Google's New Smart Speaker with AI Costs $99.99 — Here's What You Need to Know

Google has announced a new smart speaker for $99.99 in the United States and £99.99 in the United Kingdom. In both countries, you can pay it off gradually — US customers can split the cost into four payments of $25, and UK customers get three monthly payments of £33.33.

The price puts it in the middle of the smart speaker market. It costs more than basic speakers like Amazon's Echo Dot, but less than premium audio devices from Sonos or Apple. Google is not marketing this as a high-end sound system. Instead, it is selling you access to advanced AI in a device you can put on your kitchen counter or shelf.

The main thing that makes this speaker different from older Google Home devices is that it uses Gemini, Google's AI assistant. Think of it like upgrading from a device that understands simple commands ("set a timer", "play music") to one that can follow a longer conversation and reason through more complex requests. Instead of just answering a single question, it can now handle multi-step tasks. The challenge is that it has to do all this through sound alone — there is no screen to help clarify what you are asking.

Google is not alone in this approach. Amazon is adding its own AI to Alexa, and Apple is doing the same with Siri on the HomePod. What sets Google apart is that its AI is already connected to services you may use every day — Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps, and Google Search. If you already use Google products, this speaker understands your digital life in a way competitors might not.

One interesting detail is that Google is offering payment plans on a $100 device. For most consumer electronics at this price, you pay upfront. Offering installments suggests Google wants to reach people who are interested but might feel hesitant about spending $100 at once.

One thing to notice is the UK price. At today's exchange rates, £99.99 is actually more expensive than $99.99 when you convert the pounds to dollars. This happens because of taxes, shipping costs, and other regional expenses. UK shoppers will spot this price difference compared to the US. It is the standard way electronics are priced globally, though it can feel frustrating when you compare prices across countries.

Smart speakers were very popular in the late 2010s, but sales cooled once everyone had one that could set timers, play music, and answer basic questions. Google is betting that AI reasoning — the ability to handle complex, multi-step requests — will make these devices useful again. Whether people actually find this helpful when they can only use their voice remains to be seen.

At $99.99, the cost is low enough that trying it out is a smaller risk.