Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) Review: Still the Best Kitchen Helper in 2025?

This often ends in a classic standoff. And to be honest, I hate how greasy the screen looks after. So, I set out on a mission. I had to put one more screen in our house. My goal was simple: make it easy and clean to watch things in the kitchen. I explored several methods to complete this task. I considered getting an older iPad. The Amazon Echo Show and the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) were also part of my search. I finally chose the Nest Hub.

The Hunt for the Perfect Kitchen Screen

I started looking for regular tablets, but then I quickly switched to smart displays.

Why not get a new or old iPad?

I thought of getting another iPad right away. But there were clear problems with this idea. If you only want to watch YouTube videos while you cook, you don’t need an iPad. It also doesn’t look pretty on the wallet. I found a six-year-old used iPad for about 200 Canadian dollars, which was the cheapest one I could find. I do not doubt that an older iPad will work well. But it didn’t work for my needs. The device would have to be plugged in all the time. I didn’t want to have to look for a charger every day just to use it for an hour. I would also need to buy a separate stand. Having extra wires and another iOS device just didn’t feel right.

Why not get an Amazon Fire tablet?

Next, I thought about getting an Amazon Fire tablet. The price is very tempting. A 10-inch tablet costs just over 100 Canadian dollars. Even smaller models cost less. But the low price has some drawbacks. I had already made up my mind not to get an iPad. It wasn’t better to get an Android tablet with a much weaker app store. Also, there are rumors going around that Google has called off another project for an Android tablet. This news made me sure that I was right to stay away from tablets.

Getting into the world of smart displays

I found the smart home area while looking. I began to look at Amazon and Google’s smart speakers with screens. These products fill a specific and important need in the market. First, I looked at the Amazon Echo Show lineup. These items get new features from Amazon all the time. All of our other smart home devices are already part of the Google Nest system. More importantly, I can’t stand how many ads Amazon shows on its devices. It was clear what to do.

The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen): Why I Chose It

Well, here I am with the second-generation Google Nest Hub. It was first released in 2021. It has a small number of features. But I still think it’s one of the best Google speakers you can buy right now. This is why.

A Design That Shows Care and Thought

The Nest Hub is made for use in the home. A simple mesh cloth body is used by most smart displays. They have a screen that is angled. The Google Nest Hub doesn’t try to be too different.

The Nest Hub and Pixel Tablet have a “floating” screen, which is different from the Echo Show. I think this design is very well thought out.  Most importantly, it keeps the display clean and away from kitchen messes. Flour, spills, and powders are less likely to get on the screen. This makes it great for a kitchen that is always busy. The fabric base comes in a range of soft colors that go with any room’s style.

The Display: Just Right for Its Use

The display is great for what it was made for. YouTube and Netflix videos look clear and bright. It’s easy to read the text on recipes from far away. Ambient EQ is one of the best things about it. It’s a small but great touch.

Sound That Goes Above and Beyond

The sound from the Google Nest speaker is great for a device of its size. The second generation model has 50% more bass than the first one. This matters. The sound of music is fuller, and the voices in podcasts and videos are clear and sharp. It won’t take the place of a dedicated speaker like the Nest Audio for a party at home. But the sound is good enough for listening to music while you cook or watch TV. The one full-range speaker works well. The sound is much better than what comes out of any tablet’s built-in speakers.

The Best Smart Home Control Center

Google Nest Hub is not just a name for the “Hub.” That’s what it does at its core. You can use a simple dashboard on the screen to control all of your connected devices. You can turn off lights, change your thermostat, or see your security cameras by tapping the screen.

Sleep sensing is a one-of-a-kind feature.

Sleep Sensing is a major feature that sets the Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen apart from the original and many other devices. It has a small, low-power Soli radar sensor that keeps an eye on your sleep. Without a camera or a wearable device, it can keep track of your breathing and movement. It tells you how well you slept in the morning. This feature makes it a great bedside companion, even though I mostly use it in the kitchen. You don’t have to use it, and you can turn it off at any time. The Nest Hub doesn’t have a camera, which is a big plus for privacy.

Google Nest Hub Functionalities

Here’s a list of things that the Google Home Hub does well.

