromecast Audio.
Nice to start with or as a supplement to a larger Google Home system with multiple speakers and Chromecasts. This speaker can easily be tucked away somewhere thanks to its small size.
View Google Home Mini: 59 euros
Also read our Google Home Mini review with practical experiences in combination with the iPhone:
Google Home
- Dimensions and weight: 142.8mm diameter, 96.4mm high, 477 grams
- Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.1
- Audio: 2-inch driver, double 2-inch passive radiators, dual microphones with voice recognition at longer distances
- Audio formats: HE-AAC, LC-AAC +, MP3, FLAC, WAV, Vorbis
- Google Assistant: always-on, with voice control
The Google Home offers better sound quality than the Mini, but if you need a speaker for a party, the Home is likely to fall short and you better take the Home Max.
All functions of Google Assistant are in it, such as operating your smart home and requesting information through various Google services. The speaker also has Bluetooth, so you can stream your music from your iPhone , iPad or computer to your Google Home. The varied connections such as USB-C or 3.5mm can only be found on the Max.
View Google Home: 149 euros
Google Home Max
- Dimensions and weight: 336.6 x 190 x 154.4mm, 5.3 kilograms
- Processor: 1.5GHz quad-core ARM
- Connections: Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C and 3.5 mm audio
- Audio: two 4.5-inch woofers, two 0.7-inch tweeters, microphones with voice recognition at longer distances
- Audio formats: HE-AAC, LC-AAC +, MP3, FLAC, WAV, Vorbis, Opus
- Google Assistant: always-on, with voice control
This is the speaker who will compete with the HomePod. Initially, this speaker will only be available in the US; sales in European countries will follow later. Due to the dimensions you can not hide this speaker somewhere, but you will have to make room for it, for example in the living room or bedroom.
You can also create a multiroom system with multiple speakers in the house. With two woofers and two tweeters you have excellent sound, but you can also pair this speaker with a second Home Max for stereo sound. This is the only model with a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack, to connect your home entertainment system. There is no optical audio connection.
This speaker is not for sale in the Netherlands, so you will have to move to neighboring countries.
Which Google Home speaker to choose?
If you want to start with Google Home and do not invest too much, the Google Home Mini is a better option, especially if you want to use the speaker for smart home applications and voice commands. For listening to music you better use a different speaker.
The Google Home Max is not yet recommended: it is a hefty speaker that is not yet available in Europe. If you are an Apple user and you are looking for a speaker with a good sound, you can probably better wait for the HomePod , which will appear in the course of 2018. Which is also a few tens of cheaper: the Google Home Max costs $ 400 while you pay € 349 for the HomePod . Due to the large size and weight of more than 5 kilos you can not just put this speaker in your suitcase during a visit to the US.
If you want to extend an existing Google Home system, the Mini is the best choice. Especially if you can find a bargain of 35 euros or less, it is attractive to provide your entire home with Google Home coverage. If you want to, because the always-on assistant can also be a violation of your privacy. Maybe not in the bedroom anyway?
Differences Google Home vs. Apple HomePod
- At Google you partly pay with your privacy and data, not with Apple .
- At Google Home you can choose from 3 models, at Apple from just one model.
- At Google you can expand the system with cheap Mini's, not with Apple.
- Google Home works with Spotify, Google Play Music and some other services, the HomePod only with Apple Music.
