Smart Displays / Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) vs Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Old hardware, no ads, no camera — and the cheapest Thread border router with a screen.
Wins overall by 0.6 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.6-point gap makes the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) the straightforward choice here. Old hardware, no ads, no camera — and the cheapest Thread border router with a screen.
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) and Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) are both closely matched smart Display models, and the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is $120 cheaper than the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) ($99.99 vs $219.99). On Ad Freedom, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads (9.0 vs 3.0/10) — how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off. On Privacy Hardware, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads (9.0 vs 4.5/10) — physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default. On Display Quality, the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) leads (8.0 vs 5.0/10) — size, resolution and pixel density for the money. Overall, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores 6.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.3/10 for the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) | Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $219.99 |
| Release Year | 2021 | 2025 |
| Voice Assistant | Gemini for Home (has replaced Google Assistant on this device); basic voice control needs no subscription | Alexa+ — Amazon's own FAQ states there is no free Alexa+ tier on Echo hardware: it needs Prime or a $19.99/mo Standard plan |
| Screen Size (in) | 7 | 11.95✓ |
| Resolution | 1024 x 600 | Sources conflict: Amazon markets it as 'Full HD' and owners report 1920 x 1200, while TechRadar's review spec box lists 1280 x 800 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No camera — Soli radar handles presence and gestures instead | 13 MP with auto-framing, 3.3x zoom and ambient noise reduction |
| Physical Camera Shutter | No camera fitted; a hardware microphone switch on the back physically cuts the mics | NO physical shutter — TechRadar's review headline calls it out; only a software camera/mic disable button |
| Speakers | One full-range driver — Google publishes no driver size, only '50% more bass than the original Nest Hub, measured 40 Hz to 200 Hz at max volume' | One 2.8-inch woofer plus two full-range drivers, front-firing, with spatial audio processing |
| Smart Home Hub Radios | Matter controller AND Thread 1.x border router — Google names only Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Hub Max and Nest Wifi Pro as its border routers | Zigbee hub + Matter controller + Thread — same radio set as the Echo Show 8 (2025) |
| Subscriptions Required | No subscription for voice control; Google Home Premium ($10/mo Standard, $20/mo Advanced) is required for camera history and the sound-detection alerts Google advertises on this product page | Alexa+ requires Prime or $19.99/mo; Ring camera summaries need a Ring plan |
| Home-Screen Ads | No sponsored cards on the ambient screen — Google sells you a subscription instead of an ad slot | Sponsored cards appear on the home screen; Amazon's own help page says these ads cannot be turned off, only swiped away |
| Video Calling | None — no camera. Audio calls and Broadcast only | Alexa calling and Drop In only — nothing outside Amazon's own ecosystem |
| Wall Mountable | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Charcoal, Sand | Graphite, Glacier White |
Category Scores
Display Quality
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.0 — a 3.0-point margin on size, resolution and pixel density for the money. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-point margin on whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Assistant
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on how capable and responsive the built-in assistant actually is on this hardware. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Hub
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on zigbee, Matter and Thread border-router support — often the real reason to buy the bigger model. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ecosystem Freedom
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.5 — a 1.0-point margin on how much of a rival ecosystem's gear, apps and calling networks it will still talk to. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Privacy Hardware
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 4.5 — a 4.5-point margin on physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ad Freedom
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 3.0 — a 6.0-point margin on how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-point margin on hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) if…
- • Ad Freedom matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores 9.0/10 here (how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off).
- • Privacy Hardware matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores 9.0/10 here (physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default).
- • You want to spend less — it's $120 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is bedside.
Choose the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) if…
- • Display Quality matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) scores 8.0/10 here (size, resolution and pixel density for the money).
- • Sound matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) scores 7.5/10 here (whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen).
- • Assistant matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) scores 8.0/10 here (how capable and responsive the built-in assistant actually is on this hardware).
- • Your main use case is video-calling or family-organizer.
Pros & Cons
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Pros
- +A genuine Thread border router at $99.99 — no Echo Show under $180 can say that
- +No camera and a real hardware mic cut-off: the best privacy story in the category
- +No sponsored content on the ambient screen, unlike every Echo Show
- +Sleep Sensing via Soli radar is still free, and still unique
Cons
- −Five-year-old hardware at its full 2021 launch price of $99.99
- −Google has stripped most of the on-device 'apps' since 2021 — Netflix, Podcasts, Meet, Reminders and more have gone
- −Google's 2026 replacement is a rumoured 'Google Home Display' that has not shipped, so buying now is buying into an unreplaced product line
- −Sleep Sensing is explicitly a free preview that Google says it may fold into Fitbit Premium later
- −No camera means no video calling at all, and it will not act as an indoor camera
Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)
Pros
- +Biggest, brightest tabletop screen Amazon sells — genuinely readable across a kitchen
- +Same Zigbee + Thread + Matter hub as the Show 8, so nothing is held back
- +Fixed screen is more reliable than the motorised Echo Show 10 it replaces
- +13 MP camera panning and zoom make it a credible indoor camera when you are out
Cons
- −$40 more than the Echo Show 8 for a bigger panel and effectively identical internals
- −No physical camera shutter, on a device with a camera that actively tracks people
- −Buyer reviews repeatedly single out full-screen sponsored content that cannot be disabled
- −Amazon does not publish a resolution figure and third-party sources disagree
- −Alexa+ still requires Prime or $19.99/mo despite the $219.99 hardware price
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) or Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Ad Freedom, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) or the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores higher on Ad Freedom (9.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off.
Which is better for Privacy Hardware, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) or the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores higher on Privacy Hardware (9.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default.
Which is better for Display Quality, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) or the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) scores higher on Display Quality (8.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — size, resolution and pixel density for the money.
Which is better for Sound, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) or the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) scores higher on Sound (7.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen.
Is the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) worth the price difference over the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $219.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Ad Freedom.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is the better fit if you mainly care about bedside. The Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) is the better fit for video-calling or family-organizer.
What's the warranty on the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) vs the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) — $179.99
Premium Option
Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen, 2025) — $179.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.