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See Top Ranked Smart SpeakersGoogle Home Mini (2017) vs Google Home (2016)
See our analysis
Analysis:
The Google Home Mini (2017) was loved by reviewers at Tom's Guide, a highly trusted source that performs reliable in-depth testing. It did great in its "Best Home Depot Father's Day sales 2020" roundup where it was named its "Ranked 2 out of 7", which, in itself, makes it a product worth considering.
Returning to the Google Home (2016) - it was really well-received by reviewers at Tom's Guide and PCmag, which are among the most highly trusted sources on the internet and are known for their in-depth hands-on testing. It was named "The most attractive and customizable smart speaker for the price." by Tom's Guide and "Ranked 1 out of 17" by PCmag, which points toward the Google Home (2016) being a high-quality product.
Out of the sources that tested and rated both of these Smart Speakers, CNET, What Hi-Fi?, and Techradar preferred the Google Home Mini (2017), whereas reviewers at Expert Reviews liked the Google Home (2016) better. TrustedReviews and PCmag gave them identical review scores.
We also took a look at which sources liked these products best - the highest Google Home Mini (2017) rating came from livingetc.com, whereas the Google Home (2016) most impressed reviewers at Expert Reviews; they earned scores of 9 and 10, respectively.
Lastly, we averaged out all of the reviews scores that we could find on these two products and compared them to other Smart Speakers on the market. We learned that both of them performed far better than most of their competitors - the overall review average earned by Smart Speakers being 7.4 out of 10, whereas the Google Home Mini (2017) and Google Home (2016) managed averages of 8.0 and 7.6 points, respectively.
Due to the difference in their prices, however, it's important to keep in mind that a direct Google Home Mini (2017) vs. Google Home (2016) comparison might not be entirely fair - some sources don't take value for money into account when assigning their scores and therefore have a tendency to rate more premium products better.
Tech. Specs Comparison
Google Home Mini (2017)
Google Home (2016)
Supports Alexa
No
No
Supports Google Assistant
Yes
Yes
Supports Siri
No
No
Reddit Threads (9)
in "Headset kinda stays warm when plugged in and not in use w/ compute off..."
Last updated: 17 Mar 2020
in "[Just Chatting] How do you guys listen to music/podcasts to aid sleep?"
Last updated: 12 Mar 2020
in "Chromecast as an alarm?"
Last updated: 10 Mar 2020
in "It's the remix to ignition"
Last updated: 8 Mar 2020
in "Is it just me, or is Alexa getting progressively LESS intelligent?"
Last updated: 26 Feb 2020
in "Anybody rocking full Google ecosystem?"
Last updated: 19 Feb 2020
in "I need lists to survive"
Last updated: 9 Feb 2020
in "Google Home Max - Impressed"
Last updated: 13 Dec 2018
in "Google Home Mini might be the best $40 I've ever spent!"
Last updated: 23 Nov 2017
See fewer
Reddit Threads (6)
in "Using timers flexibly instead of strict scheduling is seriously changing my life"
Last updated: 13 Mar 2020
in "Connect your Google Drive to Fedora Workstation"
Last updated: 16 Mar 2020
in "Google Home Mini might be the best $40 I've ever spent!"
Last updated: 23 Nov 2017
in "Connect your Google Drive to Fedora Workstation"
Last updated: 16 Mar 2020
in "Notifications and reminders only coming through on one Nest Mini?"
Last updated: 18 Mar 2020
in "Anyone else having issues with the their google homes no longer being able to listen at all?"
Last updated: 17 Mar 2020
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Sentiment analysis from Youtube reviewers
See fewer
Sentiment analysis from Youtube reviewers
Has average expert review score
7.5
Overall Avg. for Smart Speakers
8.0
Avg. Review Score
Score
Has average expert review score
7.5
Overall Avg. for Smart Speakers
7.6
Avg. Review Score
Score
Recommended by trusted experts
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “Best Home Depot Father's Day sales 2020”
Last updated: 28 Jun 2022
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Tech We Bought in 2018”
Last updated: 6 Nov 2018
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “What are the best books to read along with Disney on Google Home?”
