New Google Nest Mini now available in India!

Update: November 25, 2019: The updated Nest Mini is now available in India. You’ll be able to get your hands on the chalk and charcoal variants of the smart speaker starting today over at Flipkart.

Two years since the launch of the Google Home Mini, the company has finally updated its smallest smart speaker. The puck-shaped speaker has been immensely popular for packing all the smarts of the larger Google Home, all with a design and form factor that fits into most decors.

Google Nest Mini: What’s new?

The Google Nest Mini keeps most of the same form factor. The device is still made of polycarbonate with a fabric layer on top. There are a range of pastel shades available that should help it fit in most homes. I like the fact that Google is using recycled plastic from shredded bottles in the construction. It is always great to see brands take proactive steps towards recycling and the environment.

Elsewhere, Google has recognized the cottage industry that has developed around mounting solutions for the Google Home Mini. As such, the Mini now gets a mounting hole so that you can mount your Nest Mini on a screw or nail. The power cable is now 1.50 metres long so it should be a cinch to hang it up and still reach a power outlet.

How does the Google Nest Mini sound?

With the Google Nest Mini, the company has reworked the audio capabilities to make it significantly louder. While it remains to be seen if there is a tangible improvement in the quality of audio — the Home Mini was fairly lacking in bass — the louder volume should be helpful while listening to podcasts and audiobooks.

Google claims that the Nest Mini now has double the amount of bass, but we’ll wait till we go ears-on with it to see how much it has improved. Other changes include a third mic for better voice recognition.

How much does it cost?

Like the previous-gen hardware, Google is keeping the Nest Mini at the same $49 price point. This makes it one of the most affordable entry points to the Google Assistant ecosystem. In India, the Nest Mini is priced at Rs. 4,499 (~$63) and is available over at Flipkart.

The Google Nest Mini is now up for pre-order on B&H, the Google Store, and other retailers.