Google Smart Displays: Nest Hub Max, Nest Hub and Alternatives

Best for
Nightstands and compact desks

Best for
Video calls and a big kitchen screen

The Google Nest Hub Max 10″ Smart Display is the largest Google smart display in this guide. Its 10-inch HD touchscreen is big enough to follow a recipe from across the kitchen or watch a clip while you cook, and the built-in 6.5 MP Nest Cam is its defining feature. Google describes it as a way to stay in touch, manage your smart home and enjoy entertainment.

The listing is brief. Beyond the screen size, the camera and the Chalk color, it does not detail speakers, connectivity or camera features, so we cannot compare those against the smaller Hub. It is listed as first generation, model GA00474-DE.

• 10-inch HD touchscreen
• Built-in 6.5 MP Nest Cam
• Google Assistant built in

Choose the Hub Max if video calling and a larger screen matter. If you want a display on a nightstand, where a camera may not be welcome, the 7-inch Nest Hub fits better. To see how it connects with the rest of the ecosystem, our Nest smart home devices guide covers the wider lineup.

The Google Nest Hub 7” Smart Display is the first-generation H1A model in a compact 7-inch size. It controls compatible smart lights, cameras, thermostats, plugs and speakers by voice or touch, and it streams music, plays videos, shows Google Photos, checks weather, sets timers, manages reminders and walks you through recipes.

There is an important detail: this listing is a Korean-spec international version in bulk packaging. The listing says the language can be switched to English after setup in the Google Home app or device settings. It weighs 1.8 pounds, measures 7 x 2.65 x 4.65 inches, and includes a cable.

• 7-inch touchscreen with Google Assistant
• Smart home control by voice or touch
• Google Photos, recipes, timers and reminders
• Korean-spec model, language switchable to English

This suits a bedroom, desk or small kitchen where a compact screen is enough. For video calls, the Hub Max is the better fit. If you plan to see your front door feed on the display, our Google doorbell camera review is a useful companion.

Best for
Wall-mounted Shelly smart home control

The Shelly Wall Display XL Black 10.1 Inch panel is not a Google product, and the listing does not describe Google Assistant built in. It is a Wi-Fi smart home control panel with a 10.1-inch touchscreen that installs in a standard electrical wall box. The highlight line says it works with Alexa, Google, HomeKit and Home Assistant, and it requires a neutral wire.

It includes a built-in 5A relay and four customizable buttons for lights, fans, heaters and coffee makers, plus a lux sensor. It connects to the Shelly Smart Control App or Home Assistant, and it controls Bluetooth or Sonos speakers for play, pause, skip and volume. The listing conflicts on warranty, mentioning 3 years in one bullet and 2 years in the specs.

• 10.1-inch in-wall touchscreen
• Built-in 5A relay and four buttons
• Works with Shelly app and Home Assistant

Pick it if you run Shelly devices and want a permanent wall panel. For a Google Assistant screen you talk to, choose a Nest Hub.

Best for
Family calendars and chore charts

The Changingtouch 15.6″ Smart Display with Google Calendar,Google Play access is also not a Google product. It is a large family calendar screen, the F16S, with a 15.6-inch anti-glare FHD touchscreen (1920 x 1080). Through Google Play, you can install calendar apps and sync with a Google account, and the listing says Google Calendar works without a subscription.

The listing mentions asking Google Assistant to play music, set reminders and control smart home devices, plus built-in speakers with Bluetooth and Spotify support. It has 32 GB of storage. The spec sheet says “battery powered” and lists software update support as unknown, so long-term updates are not guaranteed.

• 15.6-inch FHD anti-glare touchscreen
• Google Play for calendar apps
• 32 GB storage, built-in speakers

This fits a busy household that wants a big, shared smart display for Google Calendar and chore charts. For a polished Assistant experience, a Nest Hub is the better choice.

Best for
Voice control without a screen

The Google Audio Bluetooth Speaker has no screen, but it brings Google Assistant to any room. Its features describe it as Nest Audio, with a woofer, tweeter and tuning software for room-filling sound. You can pair two for stereo, broadcast messages to every Nest speaker and display, and use it as an intercom.

It connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, controls smart home devices by voice and works with other Nest speakers and displays and Chromecast-enabled devices. The listing says it is not waterproof.

• Google Assistant built in
• Stereo pairing and multi-room audio
• Broadcast and intercom with Nest displays

Choose it to add Assistant to rooms that do not need a screen, or to improve music from a Nest Hub. It cannot show calendars or photos.

Best for
Turning a TV into the big screen

The Google Streamer 4K turns your TV into the display. It streams up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision, supports Dolby Atmos speakers, and brings together shows from services like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu and Prime Video with tailored recommendations. It includes a voice search remote and lists smart home control.

It has 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. The listing notes an HDMI 2.1 cable is required and sold separately. It also offers access to over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi and others.

• 4K HDR with Dolby Vision
• Voice search remote
• 32 GB storage, Ethernet and Wi-Fi

This is the pick for movie nights and gaming-room TVs, not a countertop display. For ambient lighting in the same room, our smart light review is worth a look.