Last updated: 25 Jun 2019
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “The best gifts under $50/£50”
Last updated: 14 Dec 2018
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best Google products for home, work and play”
Last updated: 2 Dec 2020
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Great Father's day tech gifts under £50”
Last updated: 14 Mar 2023
buzzfeed.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “31 Of The Best Practical Gifts To Get At Walmart”
Last updated: 7 Dec 2019
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best White-Noise Machines”
Last updated: 2 Sep 2019
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
The Google Home Mini is like having a simple, hands-free Assistant around the house. It can help you keep track of the weather, tell you jokes, and the like. But most importantly, it can also play several ambient sounds to help you relax throughout the day, and even as you sleep. These sounds do loop, allowing them to play for up to 12 hours non-stop if you desire.in “Best White Noise Machines in 2022”
Last updated: 8 Dec 2021
buzzfeed.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “31 Of The Best Gifts Under $50 You Can Get At Walmart”
Last updated: 6 Dec 2019
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The 18 Best Gifts for Busy Moms of 2023”
Last updated: 3 Apr 2023
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “This Year in Gear: 73 Notable Tech Products Released in 2017”
Last updated: 26 Aug 2022
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Alexa, Google Assistant, and third-party voice smart speakers for Xbox One”
Last updated: 16 Feb 2020
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Tech Gifts for the Chef in Your Life”
Last updated: 22 Jun 2018
mensjournal.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Voice-Command Speakers for Your Home”
Last updated: 28 Feb 2023
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best tech gift ideas under $50 that don’t suck”
Last updated: 24 Aug 2022
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “33 Gifts for Your Whole List (That You Can Buy at Urban Outfitters)”
Last updated: 9 Dec 2020
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Wish List 2017: 60 Amazing Gift Ideas for Everyone in Your Orbit”
Last updated: 21 Nov 2017
mensjournal.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The 12 Best Gifts for a Techie”
Last updated: 28 Feb 2023
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best July sales and deals 2020 — it's Summer Savings week on Tom's Guide - Smart Home”
Last updated: 10 Jul 2020
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best cheap smart home products under $50”
Last updated: 3 Jul 2022
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best after Christmas sales of 2019 - Smart Devices and Wearables”
Last updated: 26 Dec 2019
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Highly recommended by trusted experts
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “Google's Smart Home Devices: What's the Difference?”
Last updated: 25 Nov 2019
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
The most attractive and customizable smart speaker for the price.in “The best smart speakers”
Last updated: 5 Feb 2020
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “Best Android Apps to Use With Your Chromecast in 2022”
Last updated: 8 Dec 2021
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “20 best Chromecast apps for Google's streaming puck”
Last updated: 4 Nov 2021
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “Best accessories for households with Android and iPhone”
Last updated: 6 Nov 2018
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “11 Nifty Gadgets for Decorating Your Dorm Room - Remember to Have Fun”
Last updated: 16 Aug 2017
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “The Best Smart Speakers of 2022”
Last updated: 5 May 2023
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best Google products for home, work and play”
Last updated: 2 Dec 2020
zdnet.com
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best home automation system for Google's ecosystemin “The best home automation systems of 2023”
Last updated: 27 Jul 2023
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
The best Chromecast smart speaker on a budgetin “The best Google Chromecast speaker in 2020: Google, LG, JBL, Toshiba”
Last updated: 22 Nov 2021
refinery29.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “11 Beloved Brands We Bet You Didn't Know Are On Jet.com”
Last updated: 13 Nov 2017
buzzfeed.com
-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “32 Gifts From Target For Literally Everyone On Your List”
Last updated: 13 Dec 2017
Reddit-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Google home vs google assistant speakers”
Last updated: 16 Oct 2017
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Best Overallin “6 Coolest Amazon Echo (Dot) Alternatives - 6 Better Amazon Echo (Dot) Alternatives”
Last updated: 18 May 2017
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
Runner Upin “10 Inexpensive Smart Home Christmas Gift Ideas”
Last updated: 7 Dec 2017
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Creative Smart Home Ideas Anyone Can Recreate”
Last updated: 30 Mar 2017
Wirecutter
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The Best Sunrise Alarm Clock”
Last updated: 16 Feb 2023
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “15 best Android apps released in 2022 - Google’s busy year”
Last updated: 1 Jan 2023
allure.com
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Gift Guide 2017: 11 Cozy Couch Potato Gifts”
Last updated: 8 Dec 2017
Depth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “50 Things You Should 100% Get at Costco”
Last updated: 17 Jun 2022
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best free Android apps 2023”
Last updated: 16 Feb 2023
Wirecutter
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “How We Get Our Kids to Sleep”
Last updated: 17 Feb 2022
Trusted Source-
Depth of
analysis
analysis
No
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Alternatives to HomeKit”
Last updated: 27 Feb 2018
Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “The best of Google I/O 2016”
Last updated: 22 May 2016
Highly Trusted SourceDepth of
analysis
analysis
Yes
In-house
Testing
Testing
in “Best Android remote control apps”
Last updated: 30 Jan 2020
See fewer recommendations
Find the best product and price, effortlessly.
Discover deals on the best products
We do the research. You save the money.