The Google Home Max ($399) is Google’s latest smart speaker, joining the Google Home and the new Google Home Mini, and it’s meant to compete against Sonos speakers and Apple’s upcoming HomePod. The Home Max has all the capabilities of its predecessor, the Google Home, but it’s housed in a more powerful, dedicated stereo speaker. It has two 4.5-inch woofers and two custom tweeters. It also has far-field microphones to hear you say “OK Google” even if your music is playing.
With the Home Max, Google also announced that it integrated “Smart Sound” into the speaker; it’s a new technology that enables the speaker to analyze ambient sounds in the room and determine the best equalizer and sound settings for the speaker. For example, if you’re cooking and the oven vent is on, the Home Max can automatically turn up the volume.
The Home Max is also Cast-enabled, so you can connect it to a multi-room sound system with other Chromecast speakers. Additionally, the speaker can lay on its side or stand up vertically. It has touch controls in case you don’t want to open an app to control Google Assistant. And it supports Bluetooth and boasts a 3.5mm audio jack (the new Sonos One doesn’t).
The Google Home Max costs $399 and will available in December. And with the purchase, Google is giving you a 12-month subscription to YouTube Music.
