The second-generation Google Nest Hub (S$139) goes beyond being a speaker and display to monitoring your sleep with Sleep Sensing to help you get a better night’s sleep.
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is available online for S$139 on Google Store, as well as Courts, Challenger, and Shopee.
I’ve been using the first generation Google Nest Hub at home for years, and it’s brought hours of entertainment to the family.
The second-generation Google Nest Hub reprises many of these same functionalities.
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Unboxing the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen).
It is a speaker/display to stream music/videos from music services such as Spotify and YouTube Music, and shows from Netflix and Disney+ etc; or to cast music/videos from the smartphone.
Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
In terms of physical design, the Nest Hub measures 120.4(H) x 177.4(W) x 69.5(D) mm and weighs 558g.
In addition to the ambient EQ light sensor, the Gen 2 Google Nest Hub now has a Soli sensor for Motion Sense and a temperature sensor.
Connectivity-wise, the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) ships with Bluetooth 5.0, 802-11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) Wi-Fi, and built-in Chromecast.
An 802.15.4 (@2.4GHz) Thread functionality for smart IoT devices is planned but not available yet.
The Nest Hub is powered by a Quad-core 64-bit 1.9 GHz ARM CPU, and driven by a high-performance ML hardware engine.
It is compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Google says that the Nest Hub is sustainably built, with its plastic parts containing 54% post-consumer recycled plastic, and features an edgeless floating glass display that’s easier to clean.
Most of the time, when it’s idle, it functions as a digital photo frame and displays a slideshow of family photos from my Google Photos account, based on criteria that I set eg. the members whose photos I want to include.
This may sound like a trivial feature, but in reality, it has frequently served to remind us of good memories from family vacations and events that we’d then reminisce together and talk about.
It has a 7-inch touchscreen (1024 x 600 px) with a full-range speaker with a 1.7in/43.5mm driver.
There are three far-field microphones that can be switched off via a physical switch.
The Google Nest Hub also serves as the control center for compatible smart devices in the home, using voice via Google Assistant.
For example, I can control the Philips Hue lights around the house via the Google Nest Hub.
And then of course I can query the Google Nest Hub a million and one questions for the Google Assistant to answer eg. “what time is it’, “what’s the weather today”, “set an alarm” etc.
You can also broadcast messages to speakers around the house, or leave bell reminders etc to keep things organised.
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The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) comes in four colours: Chalk, Charcoal, Sand and Mist.
The new feature in the second-generation Google Nest Hub is Sleep Sensing – which monitors your sleep patterns and shows you your sleep data so you can understand and improve on your sleep.
Sleep Sensing
Note that Sleep Sensing is available for free preview until next year
After the preview ends, a paid subscription may be required.
Sleep Sensing features are subject to your permissions and settings.
They use motion, sound, and other device and sensor data to work and require placing the device close to the bed and calibrating the device for your sleeping position.
Sleep Sensing is completely opt-in and can be disabled at any time, and your coughing and snoring audio data is only processed on device.
More details of the feedback that the Sleep Sensing provides for reviewing your sleep and wellness can be found here.
The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) uses a low-energy radar called Soli to detect motion.
This Motion Sense feature analyses your movement and breathing at night, in conjunction with the built-in microphones, ambient light sensor and the temperature sensor – without any cameras or you having to wear any wearable measuring instruments.
Sleep Sensing can also detect sleep perturbations like coughing and snoring, or even the light and temperature changes in the room to better understand what could be affecting your sleep.
Over time, it learns your sleep patterns and provides you with personalised insights and recommendations.
You can also access your sleep data through the Google Fit app, which works with most health and fitness apps you may already use, so that all your health and fitness information can be collated in one place.
Tags: Google, hub, Nest, reviews, speakers displays, tech4xmas, tech4xmas 2021
Isn’t it creepy to have the Nest hub watching you while you sleep?!
Initially when I first heard about it, it did feel creepy. But I realised that it doesn’t use a camera, but uses a radar instead. So it’s like wearing a fitness band/watch that also monitors your sleep. I guess the sleep data includes personal info like snoring etc. The good thing is that you can turn the feature off and just use the Nest Hub as a speaker cum digital photoframe.
oh it doesn’t have a camera? then I guess you’re right in that it’s like wearing my FitBit to sleep. Thanks for clarification!