Early Google Home Speaker unboxing reveals one design flaw

Google launched the Home Speaker a few days ago at $99.99, its first new smart speaker in six years. The device ended a lineup that had stalled since the Nest Audio in 2020, and arrived with Gemini Live integration, 360-degree sound from a 58mm full-range driver, and WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.

Days after launch, a Reddit user posted that they had purchased one from a Walmart shelf while traveling for work, before the speaker had officially shipped. The post included an unboxing video, and the detail that drew the most attention was not the sound — it was the power cable.

According to the buyer, the Google Home Speaker comes with a non-removable USB-C power cable approximately 5 feet long attached directly to the speaker body. There is no USB-C port on the speaker itself. The cable runs to a 30W power brick, which is removable, meaning the adapter can be replaced, but the cable attached to the unit cannot be swapped or unplugged without opening the device. The buyer described it as a "nightmare for repairability."

The hardwired cable creates a practical problem beyond repair scenarios. Users who want to route the cable differently, replace a damaged cable, or simply use a longer or shorter run have no clean option to do so without modifying the speaker. Google has not commented on the design choice.

On sound, the early impressions were largely positive. The buyer, who says they have experience with professional audio equipment, described the midrange and low-frequency performance as better than expected for a speaker of this size. They noted the speaker gets loud enough for a living room and planned to use it as their primary room speaker. They did suggest boosting the treble slightly in the audio settings. Setup took under 10 minutes through an existing Google Home account.

One additional concern came up on build quality. The buyer noted that the fabric mesh covering the speaker felt loose against the hard body underneath. Google has not addressed this, and it is not clear whether the issue was isolated to that unit or consistent across production.

The Google Home Speaker is available in four colors — Porcelain, Hazel, Jade, and Berry — and is priced at $99.99. Basic Gemini Live features are included without a subscription. Smart home automations and advanced AI features require a $10 per month plan, with camera feed analysis available at $20 per month.