Google Home is one of the pioneers of accessible smart home products and ecosystems. Integrated with Android and products from the Nest, Google crafted an excellent ecosystem that handles common tasks effortlessly. I’ve been deeply entrenched in Google’s smart home ecosystem for years. Still, there are key areas where it falls short. From slow command execution to missing smart home automation features, these gaps put Google behind competitors like Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. Here’s a closer look at the notable shortcomings and how Google can improve its smart home experience.
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Improved responsiveness
Why does it still feel so slow?
One complaint about Google Home is its sluggish response time, which negatively affects the user experience. In the Google Home app, actions like loading temperature controls or security camera feeds often take several seconds. This delay can make simple tasks, such as adjusting the thermostat, frustrating. Additionally, voice command execution suffers from similar lag. Even for basic actions like turning on a light, users might experience delays of multiple seconds, which is far from the near-instantaneous responses users get with competitors like Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit.
A factor contributing to this lag is Google’s reliance on cloud-based processing. Every command issued through Google Home is sent to Google’s servers for processing, which adds latency. While cloud computing has its merits, particularly in advanced features and scalability, the trade-off is a slower, less responsive experience for common tasks. A fast, efficient local execution system could mitigate these delays, making everyday interactions with smart home devices smooth and responsive. Until Google improves the local execution of its devices, users will continue to experience lag when using basic functions.
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An offline mode
The problem with cloud dependency
In addition to addressing slow response times, Google Home could benefit from reducing its reliance on cloud processing, especially for essential tasks. Currently, the system is cloud-dependent, meaning that if your internet connection fails, so does your smart home functionality. Even something as simple as adjusting the thermostat or turning off a light can become impossible during an outage. This can be inconvenient, particularly compared to Apple’s HomeKit, which allows certain automations and functions to work offline.
By introducing local execution for basic functions (such as controlling lights, locks, and thermostats), Google could improve the reliability and responsiveness of its smart home system. Amazon has taken steps in this direction with local voice processing for Echo devices, allowing them to function when internet speeds fluctuate or are unavailable. Google could follow suit to offer a seamless and dependable smart home experience.
Furthermore, the lack of local storage for key features, like security camera footage, limits the utility of Google’s smart home system. Currently, Nest cameras rely on cloud storage, which becomes inaccessible during an internet outage. Enabling local storage for footage would enhance reliability and provide extra security, similar to how brands like Eufy and Arlo offer this feature.
Additionally, Google’s implementation of the Matter and Thread protocols, which improve smart home interoperability, has been inconsistent. While Matter unifies smart home standards, users report unreliable device discovery and frequent pairing issues within Google’s ecosystem. Moreover, the latest Nest Thermostat lacks Thread support, which limits its ability to integrate smoothly with other smart home devices.
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Better audiobook support
Lack of seamless cross-device playback
Google Assistant offers audiobook playback through Google Play Books, allowing users to listen to their favorite titles hands-free on devices like smartphones and smart speakers. However, the integration of audiobooks within the Google Assistant ecosystem has room for improvement. Unlike Amazon Alexa, which offers integration with Audible, enabling users to pause an audiobook on one device and resume it on another, Google Assistant’s audiobook support lacks this seamless cross-device synchronization. This limitation can disrupt the listening experience, especially for users who switch between devices.
Additionally, voice controls for audiobooks on Google Assistant are basic. Users can perform simple commands like pausing or resuming playback. However, advanced features such as skipping chapters, adjusting playback speed, or resuming from the last listened position are not as intuitive or widely supported. Enhancing these voice navigation features would provide a more robust and user-friendly audiobook experience.
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Better support for smart lighting
A limited experience
Smart lights are a common use case, but nobody wants to toggle them on or off. You want scenes that set a mood or mimic the natural position of the sun. However, Google’s smart home ecosystem lacks that functionality out of the box. Users can control individual lights or entire rooms or, at best, use a routine to call on a specific scene built within bespoke ecosystems like Philips Hue. That’s not a user-friendly experience. Moreover, it contrasts with what the alternatives offer. While Apple lets you import scenes into Homekit, Amazon lets you create scenes with granular control over individual lights within the Alexa app. I’d like to see Google bring this feature into the fold.
Where Google Home needs to improve
It would be unfair to call Google’s Home uncompetitive. However, a few features hold it back from being excellent. Slow response times, cloud dependency, inconsistent Matter and Thread integration, limited audiobook support, and the absence of smart lighting scenes contribute to a frustrating experience. By focusing on local execution, better device interoperability, and expanded functionality, Google could transform its smart home ecosystem into one that’s faster, more reliable, and more intuitive. Until then, users may want to dabble with Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit to fill the gap in functionality.