Google Home Max review: The supersized version of Google’s smart speaker packs some real punch
The supersized version of Google’s smart speaker, Google Home Max was launched in the US, Canada and Australia this time last year.
Now finally available in the UK, the Home Max joins the regular Google Home and the doughnut-sized Mini in the company’s growing selection of Google Assistant-powered speakers.
Whereas the others are Assistant-focused devices designed for helpful updates about your commute rather than blasting tunes, the Home Max is all about big sound quality. This beefy little lady is slightly bigger than a shoebox and weighs in at 5.3kg, employing a pair of tweeters and two dual voice coil subwoofers to achieve audio fidelity on a par with dedicated home speakers from Sonos or B&O.
It’s loud. Rattle the windows and annoy the neighbours loud. And it sounds wonderful. The Home Max uses its embedded microphones to analyse the acoustics of the room and adjust its sound profile to suit. In practice it’s difficult to discern any change, but then that likely means it’s working exactly as intended.
The Assistant is baked into the hardware, and summoned (just as she is on Android devices) by uttering the phrase “OK Google”. She’s the most capable of the virtual assistants, with impeccable voice-recognition that can discern between multiple users, the ability to control smart home devices, play songs, set alarms and answer general questions.
The slap-onnable magnetic pad in action
There are neat design touches too. Rather than have rubber feet, which would be visible when the Home Max is oriented vertically, the speaker rests on a magnetic rubber pad that can be slapped on whichever side it’s needed. Accidentally position the speaker upside-down and the Assistant pipes up with a polite request to be flipped back over.
It can be paired with a second Home Max too, but at £399 each it’s an expensive surround sound solution. Sonos remains the better (and cheaper) choice for those wanting synched music about the house.
But for room-filling sound paired with the leading voice-assistant, Max should be on every party guest list.
£399, store.google.com