It’s been more than five years since Google last refreshed its Nest Hub line, and with Apple’s new HomeView display launching just days away, the question on many minds is: will Google finally answer with a modern smart display of its own? That’s one of the key topics in the latest episode of Pixelated (Episode 124), where the hosts explore Google’s smart display silence and whether a Nest Hub revival is due in 2027. The discussion follows Apple’s recent entry into the space and the glaring absence of a contemporary Google counter.
Where Things Stand
Google’s last dedicated smart display release was the Nest Hub (2nd Gen) in 2021. Since then, the company has introduced new smart home gadgets—like a revamped Nest Cam, a doorbell, and a Home Speaker powered by Gemini—but none have brought fresh hardware to the smart display category. The current portfolio still includes the original Hub and Hub Max, but those units are more than half a decade old in the fast-moving display market.
Meanwhile, Apple is stepping into the market with HomeView, a pedestal-style display that marries HomePod-like voice smarts with visual responses and multi-user awareness. The launch raises the bar for software speed, display clarity, and integration polish—areas where many feel Nest Hub has long lagged behind. Pixelated’s hosts point out that Google hasn’t added much beyond the basics over recent years: voice commands, smart home controls, video casting, and camera previews—all core, useful features, but nothing we haven’t seen before.
Signals of an Upcoming Revival
Hints suggest Google hasn’t given up on smart displays entirely. In code this year, a mysterious “Google Home Display” has appeared—perhaps a clue to what’s next. Also, Google head of Home Anish Kattukaran has said the company remains committed to smart displays and sees them as the “ultimate form factor” for interacting with Gemini for Home, combining screen, speaker, and microphone to provide a richer, more visual smart home experience.
Still, even Kattukaran admits there’s “no explicit news” right now. Google hasn’t confirmed a launch timeline or given any hardware-specific details. According to Pixelated, this likely means we won’t see a new Nest Hub in 2026, but hopes are rising for something more substantial in 2027.
Analysts and enthusiasts agree: a comeback would need to deliver more than a refreshed display or faster processor. They expect Google to upgrade display quality, maybe bring back a built-in Nest Cam with better optics, improve performance dramatically, and modernize software to match the polish of competitors. Value will matter too—hardware that costs too much will face tough comparisons with Amazon’s Echo Show line and Apple’s HomeView.
As Google prepares to intensify competition in the smart home display market, this could be a defining moment. A well-executed Nest Hub revival has the potential to set new standards in voice-assistant interactions, smart home control, and information visualization. Keep an eye out for leaked specifications, pricing rumors, and whether Google explicitly signals something at upcoming product events—2027 may be the year the second act begins.