• Digital Photo Frame: This is one of the best things about it. The Nest Hub is the best digital photo frame in the world when it’s not in use. It takes pictures from your Google Photos account and shows them off in a beautiful way. The Ambient EQ sensor makes the pictures look beautiful and real.
• Making Calls: Yes, you can make phone calls with your Google Home. You can call people on Google Meet (formerly Duo) and talk to them. They are only audio because there is no camera.
• You can listen to music and podcasts on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, and others. It’s a great small Google speaker system for any room.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Closer Look at the Software Experience

The hardware is only part of the story. The Google Nest Hub’s software is what makes it so special. It doesn’t work like a tablet with Android tablet. It runs on Google’s own Fuchsia OS instead. You won’t see the name anywhere, but you’ll feel its effects. The interface is very quick and responsive.

The UI is clean and simple.

The user interface is made for quick looks. You don’t have to ask for useful information on the home screen. You might see the weather, the next thing on your calendar, or a news headline. You can see your smart home controls by swiping down from the top. You can tap on lights, cameras, and thermostats here. It really is the center of your connected life on Google Home.

A second swipe from the right shows you media suggestions. It could suggest a Spotify playlist or a YouTube video. Everything is neat, with big buttons and text that is easy to read. Its greatest strength is how simple it is. It never feels messy or hard to understand. It does what it needs to do and then gets out of the way, becoming a beautiful picture frame again.

The Google Nest Hub vs. Other Products

It’s helpful to compare the Google Nest Hub 2 to other devices to write a full review. This makes it clear who it is for.

The Google Nest Hub Vs the Google Nest Hub Max

The biggest rival often comes from the same family. The Google Nest Hub Max is the bigger and stronger brother. It’s easy to choose:

• If you want a smaller screen (7 inches), are on a budget, and value privacy, go with the Nest Hub (2nd Gen). Many people like that it doesn’t have a camera.
• If you want a bigger 10-inch screen, better sound with a built-in woofer, and a camera for Google Meet video calls, choose the Nest Hub Max. Most reviews of the Google Nest Hub Max agree that it is a better media device, but it costs more.

Nest Audio vs. Google Nest Hub

How does the Hub stack up against Google speakers that are made just for that purpose, like the Nest Audio? It has more bass and can play music in a bigger room. The Nest Hub has a good sound system and a screen. In the kitchen, it’s better to see a recipe or a video than to hear better audio. If you want to listen to music in your living room, the Nest Audio is the best choice.

Google Nest Hub or Google Nest Mini

This comparison is even clearer. It’s great for putting Google Assistant in any room. You can ask it questions and listen to music. But the Nest Hub gives you a full visual experience. You can see the weather report as well as hear it. You can see videos as well as hear them. They are used for different things. A Quick Guide to Setting Up Your Google Nest Hub. It’s very simple to set up your Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen. It only takes about ten minutes.

1. Plug It In: Take the device out of the box and plug the power adapter into the wall and the back of the Hub. The screen will turn on and say hello.
2. Follow the Steps: The app will show you how to connect the Hub to your Wi-Fi network and your Google account.
3. You will need to set up services like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify to make your experience unique.
4. That’s it! Start talking! You can start using your voice as soon as the setup is done. Say, “Hey Google, what can you do?”

The Limitations: Things You Should Know Before You Buy

No gadget is perfect. It’s important to know that the Google Nest Hub has some problems.

• Not a Web Browser: There isn’t a separate web browser like there is on the Amazon Echo Show. You can’t just look at any website.
• No Camera: The regular Nest Hub doesn’t have a camera, as we said. You need the Google Hub Max if video calling is a must-have for you.
• Limited App Ecosystem: You can’t get new apps.The list is long and includes most of the major services, but it is not an open platform.
• This is not a workstation. It is made for watching media, controlling your home, and getting quick information.

What will happen next with the Google Nest Hub?

Since this Google Nest Hub Review 2025 is about a device that is three years old, the next question is: what comes next? There are always rumors about a possible third generation of the Google Nest Hub.

If a new model comes out, we might see a screen with smaller bezels, a faster processor, and maybe better sound. Google could also add new features that use its AI improvements. The main purpose of the device, though, will probably stay the same. It will still be a simple and useful friend at home. For now, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) details show that this device has aged well and is still very useful. It is still one of the best Google speakers with a screen that you can buy.

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