Which Google Products Are Actually Worth Buying? A Review of Their Best Sellers
Google's current lineup balances smart home control with wearable fitness tech. The Nest Hub Max (from £150) excels as a kitchen hub with video calling, whilst the Fitbit range (£99.99–£199.95) targets fitness-focused users wanting sleep and activity tracking without the premium smartwatch price. Value here is genuine, but success depends on matching the right device to your needs.
Why Google?
Google has spent over a decade building seamless ecosystems. Founded in 1998, they've expanded beyond search into hardware through acquisitions (Fitbit in 2021, Nest in 2014). What sets them apart: integration with Google Assistant, deep Android compatibility, and commitment to privacy controls. Their products prioritise practical utility over flashy features—no gimmicks, no forced upgrades. They also back products with consistent software updates, which matters when you're investing in a smart display or wearable that'll sit with you for years.
Top Picks
Nest Hub Max Smart Display — £150.00
Best for: Families wanting a kitchen hub with video calling and smart home control. The 10.1-inch touchscreen displays recipes, weather, and calendar events. Built-in camera enables Duo video calls and Nest camera monitoring. Gesture recognition lets you pause music or dismiss alarms by waving at the screen. The microphone array is genuinely quiet-room sensitive—it picks up "Hey Google" from across a room without false triggers.
Nest Hub Max Smart Home Assistant — £202.99
Best for: Users who want the Nest Hub Max but prioritise the assistant and home control features slightly above display functionality. This is the premium variant emphasising voice control depth and ecosystem integration with smart bulbs, locks, and thermostats. Same display, same camera, but positioned for power users managing complex smart home setups.
Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch — £199.95
Best for: Fitness enthusiasts wanting detailed exercise tracking without the Apple Watch premium. The rectangular AMOLED display is crisp (327 ppi), battery lasts 6 days, and it tracks 40+ exercise modes with GPS accuracy. Sleep tracking detects REM, light, and deep phases. Waterproof to 50 metres for swimming. Syncs seamlessly with Google Fit and Android phones; works with iPhone but with limited notifications.
Fitbit Air — £99.99
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers wanting reliable activity and sleep tracking without smartwatch features. No display—just a clip-on sensor that logs steps, calories, and sleep. Lightweight (8g) and genuinely invisible on a belt or pocket. Battery lasts 10 days. Perfect as a secondary tracker or for users who find smartwatch screens unnecessary clutter. Syncs with Google Fit and mainstream fitness apps.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Standout Feature | |---------|-------|----------|------------------| | Nest Hub Max Display | £150.00 | Kitchen hub & video calls | 10.1" touchscreen + gesture control | | Nest Hub Max Assistant | £202.99 | Smart home power users | Deep ecosystem integration with Google Home | | Fitbit Versa 4 | £199.95 | Fitness enthusiasts | 6-day battery, GPS, 40+ exercise modes | | Fitbit Air | £99.99 | Budget activity trackers | Ultra-lightweight, 10-day battery, no screen |
What to Look For
- Display quality if you're buying a hub: The Nest Hub Max's 10.1-inch screen at 220 ppi is bright enough for kitchen counters, but not as sharp as iPad. If you'll use it for photos or video calls constantly, this matters.
- Battery life for wearables: Fitbit Versa 4 lasts 6 days; Fitbit Air hits 10 days. For daily wearers, 6 days means charging weekly. 10 days cuts charging to fortnightly.
- GPS accuracy if you run or cycle: The Versa 4 has built-in GPS; the Air relies on your phone's GPS, adding latency. If route mapping is important, the Versa 4 is worth the extra £100.
- Ecosystem compatibility: Nest Hubs work best with Android and Google services. iPhone users can use them, but miss some features. Fitbits work across iOS and Android equally well.
The Bottom Line
The Nest Hub Max at £150 is Google's standout value—a practical smart display that genuinely justifies its price for families wanting a kitchen hub with video calling. For fitness tracking, the Fitbit Versa 4 (£199.95) beats smartwatch competitors on battery life and accuracy; budget buyers should grab the Fitbit Air (£99.99) instead. None of these products are revolutionary, but they're reliable, well-supported, and priced fairly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nest Hub Max worth £150 compared to an iPad?
No—it's not a tablet replacement. The Nest Hub Max excels at smart home control, recipe display, and video calls. If you want general computing, an iPad is better. If you want a dedicated kitchen hub that doesn't demand interaction, the Nest Hub Max wins.
Which Fitbit should I buy—the Versa 4 or the Air?
Buy the Versa 4 (£199.95) if you exercise regularly and want GPS tracking, exercise variety, and a display. Buy the Air (£99.99) if you just want daily step and sleep tracking without smartwatch complexity. The Air is invisible to wear; the Versa 4 is your wrist computer.
Do Google products work on iPhone?
Yes, mostly. Nest Hubs work on iPhone for video calls and basic control, but you miss some Google Assistant features. Fitbits work equally well on iOS and Android. If you're all-in on Apple, these products still function—just with fewer deep integrations.
Is Google actually good value compared to Apple or Samsung?
For smart displays, yes—the Nest Hub Max undercuts iPad displays and HomePod minis on price. For smartwatches, it depends: the Fitbit Versa 4 is cheaper than Apple Watch and lasts longer, but lacks iPhone notification depth. Google competes on practicality and price, not features.
