Smart Displays / Google Nest Hub Max vs Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Google Nest Hub Max vs Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Old hardware, no ads, no camera — and the cheapest Thread border router with a screen.
Wins overall by 0.2 points
Quick Verdict
Too close to call on score alone: 0.2 points separate them. Old hardware, no ads, no camera — and the cheapest Thread border router with a screen. The Google Nest Hub Max answers with a different set of strengths, so let the categories below decide it.
The Google Nest Hub Max and Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) are both closely matched smart Display models, and the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is $129 cheaper than the Google Nest Hub Max ($99.99 vs $229). On Sound, the Google Nest Hub Max leads (8.0 vs 5.5/10) — whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen. On Privacy Hardware, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default. On Value, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads (7.0 vs 4.5/10) — hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box. Overall, the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores 6.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.7/10 for the Google Nest Hub Max, 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 | Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $229.00 | $99.99 |
| Release Year | 2019 | 2021 |
| Voice Assistant | Gemini for Home (has replaced Google Assistant on this device); basic voice control needs no subscription | Gemini for Home (has replaced Google Assistant on this device); basic voice control needs no subscription |
| Screen Size (in) | 10✓ | 7 |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 | 1024 x 600 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | 6.5 MP, 127-degree field of view, Face Match and auto-framing; also works as a Nest indoor camera | No camera — Soli radar handles presence and gestures instead |
| Physical Camera Shutter | No sliding shutter — a hardware switch on the back electrically disconnects the camera and mics and turns the status LED green | No camera fitted; a hardware microphone switch on the back physically cuts the mics |
| Speakers | Two 18 mm 10 W tweeters plus one 75 mm 30 W woofer (stereo) | 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' |
| Smart Home Hub Radios | Matter controller AND Thread border router — one of only three Google devices Google lists as a border router | 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 |
| 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) | 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 |
| Home-Screen Ads | No sponsored cards — the ambient screen is Google Photos, weather and your own content | No sponsored cards on the ambient screen — Google sells you a subscription instead of an ad slot |
| Video Calling | Google Meet only; Duo was retired into Meet in October 2025 and Zoom support was dropped in 2023 | None — no camera. Audio calls and Broadcast only |
| Wall Mountable | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Charcoal | Charcoal, Sand |
Category Scores
Display Quality
The Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.0 — a 1.0-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 Google Nest Hub Max leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-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 Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Assistant
The Google Nest Hub Max and Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) are level here, at 6.5/10 each. how capable and responsive the built-in assistant actually is on this hardware is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Home Hub
The Google Nest Hub Max and Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) are level here, at 7.5/10 each. zigbee, Matter and Thread border-router support — often the real reason to buy the bigger model is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Ecosystem Freedom
The Google Nest Hub Max and Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) are level here, at 5.5/10 each. how much of a rival ecosystem's gear, apps and calling networks it will still talk to is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Privacy Hardware
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-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 Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ad Freedom
The Google Nest Hub Max and Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) are level here, at 9.0/10 each. how much of the screen you paid for the vendor sells back to you, and whether you can turn it off is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.5 — a 2.5-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 Google Nest Hub Max does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Google Nest Hub Max if…
- • 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).
- • Display Quality matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub Max scores 6.0/10 here (size, resolution and pixel density for the money).
- • Your main use case is video-calling.
Choose the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) if…
- • 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).
- • Value matters most to you — the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores 7.0/10 here (hardware and features relative to price, including accessories that are not in the box).
- • You want to spend less — it's $129 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is bedside.
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
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Google Nest Hub Max or Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) 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 Sound, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max scores higher on Sound (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — whether it is honestly a music speaker or just a voice speaker with a screen.
Which is better for Privacy Hardware, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores higher on Privacy Hardware (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — physical camera shutters, hardware mic cut-offs and how much sensing runs by default.
Which is better for Value, the Google Nest Hub Max or the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) scores higher on Value (7.0/10 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 Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max scores higher on Display Quality (6.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — size, resolution and pixel density for the money.
Is the Google Nest Hub Max worth the price difference over the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?+
The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is the cheaper option at $99.99 versus $229. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Sound.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Google Nest Hub Max is the better fit if you mainly care about video-calling. The Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) is the better fit for bedside.
What's the warranty on the Google Nest Hub Max vs the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)?+
The Google Nest Hub Max ships with a 12-month warranty; the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) 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
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.