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Google’s first new smart speaker in six years might finally have a release date

Google's self-imposed Spring 2026 deadline has come and gone without a word.

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Electronics, Speaker
Best Buy

Google has been unusually quiet about its Gemini-powered Home Speaker ever since announcing it in October 2025. I was expecting the device to make an appearance at the I/O 2026, but that didn’t happen either. 

Now, a product page on Best Buy Canada just casually posted (read leaked) a release date, suggesting the wait is almost over.

What does the leak suggest?

As per the Best Buy page, the Home Speaker might be released on June 25, 2026 (via 9To5Google). The page has since been updated, and the launch date has been removed, which is the kind of thing that usually happens with real release dates rather than placeholders.

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So, how do we know about the release date? Several outlets captured screenshots before the date was removed. Even though Google hasn’t confirmed the Home Speaker’s launch date yet, June 25 is just four days after spring officially ends on June 21, which adds more credibility to it. 

In my opinion, the delay is intentional. Google had to finish rolling out Gemini for Home to existing hardware before introducing new devices, and that rollout has been active since October 2025, with updates arriving three to four times per month since March 2026. 

What does the Google Home Speaker actually offer?

The device wraps a 360-degree fabric design around everything except the base, which houses a microphone mute switch and a ring of status lights, which glow dynamically when the speaker is listening, thinking, or responding. Some features, including brainstorming, require a Gemini subscription

You can also pair two speakers with the Google TV Streamer for a home cinema setup, and stereo pairing with existing Nest Audio speakers enables multi-room audio throughout the house. 

Google’s Gemini AI assistant enables natural language conversation, along with smart home control and automation. Priced at $99.99 in the US, it will be available in four colors: Berry, Hazel, Jade, and Porcelain. Availability is confirmed for 19 countries including the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Ireland, and Japan.

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