The Google Home Speaker hasn’t officially begun shipping yet, but a fortunate individual managed to acquire an early unit and share their initial thoughts. Overall, the feedback is positive, though there’s one aspect that might disappoint those concerned with ease of repair.
In case you’re not aware, Google announced the speaker in October 2025, with pre-orders opening last week. Priced at $99, it’s the company’s first new speaker in six years, prompting many questions.
A Reddit user spotted the device on Walmart shelves and purchased it ahead of the official launch.
The main issue highlighted is that the power cord is permanently attached to the speaker and measures just under 5 feet, a significant change from previous Google speakers, which allowed users to disconnect and replace the cable. The purchaser pointed out this as the biggest drawback, and it’s hard to disagree—fixed wiring can be a hassle if you need to replace it later.
To be transparent, Google didn’t hide this feature. As noted by 9to5Google, the Google Store includes a 30W USB-C adapter in the box and mentions the “captive cable” in the specifications. It just went under the radar for most consumers.
Regarding performance, the Reddit user reported that the sound quality is solid, with adequate volume and decent handling of mid-range and bass frequencies for a speaker of this size. They admitted they were comparing it to a high-end sound system, so it had a tough crowd to impress, but it still performed well.
The interface also looks promising. It features subtle lights on the top mesh to display volume adjustments, and you control it by tapping the speaker, similar to other Home devices. Setup was straightforward and completed in under 10 minutes using a hotspot with an existing Home account.
At $99, this speaker appears to be a compelling little device, despite the fixed cable, and offers a good alternative to the HomePod mini for non-Apple users.