Google Home Mini Debutes as the Echo Dot Competitor for Affordable Multi-Room Assistance

Most of you are fully aware of the Amazon Echo and its little brother, the Echo Dot. The system works well with one big center piece and a series of less expensive satellite units. Sure, one could use the Echo Dots as their own stand alone device, but the audio output just isn’t as grand. Google is now jumping into the smaller satellite companion game with the Google Home Mini. As one would expect, the device is a fraction of the size and a fraction of the cost. With the Google Home setting you back $130, they aren’t very cost effective. If you are like me, with a home that consists of more than one room, this price tag can easily add up if you are wanting total house coverage.

The new Google Home Mini will offer up all the same functionality that you have come to love from the Google Home, but in a much smaller package with a smaller price tag. The Mini will be available for pre-order starting today with a price tag of $49 and come in Charcoal, Chalk and Coral. Basically black, silver and red

Hardware wise you are looking at a device that offers up a small footprint with a 3.86 inch diameter and sitting just 1.65 inches tall. Looking at the image you wouldn’t know that the Home Mini also offers up touch controls to accompany the usual OK Google voice command. In the center, where the lights reside, you can long press to activate the mic and start dictating your orders. A simple tap will pause and resume what ever was happening. Tapping the left side results in a decrease in volume and tapping the right side will result in increase the Google Home Mini’s volume. As for sound, Google offers up a 40mm 360 degree driver under the fabric top.

The Google home Mini won’t be the party pumping device that the Google Home is, but it will certainly let you get your news, podcasts, ask random questions that you really don’t need answers to and control all those other connected devices you have hooked up in your home.

As stated earlier, the Google Home Mini will set you back $49 in any of the three color offering and are on pre-order today through the Google Store. The device officially goes live in various retailers starting October 19th. If you are planning to pick up the new Pixel 2, then you will be lucky recipient of a Google Home Mini for free. Not a bad deal really.

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by Stormy Beach via AndroidSPIN