Google's Nest Hub has been the go-to smart display for budget-conscious shoppers since its launch, and the 4th generation continues that tradition with incremental improvements rather than sweeping changes. At $99 (standard) or $229 (Max variant), it remains one of the most accessible entry points into the connected home ecosystem. But do the updates justify replacing last year's model? We spent three weeks living with the Nest Hub 4th Gen in our test kitchen and here is what we found.
Design and Build Quality
The Nest Hub 4th Gen keeps Google's signature minimalist aesthetic: a fabric-covered back in Chalk, Charcoal, or Mist color options, an aluminum frame around the display, and a slim profile that does not dominate your counter space. The standard version features a 7-inch HD touchscreen (1024 x 600), while the Max bumps to a 10-inch display with improved brightness for sunlight readability.
The build quality feels solid for the price — no creaking, no flex in the frame, and the stand angle is comfortable for viewing from sitting or standing positions. However, the fabric covering attracts dust noticeably over time, requiring more frequent cleaning than a hard plastic alternative.
Google Assistant Performance
This is where the Nest Hub truly earns its keep. Google Assistant remains the most natural-sounding and accurate voice assistant available. It handles complex queries well — asking about tomorrow's weather with traffic conditions, setting multiple timers during cooking without losing track of earlier ones, or controlling specific smart home devices by room.
The 4th gen adds improved far-field microphone sensitivity. In our tests, it reliably picked up voice commands from 20 feet away even with a TV playing at moderate volume in the background. The visual response on screen — showing search results, recipes step-by-step, or smart home device status tiles — makes it significantly more useful than a speaker-only alternative.
Smart Home Dashboard
The home control interface is clean and responsive. Tile-based layout shows your cameras, lights, locks, and thermostats at a glance, with tap-to-control interactions that are faster than voice commands for simple actions like toggling a light or locking the front door. Matter support in 4th gen means newly purchased smart devices pair without requiring bridge software or extra configuration.
Sleep and Health Features
The Soli-based Sleep Sensing 2.0 continues to track respiratory rate, heart rate variability, and sleep stages without any wearable. After two weeks of use, the sleep quality score became quite accurate compared to our dedicated sleep tracker. The "wind down" mode gradually dims the room lights and starts playing calming sounds based on your personalized preferences — a genuinely relaxing feature that improved our bedtime routine.
What We Liked
- Excellent Google Assistant accuracy and responsiveness
- Sleep Sensing 2.0 is a genuinely useful feature
- Clean smart home dashboard with Matter support
- Fair price at $99 for the standard model
- Improved microphone sensitivity
What We Did Not
- Incremental upgrade over 2nd gen — no revolutionary changes
- Fabric cover attracts dust and fingerprints easily
- No camera means video calls require your phone as a peripheral
- Speaker quality is mediocre — fine for voice, not great for music
- 7-inch standard screen feels small for recipe viewing
Should You Upgrade from 2nd or 3rd Gen?
Honestly, probably not. The improvements — better microphones, Matter support, slightly refined software — are nice but not transformational. If you currently own a functional Nest Hub, save your money. But for first-time smart display buyers, the 4th Gen at $99 remains an excellent entry point that delivers more utility than its price suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Nest Hub 4th Gen work as a Ring camera viewer?
Yes, if your Ring cameras are linked to your Google Home account. You can view live feeds from supported security cameras directly on the Nest Hub screen.
Can I use the Nest Hub without a smartphone?
Initial setup requires the Google Home app on a smartphone or tablet, but after that, the Nest Hub operates independently. You can control lights, check weather, play music, and set timers using only voice commands.