The Google Nest Mini is a future-proofing update rather than a radical change. Sure, it sounds a little better, the controls are improved and the wall-mount is nice. But it is the improved machine learning chip within it that is the real upgrade – and one that is likely to be of larger benefit as we...

good sound for the money; wall mount; made of recycled plastic; Google Assistant; Bluetooth 5.0; native BBC radio playback

No 3.5mm input; privacy concerns of a smart speaker; not quite room-filling sound

With improved sound, touch controls and a wall mount, the Google Nest Mini is louder and cleverer than ever and will only improve over time

Great price; Improved speakers and mics; Wall mount is handy; Google Assistant is always learning; Voice Match allows for personalised answers

Better Google Home only £40 more; Not loud enough for music at a party; Machine learning is US-only for now

If you live in Google’s world (and let’s face it, most of us do) then the Google Nest Mini is the best, cheapest way to get into the smart home game alongside the £45 Echo Dot with Clock. If you want close integration with your Google calendar and apps, then the Nest Mini wins out. It’s worth considering that the better-sounding Google Home is only £40 more, but if you want a small smart speaker to stick in the kitchen, you get a radio, encyclopaedia, recipe book and timer all in one. The fact it works just as well in every room in the house is an excuse to fork out for several. If you’ve read this far then you won’t mind about the fact you give up your data for the convenience – the Nest Mini is great value for money.

Great price; Improved speakers and mics; Wall mount is handy; Google Assistant is always learning; Voice Match allows for personalised answers;

Better Google Home only £40 more; Not loud enough for music at a party; Machine learning is US-only for now;

The Nest Mini is far from an overhaul of the Home Mini. If your house is already kitted out with the originals there’s no real reason to swap them out for the newer model. But for anyone looking to add Google to more rooms, or get the Google Assistant for the first time, the Nest Mini is the new best, and cheapest, way to do it.

How it plays my music & all I ask it to is amazing. Love it!

I have had problems with WiFi extenders. Our house is all brick walls in and out and about 30 m long. Normal Extenders gave very poor data rates. The Google Nest is an integrated network in which each station is connected seamlessly to others in range. In other words, the coverage is the same everywhere (even in the yard), as if you had one very high powered server. If you have Google Home, then you can talk to the nearest box and control the whole system from anywhere. It is just amazing!!

Ease of use for all ages, small compact, price range great

It talks to me

Great price; Improved speakers and mics; Wall mount is handy; Google Assistant is always learning; Voice Match allows for personalised answers;

Better Google Home only £40 more; Not loud enough for music at a party; Machine learning is US-only for now;

The Google Nest Mini remains a smart and enticing entry-point to Google Assistant in the home, with this update bringing the improvements where they matter the most.

Improved sound quality; More sustainable build; Built-in wall-mount; Power of Google Assistant; Physical microphone mute button; Improved on-device controls

No audio jack; No clock like new Echo Dot; Not really an upgrade if you own Google Home Mini