Smart Displays / Google Nest Hub Max vs Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)
Google Nest Hub Max vs Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)
Google Nest Hub Max
Seven-year-old hardware, the best speakers in the category, and no successor in sight.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The Google Nest Hub Max edges ahead by 0.3 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) is a defensible pick on its own terms. A wall-mounted Fire TV that still has a camera shutter — but the stand costs $99.99 extra.
The Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) are both closely matched smart Display models, and the Google Nest Hub Max is $71 cheaper than the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) ($229 vs $299.99). On Ad Freedom, the Google Nest Hub Max leads (9.0 vs 3.5/10) — how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off. On Value, the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) leads (6.5 vs 4.5/10) — hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box. On Display Quality, the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — size, resolution and pixel density for the money. Overall, the Google Nest Hub Max scores 6.7/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.4/10 for the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. 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 Max | Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.00 | $299.99 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2024 |
| 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) | 10 | 15.6✓ |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 6.5 MP, 127-degree field of view, Face Match and auto-framing; also works as a Nest indoor camera | 13 MP centred camera with auto-framing and 3.3x zoom |
| Physical Camera Shutter | No sliding shutter — a hardware switch on the back electrically disconnects the camera and mics and turns the status LED green | Yes — physical shutter retained on this model, plus a mic/camera off button |
| Speakers | Two 18 mm 10 W tweeters plus one 75 mm 30 W woofer (stereo) | Two 2-inch woofers plus two 0.6-inch tweeters |
| Smart Home Hub Radios | Matter controller AND Thread border router — one of only three Google devices Google lists as a border router | Zigbee hub + Matter controller + Thread border router |
| Subscriptions Required | Voice control is free, but the camera-history and familiar-face features the product is sold on need Google Home Premium ($10/mo Standard or $20/mo Advanced) | Alexa+ requires Prime or $19.99/mo; Fire TV streaming apps each need their own subscription; Prime Photos full-resolution storage requires Prime |
| Home-Screen Ads | No sponsored cards — the ambient screen is Google Photos, weather and your own content | Sponsored cards appear on the home screen; Amazon's own help page says these ads cannot be turned off, only swiped away |
| Video Calling | Google Meet only; Duo was retired into Meet in October 2025 and Zoom support was dropped in 2023 | Alexa calling and Drop In only |
| Wall Mountable | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Charcoal | Black |
Category Scores
Display Quality
The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on size, resolution and pixel density for the money. If that is what you are buying for, the Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-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 Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Assistant
The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Hub
The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-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 Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ecosystem Freedom
The Google Nest Hub Max 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 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Privacy Hardware
The Google Nest Hub Max and Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Ad Freedom
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 9.0 against 3.5 — a 5.5-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 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 4.5 — a 2.0-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 Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Google Nest Hub Max if…
- • Ad Freedom matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub Max 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).
- • Sound matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub Max scores 8.0/10 here (whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen).
- • You want to spend less — it's $71 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is smart-home-control.
Choose the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) scores 6.5/10 here (hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box).
- • Display Quality matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) scores 7.5/10 here (size, resolution and pixel density for the money).
- • Smart Home Hub matters most to you — the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) scores 9.0/10 here (zigbee, Matter and Thread border-router support — often the real reason to buy the bigger model).
- • Your main use case is family-organizer.
Pros & Cons
Google Nest Hub Max
Pros
- +The best-sounding smart display here — a real 75 mm woofer and two tweeters
- +Hardware camera/mic switch cuts power rather than just toggling software
- +No advertising on the ambient screen at all
- +Face Match personalises the screen without you touching it, and it doubles as a Nest camera
Cons
- −A 2019 product still priced at $229 in 2026, with several colourways already sold out
- −No physical lens cover — the privacy control is a switch, not a shutter
- −Camera history and familiar-face alerts need a Google Home Premium subscription
- −Video calling is Google Meet only; Zoom and Duo are both gone
- −Google has stripped most on-device apps from Nest displays and has not shipped a successor
Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)
Pros
- +Keeps the physical camera shutter that the newer Show 8 and 11 lost
- +Full Fire TV plus a remote makes it a real kitchen television, not a widget board
- +Zigbee, Thread border router and Matter — a complete hub, mounted on the wall
- +Wi-Fi 6E and the 2024 processor make it far snappier than the 1st-gen Show 15
Cons
- −The counter stand is a $99.99 accessory — out of the box this is a wall-mount-only device that needs a drill
- −Decorative frames are another $34.99 if you do not want the bare black bezel
- −Still 1080p across 15.6 inches, which owners and reviewers both flag
- −Sponsored home-screen content cannot be disabled
- −Runs the older AZ2-class silicon, not the AZ3 Pro in the 2025 Show 8 and 11
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Google Nest Hub Max or Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Google Nest Hub Max 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 Max or the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max scores higher on Ad Freedom (9.0/10 vs 3.5/10) — 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 Value, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) scores higher on Value (6.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box.
Which is better for Display Quality, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)?+
The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) scores higher on Display Quality (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — size, resolution and pixel density for the money.
Which is better for Sound, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max scores higher on Sound (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen.
Is the Google Nest Hub Max worth the price difference over the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max is the cheaper option at $229 versus $299.99. 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 Max is the better fit if you mainly care about smart-home-control. The Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) is the better fit for family-organizer.
What's the warranty on the Google Nest Hub Max vs the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max ships with a 12-month warranty; the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen, 2024) 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 11 (2025) — $219.99
Premium Option
Google Pixel Tablet (128 GB, dock sold separately) — $399.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.