</p><p>We’ve picked 10 of the best Google Home <a href=” target=”_blank”>devices and gadgets</a> to help you live the smart life you’re meant to. Smart light bulbs, smart plugs, smart doorbells, smart locks, <a href=” target=”_blank”>smart speakers</a>, smart thermostats—toss out any command and these household bots will start serving. Building a future world of peace-loving smart assistants starts at home. </p>”/>
Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.
Do you need a hub for all the Google devices you are about to purchase? Good! This display is command HQ for all of your Google Home devices. Steer it with your voice or finger, and it will be the center of your daily life.
It works as a streaming device, to watch YouTube and Netflix, listen to music and podcasts, and the like. That’s nice, but we find it most useful as a command center for all our other devices. Turning off the lights before leaving, locking the doors for the night, and telling it to wake you up the next morning. The Nest Hub isn’t just a smart home device, it’s your mechanism for making your house feel secure.
| Weight | 19.7 ounces |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.7 ” x 7.0″ x 2.7″ |
| Display | 7-inch touchscreen, 1024 x 600 resolution |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Best Google Home Smart Speaker
Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
Pros
- Voice control your smart home devices
- Perfect for single-room listening
Cons
- Sound quality degrades at louder volumes
We told ya, Google knows how to make its gadgets look fun, cute, and bite-sized. This thing is a smart mini speaker with big sound. It’s equipped with astute voice recognition to register your “Hey Google” commands, even from afar, so you needn’t scream at the top of your lungs when you want to change the song or ask what the temperature is.
The smarter your home, the more we’ve found you will benefit from a Nest Mini in your home. With a simple wake word followed by a one-phrase command, you can dim your hall lights, turn off the living room AC before bed, and turn on your Google TV.
| Weight | 180 grams |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Diameter: 3.85″, Height: 1.65″ |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Best Google Home Accessory for Streaming
Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
Pros
- Stream 4K video to any TV
- Smart remote included
Cons
- Not a necessity if you already own a smart TV
We’ve been using Google’s Chromecast since the very first one. This is the best iteration yet. It’s not just the ability to watch all your shows and movies, from The Crown or Spencer to everything Marvel, in delicious 4K. It’s the remote too.
You no longer have to fuss with your phone’s apps to pause your show. With voice-assistant support, volume control, and quick buttons for Netflix and YouTube, you get the experience of using a smart TV, without actually needing to buy one. A pretty swell deal if you ask us.
| Voice Enabled Remote | Yes |
|---|---|
| Memory | 32 GB |
| Dimensions | 0.8″ x 1.6″ x 1.3″ |
| Connections | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
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Best Google Home Accessory for Security
Google Nest Cam – Outdoor or Indoor
Pros
- Quality picture feed day or night
- Can be controlled via other Nest devices
Cons
- Won’t work on spotty or disconnecting Wi-Fi
If you live in an upscale, door-maned apartment building, on the 35th floor overlooking the panoramic city view, you don’t need a security system. For everyone else, there’s Nest Cam for indoor and outdoor surveillance. It works if you need to watch your front door for any reason or if you just want a puppy cam.
We found plenty of uses for the Nest Cam in our apartments here in the Big Apple, but if you live in a house, you can install multiple to surveil every movement on your property. The camera has got clear-as-day night vision to record everything from potential intruders to your hilarious sleep positions. Even if you’re a city dweller, it can’t hurt to consider setting this security camera up in your home.
| Camera Specs | Single 2.8-inch, 2-megapixel sensor, 130° diagonal field of view, 6x digital zoom |
|---|---|
| Video Output | 1080P, 30FPS, 16:9 aspect ratio |
| Motion Sensor | Single sensor w/ 110° horizontal field of view, Up to 25 feet range |
Best Google Home Smart Thermostat
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Pros
- A thermostat that does the work for you
- Adjust temps while you are away from home
Cons
- Requires a compatible central heating/cooling system
Did you know that constantly adjusting your heat and AC is not very energy efficient? Bet you already knew it was annoying, but the constant turning on and off of the air to try and save money over the summer is actually more often a net loss. Plus, it’s uncomfortable. You need a thermostat that makes these adjustments in real time, saving you time and money, and letting you sink into that sweet new couch.
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat is special because it listens to you. Or at the very least, it can lean from your habitat and program itself to turn off the AC after you leave or turn up the heat when you return. Just tell it exactly how you want your house climate regulated, room by room. It will remember just how you like it. Plus, once installed, you’ll probably never need to touch the thing again, which is exactly why you should get it.
| Dimensions | 3.3″x 3.3″x 1.1″ |
|---|---|
| Weight | 16 ounces |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Best Google Home Ring Replacement
Google Nest Doorbell
Pros
- Wire-free doorbell and camera combo
- Use your phone app as an intercom
- Chose battery powered or wired connection
Cons
- Night vision not as strong as the Nest Cam
If you still get lots of unannounced visits to your home, congrats on being popular after high school. For the rest of us, we very well be expecting company when we hear that door ring or panic will ensue. As it turns out, a Nest Doorbell is all we need to soothe our jumps.
For your home safety, get this wireless doorbell so you can see who’s ding-donging, and rest easy when it’s just the mail carrier with your Amazon package. It has a tiny camera that lets you feel like you live in an NYC apartment and your friends and family can say “Buzz me up.” Paired with the previous door lock, Nest has your home security game on lock.
The Nest Doorbell also has smart recognition of familiar faces and objects. It gives three-hour video playback in case you’re gone for too long or the Wi-Fi goes down for a stint. This way you never miss a beat, even when you’re out or offline.
| Dimensions | 0.95″ x 1.8″ x 6.3″ |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Best Dual-Band Google Home Router
Google Nest Mesh Wifi Router
Pros
- Great price for starter mesh router
- Elegant design
Cons
- No Wi-Fi 6 support
RIP to your home Internet experience if your Wi-Fi is installed inside your closet. You must have put up with lots of loading circles and laggy Zoom calls. Bet you can’t even play video games online and chat on Discord at the same time? A Nest mesh router is the answer.
Just connect it to your internet provider’s modem, and wait for the blissful ignorance to enter your mind. Soon, you’ll forget what buffering feels like. One Nest router can provide full, fast coverage up to 2,200 square feet. That’s quite a lot of 4K streaming and video gaming. Plus, it’s mesh. Like the material? No, it means you can link them up across your house to provide an even greater and more consistent signal throughout.
| Coverage Range | 2200 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Ethernet Ports` | 2 |
| Weight | 16 ounces |
| Dimensions | 4.33″ x 4.33″ x 3.56″ |
How We Tested
At Esquire, we test and research every product we endorse. We know that our readers value convenience and only settle for the best aesthetically and functionally. These were the guiding principles when choosing which Google Home devices and accessories to recommend. We wanted to pick the best from each category, including speakers, security cameras, and doorbells.
Why Trust Esquire?
Here on Esquire’s commerce team, we’ve been poking, prodding, and stress-testing products for a long time, allowing us to recommend the best tech for your hard-earned money. From speakers to smartwatches to any other piece of tech we use on a daily basis, it is our job to test new products each day and spend the time reviewing the ones that deserve more attention.
Around here, we like to say that we wouldn’t recommend anything we didn’t feel comfortable buying for ourselves, our best friends, or a family member. We mean that.
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