Google Home Max vs Nest Audio

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 15, 2025 08:01 PM

See Google Home Max Review

Bluetooth Yes

Wi-Fi Yes

Speakerphone Yes

Voice Assistant Yes

Battery Powered No

Bluetooth Yes

Wi-Fi Yes

Speakerphone Yes

Voice Assistant Yes

Battery Powered No

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Our Verdict

Google Home Max

Google Nest Audio

The Google Home Max and the Google Nest Audio are similar speakers, but the Home Max has a more versatile performance. The Home Max's sound profile is better-balanced, and it can get louder. Also, it has lower latency over a Wi-Fi connection, so it's a better choice for watching videos and supports multi-device pairing. That said, both speakers are great for voice assistant support.

Variants

Home Max (Chalk)
Home Max (Charcoal)

Nest Audio (Chalk)
Nest Audio (Charcoal)
Nest Audio (Sage)
Nest Audio (Sand)
Nest Audio (Sky)

Review

See Google Nest Audio Review

Check Price

Chalk

Home Max

Chalk

Nest Audio

Charcoal

Home Max

Charcoal

Nest Audio

Sage

Nest Audio

Sand

Nest Audio

Sky

Nest Audio

Main Differences for

Music

Threshold

0.10

Music

6.9

6.2

Frequency Response Accuracy

7.2

6.4

Dynamics

6.9

5.4

Full Comparison

Music

6.9

6.2

Videos/Movies

6.5

5.7

Podcasts

6.5

6.2

Voice Assistant

8.0

8.3

Outdoors

5.4

4.9

Design

Style

Style Photo

RGB Lights

Show Text

Portability

3.7

5.4

Dimensions Photo

Volume

606 in³ (9,924 cm³)

93 in³ (1,522 cm³)

Weight

11.7 lbs (5.3 kg)

2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)

Power Source

AC Only

One-Hand Carry

Yes

Show Text

Build Quality

6.0

6.4

Build Quality Photo

Material Quality

Decent

Good

Water Resistance

Unspecified

Dust Resistance

Unspecified

Impact Resistance

Unspecified

Floats In Water

Unspecified

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Controls

8.0

Controls Photo

Controls Photo 2

Ease Of Use

Great

Feedback

Great

Music Play/Pause

Yes (Tactile)

Call Answer/End

Yes (Tactile)

Volume Up/Down

Yes (Tactile)

Track Next/Previous

Microphone On/Off

Yes (Physical)

Additional Controls

Show Text

In The Box

In The Box Photo

Show Text

Sound

Frequency Response Accuracy

7.2

6.4

Frequency Response Graph

Slope

-0.28

-0.44

Std. Err.

3.00 dB

4.62 dB

Low-Frequency Extension

50.4 Hz

56.6 Hz

High-Frequency Extension

17.2 kHz

13.7 kHz

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Raw Frequency Response

Raw Frequency Response Graph

Binaural Recording @ 1m

Binaural Recording @ 2m

Soundstage

6.3

6.4

Directivity Graph

Directivity Index

6.44 dB

3.13 dB

Stereo

Yes (when horizontal)

No (mono)

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Dynamics

6.9

5.4

Dynamic Range Compression

SPL @ Max Volume

95.6 dB SPL

84.0 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume

3.88 dB

4.14 dB

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Active Features

Battery

0.0

Battery Life

N/A

Charge Time

N/A

Power Saving

Charging Port

No Battery

Battery Powered

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Voice Assistant

8.9

9.1

Alexa

Google Assistant

Built-in

Speakerphone

Yes

Siri

Voice Assistant

Yes

Voice Activation

Yes

Microphone Mute

Yes

Far-Field Performance

Excellent

Ambient Noise Performance

Mediocre

Decent

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App

9.3

App Picture

App Name

Google Home

iOS

Yes

Android

Yes

EQ

Bass/Treble

Stereo Pair Mode

Yes

Party Mode

Yes

Multi-Room

Yes

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Connectivity

Wired

Aux Input

Yes

USB Audio

Other Ports

Yes

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Bluetooth

7.2

6.8

Bluetooth

Yes

Bluetooth Version

4.2

5.0

Bluetooth iOS Latency

246 ms

236 ms

Bluetooth Android Latency

197 ms

252 ms

Bluetooth Range

170.6 ft (52.0 m)

254.3 ft (77.5 m)

Multi-Device Pairing

2 Devices

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Wi-Fi

8.1

7.3

Wi-Fi Version

Wi-Fi 5

Wi-Fi Frequency Band

2.4GHz & 5GHz

Wi-Fi

Yes

Apple AirPlay

AirPlay Latency

N/A

Google Chromecast

Yes

Chromecast Latency

46 ms

322 ms

Show Text

Check Price

Chalk

Home Max

Chalk

Nest Audio

Charcoal

Home Max

Charcoal

Nest Audio

Sage

Nest Audio

Sand

Nest Audio

Sky

Nest Audio