Having used and enjoyed the Google Home for several months, I was intrigued when the mini version of the smart speaker was announced last October.
As usual, this product, like many others from Google, is not available in our part of the world.
But, thanks to online sites such as eBay and Qoo10.sg, getting one is not impossible but a little costlier, with shipping cost factored in.
I saw the device on offer in a major IT shop in Japan in December but could not buy it because it’s only available for pre-order.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to receive one as a Christmas present.
The Google Home Mini is similar to its bigger sibling, the Google Home, except for it’s size and quality of speaker.
Powered by Google Assistant, it is easy to set up and use. Volume can be adjusted by tapping the left and right of the speaker cover.
Here are five reasons why I like the Google Home Mini:
- Small footprint and size: You can place it practically anywhere — on the table, book shelf, TV console and anywhere convenient.
- Easy setup: Just use the Google Home app on the phone to set up. It takes only a minute or two.
- Sensitive pickup: The speaker is a great listener and can pick up commands even in almost whisper-mode across the room.
- Good sound quality: While the sound is not as rich as the Google Home, the speaker packs quite a punch and can be heard anywhere in an enclosed room.
- Great price: It’s less than half the price of its larger sibling and can do similar stuff.
I only have one peeve — a Spotify Premium account is needed to play music. The free version of Spotify will only yield a station playing the requested song — and the song may not even be played!
Verdict: Aside from needing a Spotify Premium account, it’s a lovely device that I’d gladly recommend to those wanting to try out a smart speaker.
You can get it at Google Store or other online sites. Don’t try Amazon as a search for this product only yielded the Amazon equivalent.
101reasons.blog 