Google's consumer product lineup is worth buying if you want reliable smart home control and fitness tracking without paying premium prices. The Nest Hub Max justifies its cost for households needing a central hub; the Home speaker suits those wanting basic voice control on a budget; Fitbit Charge 6 trackers deliver solid health metrics for under £130.
Why Google?
Google entered the smart home market in 2016 with Google Home and has since built a cohesive ecosystem spanning voice assistants, displays, and wearables. Their strength lies in integration—Google Assistant powers all devices, syncing with Android phones, Gmail, and Google Calendar seamlessly. Unlike competitors charging premium margins, Google prices aggressively: their smart speakers undercut Amazon's equivalents by £20–£50, and Fitbit trackers (acquired 2021) now pair directly with Android without subscriptions. What sets them apart is search integration—ask your Google speaker anything and it pulls live answers, not just pre-programmed responses.
Top Picks
Google Nest Hub Max Smart Home Assistant — £150.00
Best for multi-room homes and families who want a central hub with a screen. The 10-inch touchscreen display (2280×1440 resolution) lets you control lights, cameras, and thermostats visually, make video calls using Google Meet, and stream YouTube or photos. It's the only Google display in this range with a built-in camera for video calls and security—a feature absent from the cheaper Nest Hub (non-Max). One-line verdict: Best value for homes needing a visual control centre.
Google Home Smart Speaker — £69.00
Best for small spaces and first-time smart home buyers. No screen, just a compact speaker (4.3 inches tall) that plays music, controls smart devices via voice, and answers questions. It's the entry point—Google Assistant works identically to pricier models, so you're paying for audio quality and form factor only. One-line verdict: Best budget smart speaker for basic voice control.
Google Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker — £129.95 (Coral/Champagne Gold or Porcelain/Silver)
Best for Android users wanting health tracking without smartwatch complexity. The Charge 6 tracks heart rate, SpO2, sleep, stress, and workout types (40+ modes) across a small AMOLED screen. Battery lasts 7 days; it syncs directly to Android and displays notifications without draining your phone. Available in two colour options (Coral/Champagne Gold or Porcelain/Silver aluminium bands). One-line verdict: Best fitness tracker for everyday wear under £150.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Standout Feature | |---------|-------|----------|------------------| | Nest Hub Max | £150.00 | Multi-room control & video calls | 10-inch touchscreen + built-in camera | | Google Home | £69.00 | Budget smart speakers | Compact form factor, full Assistant | | Fitbit Charge 6 | £129.95 | Daily health tracking | 7-day battery, AMOLED screen, 40+ workout modes |
What to Look For
- Display size and resolution: The Nest Hub Max's 10-inch 2280×1440 screen is crucial for visual control; the Home speaker has no screen, so voice becomes your only interface. Choose based on how often you'll check status visually.
- Integration with your phone: Fitbit Charge 6 requires Android for full features (Google account sync); if you use iPhone, you'll miss some Google Fit integrations. Google Home and Nest Hub Max work with both Android and iOS, though Android users get deeper calendar and Gmail integration.
- Audio quality and room size: Google Home's speaker is adequate for bedrooms or kitchens (single room); Nest Hub Max's stereo speakers work for medium living rooms but won't fill large open-plan spaces.
- Privacy controls: All devices let you mute the microphone physically. Check that your router supports 2.4GHz WiFi (required for these devices; 5GHz alone won't work).
The Bottom Line
Buy the Google Nest Hub Max (£150) if you have multiple smart home devices and want a visual control centre—it's the best value across the range. If you're budget-conscious and want only voice control, the Google Home (£69) is excellent. For fitness tracking, the Fitbit Charge 6 (£129.95) pairs perfectly with Android phones. All three products represent strong value compared to competitors' equivalents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Home worth buying in 2024?
Yes, if you want a basic smart speaker under £100. At £69, it's cheaper than Amazon Echo (Dot costs £39 but Echo is £79) and performs identically for voice commands, music, and smart home control. The main downside is lack of a screen—if you want visual feedback, pay £150 for the Nest Hub Max instead.
Can I use Google Home with non-Google devices?
Partially. Google Home controls any smart home device that works with Google Assistant—that includes most Philips Hue lights, LIFX bulbs, Nest cameras, Wyze devices, and 50,000+ other products. However, you can't voice-control Apple HomeKit devices or other ecosystems directly; you need workarounds like IFTTT integration.
What's the difference between Fitbit Charge 6 and other fitness trackers?
The Charge 6 tracks blood oxygen (SpO2), skin temperature, and stress—features usually found in £250+ smartwatches. At £129.95, it undercuts Garmin's equivalent trackers by £50–£100. The tradeoff: no caller ID, no app replies (notifications only), and no offline GPS (it relies on your phone's GPS). If you want full smartwatch features, look elsewhere; for pure fitness metrics on a small wrist device, it's excellent.
Do I need a Google account to use these products?
Yes. All three products require a Google account to function—that's how they sync with your home data, fitness metrics (Fitbit), and Assistant preferences. You can set up a family account so multiple people in your home can control devices without sharing a single login.
