Live nowPrime Day 2026October 6 to 7, 2026Starts in08d00h20m12sSee the deals
Displays · Head to head

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) vs Google Nest Hub Max

Full Smart Displays comparison in 2026

Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon and official Google site.
2026 verdict
Video calls from the kitchen are only possible on one of these smart displays, and that is the Google Nest Hub Max, which adds a 10 inch screen and a built-in camera.
Google Nest Hub Max
Winner
Google Nest Hub Max
$547.88
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
Its 1280 x 800 touchscreen is noticeably larger than the 7 inch, 1024 x 600 panel of the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen), and its 120 degree camera handles video calls and home monitoring. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the lower priced of the two and answers with what a camera-free device does best: a motion sensor that powers radar Sleep Sensing, a smaller footprint for a nightstand and four colours. Both are Google Assistant displays that work as a Thread border router and a Matter bridge, with dual-band Wi-Fi, a mic off switch and no Alexa, HomeKit or SmartThings. Choose the Google Nest Hub Max for a kitchen or living room, and the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) for a bedroom or anyone who wants no camera at all.
vs
Price alerts

Display prices change while you decide

We check the price of every Display in the catalog daily and email you the drops, whichever one you pick.

Smart home deals and news, straight to your inbox

Price drops, new releases and the smart home news worth knowing.

No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Please enter a valid email address.
Your subscription has been successful.
FeatureGoogle Nest Hub (2nd Gen)Google Nest Hub MaxWinner
Price$299.99$547.88Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Screen Size7"10"Google Nest Hub Max
CameraNOYESGoogle Nest Hub Max
SensorsMotion, Ambient LightAmbient LightGoogle Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
Rating4.24.2Tie
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Home AssistantGoogle Home, Home AssistantTie
HubThread Border Router, Matter BridgeThread Border Router, Matter BridgeTie
Voice AssistantGoogle AssistantGoogle AssistantTie

What the differences mean

Camera

The Google Nest Hub Max has a 120 degree camera for video calls and checking in on a room, with no shutter or camera off switch. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) has no camera at all, which is the point for a bedroom or for anyone uneasy about a lens on the counter.

Screen

10 inches at 1280 x 800 on the Google Nest Hub Max against 7 inches at 1024 x 600 on the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen). The bigger panel is readable from across a kitchen and makes a better photo frame on a wall-side counter; the small one is sized for a nightstand.

Sleep Sensing and motion

The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) has a motion sensor, the radar behind its Sleep Sensing at the bedside. The Google Nest Hub Max has no motion sensor, so the bedside sleep tracking is the smaller model's alone.

Size and colours

The Google Nest Hub Max measures 250 x 182 x 101 mm and comes in one finish. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is 177 x 120 x 69 mm and comes in Chalk, Charcoal, Sand and Mist, so it blends into more rooms.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) owners describe it as a device that earns its spot in several rooms: a photo frame fed by Google Photos, a kitchen screen for recipes, YouTube and music with sound they call surprisingly good for its size, and a bedside clock with Sleep Sensing. They praise quick setup, reliable control of lights, thermostats and cameras, and units still running after three years or more. The frustrations are about software: it does less than the Google Home phone app, the home screen barely customises, there is no app store, automations feel weak next to SmartThings and the assistant only handles major languages well. Sound-based safety alerts behind a Nest Aware subscription also come up.

Upgrading from the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)?

Stepping up from the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) to the Google Nest Hub Max buys a bigger screen and a camera: 10 inches instead of 7, a sharper 1280 x 800 panel and a 120 degree lens for video calls. You give up the motion sensor behind Sleep Sensing, the colour options and the compact size. If your Nest Hub lives on a nightstand, stay put; if it sits in a busy kitchen and you want calls, the Max is the one.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)
  • Google Nest Hub Max

Loading price history...

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) or Google Nest Hub Max?

The Google Nest Hub Max, for its 10 inch screen and built-in camera. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) is the better choice for a bedroom thanks to its radar Sleep Sensing and camera-free design, and it costs less.

What is the difference between the Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max?

Screen size and the camera. The Google Nest Hub Max has a 10 inch, 1280 x 800 display and a 120 degree camera, while the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) has a 7 inch, 1024 x 600 display, no camera and a motion sensor used for Sleep Sensing.

Does the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) have a camera like the Google Nest Hub Max?

No. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) has no camera, so it cannot make video calls. The Google Nest Hub Max has a 120 degree camera, with a mic off switch but no camera shutter.

Do both work as a Thread border router and Matter bridge?

Yes. The Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) and the Google Nest Hub Max both work as a Thread border router and a Matter bridge for Google Home. Neither is a Zigbee hub, and neither works with Alexa, Apple Home or SmartThings.

Who should buy the Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)?

Google households that want a compact, camera-free display for the bedroom or a small kitchen, with radar Sleep Sensing and a choice of four colours, at the lower price.

Who should buy the Google Nest Hub Max?

Anyone who wants video calls, home monitoring through the display's own camera or a larger 10 inch screen for photos and recipes in a kitchen or living room.

Full comparison table

Compare all 16 Displays side by side

You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Displays in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.

  • 16 Displays
  • 42 specs compared
  • 38 filters
Open the full comparison
More Displays

Top Displays to compare next

16 smart displays from 5 brands compared: Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub and more. Screen size, sound, built-in hub, cameras and prices.

All Displays
Google

More Google products

A sharper look at other Google products worth comparing.

Explore Google
Independent · Not sponsoredBrands never pay for placement or rankings. Affiliate commissions never influence our comparisons.
© 2026 Smart Home Compared
Search