What Is The Google Nest Hub?
The second-generation Nest Hub was released in 2021 and had much in common with its predecessor.
Unlike the priceyPixel Tablet showcased at Google I/O 2023, the display is fixed and non-detachable.
Both generations of the Nest Hub have a 7-inch touchscreen display with a 1,024 x 600 resolution.
The Nest Hub offers two methods of smart home control.
If you have aNest video doorbelland/orNest security cameras, you could view them on the Nest Hub.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
The smart display also offers voice-based control viaGoogle Assistant.
How Does It Differ From the Original Home Hub?
The second-generation hub has no seam or visible transition.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
While the original wasn’t necessarily anemic in that department, the updated version is clearly superior.
(The same miniature radar tech powersMotion Senseon thePixel 4and presence sensing on theNest Thermostat.)
But that’s the end of the functionality, despite the miniature radar array’s enormous potential.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
The second-generation Hub includes a sleep-tracking function called “Sleep Sensing.”
Here’s how it works.
I certainly understand if that all sounds too good to be true.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
I went into the Hub-as-sleep-tracking machine experiment with extremely low expectations.
Is it as accurate as wearing physical sensors on your body while sleeping?
Here’s what I was impressed with.
Jason Fitzpatrick / How-To Geek
The actual sleep detection is very accurate.
For example, I’m a very fast sleeper.
And the Nest Hub sleep data reflected that.
Jason Montoya / How-To Geek Jason Montoya / Review Geek Jason Montoya / LifeSavvy
The other metrics, like light, ambient sounds, and coughing/snoring disturbances, all seemed accurate.
There was one aspect of the sleep tracking that I wasn’t a huge fan of, though.
On days when I did that, I would get 95-99% sleep efficiency.
The act upon part is crucial, of course.
Sleep tracking is not a substitute for actual medical advice or care.
Finally, some bad news to temper my surprise at how well the Sleep Sensing feature worked.
At the time of writing, the feature is free.
It was slated to become a premium feature in 2023, but Google bumped the date a year.
Should You Buy the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)?
We loved the first generation, and the second generation is great too.
The first-generation Nest Hub is still a great little equipment.
I have a half dozen of them around my home.
In that regard, replacing the first-gen model on your nightstand is a great plan.
