Smoke & CO Detectors · Head to head

Google Nest Protect (Battery) vs X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm

Full Smart Smoke & CO Detectors comparison in 2026

Data from the official Google and X-Sense sites.
2026 verdict
Premium all-rounder against a basic connected alarm: the Google Nest Protect (Battery) is the better smart smoke alarm, because it adds carbon monoxide detection and far more sensing.
Google Nest Protect (Battery)
Winner
Google Nest Protect (Battery)
Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
On top of smoke and CO it senses occupancy, motion, temperature, humidity and light, tests itself, lights a pathlight, uses Steam Check against shower and cooking false alarms, and works with Google Home and Home Assistant. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm keeps things simple and wins on upkeep: its CR123A battery is rated for 10 years against about 2 years for the Nest's six AA cells, it carries a 5-year warranty against 2, and owners rate it a touch higher. It detects smoke only and lists Home Assistant as its sole integration. Choose the Google Nest Protect (Battery) for smoke and CO in one unit with Google Home support, and the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm for low-maintenance smoke alerts on your phone at a lower cost.
vs
News by email

Still comparing? Get what's new by email

New releases and the smart home news worth knowing, in your inbox.

Smart home news and new releases, straight to your inbox

New releases, comparisons 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.
Tick the box above to finish signing up.
We couldn't verify you're human. Please try again.
Too many attempts. Please try again in an hour.
Your subscription has been successful.
FeatureGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke AlarmWinner
Rating4.44.3Google Nest Protect (Battery)
Warranty2 years5 yearsX-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm
Battery Life2 years10 yearsX-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, Other2.4 GHz WiFiGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Home AssistantHome AssistantGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
SensorsSmoke, CO, Occupancy, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light, MotionSmokeGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
AlertsFire Alerts, CO Alerts, Low Battery AlertsFire Alerts, Low Battery AlertsGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
Tests ItselfYESNOGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
PathlightYESNOGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
Steam CheckYESNOGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
ScreenNONOTie
Built-in SirenYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Carbon monoxide

The Google Nest Protect (Battery) detects smoke and carbon monoxide in one unit. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm is smoke only, so a home with gas appliances would need a CO alarm as well.

Battery upkeep

The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm runs on one CR123A rated for 10 years. The Google Nest Protect (Battery) uses six AA cells rated for about 2 years, so you will replace a set several times over its life.

Smart features

The Google Nest Protect (Battery) tests itself, adds a pathlight, uses Steam Check and senses occupancy, motion, temperature and humidity. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm has a siren, a light and phone alerts, but no self-test.

Google Home

The Google Nest Protect (Battery) works with Google Home and Home Assistant. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm lists Home Assistant only, with no Google Home, Alexa or HomeKit.

Warranty

X-Sense covers its alarm for 5 years, Google covers the Nest Protect for 2.

Which one to buy if

Winner
Google

Google Nest Protect (Battery)

Prime exclusive deal
Currently unavailable on Amazon USA
See on Amazon USA
  • + Rating: 4.4
  • + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, Other
  • + Integrations: Google Home, Home Assistant
  • - Warranty: 2 years vs 5 years
  • - Battery Life: 2 years vs 10 years

What owners say

Owners of both say phone alerts while away are what made a connected alarm worth it, and both describe setup as quick. Google Nest Protect (Battery) owners single out the spoken early warning that names the room, the monthly self-test email, interconnected units and the pathlight, with stories of real fires and CO caught early. Their complaints: it is expensive, it needs specific lithium AA batteries, the low-battery warning can arrive abruptly, stock can be old enough to eat into its fixed lifespan, and there is no Alexa or HomeKit. X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm owners praise how fast it joins Wi-Fi, its solid build and the replaceable battery. Their complaints are the lack of any smart home integration and an app some found English only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm work with Google Home?

No. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm has no Google Home, Alexa or HomeKit integration; it alerts through its own app and lists Home Assistant as its only platform. The Google Nest Protect (Battery) works with Google Home.

Which is better: Google Nest Protect (Battery) or X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm?

The Google Nest Protect (Battery), since it detects smoke and carbon monoxide, tests itself, has a pathlight and Steam Check, and works with Google Home. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm is the better value for smoke-only phone alerts with a 10-year battery and a 5-year warranty.

How long do the batteries last in each alarm?

The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm is rated for 10 years on a CR123A. The Google Nest Protect (Battery) runs on six AA batteries rated for about 2 years, and owners note it needs specific lithium AA cells.

Does the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm detect carbon monoxide?

No, the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm detects smoke only. The Google Nest Protect (Battery) detects both smoke and carbon monoxide.

Who should buy the Google Nest Protect (Battery)?

Homes without alarm wiring that want smoke and CO protection, spoken room-by-room warnings and phone alerts, especially Google Home households and families with pets. The Google Nest Protect (Battery) costs more and needs regular AA replacements.

AmazonOur store on AmazonShop our ideas on AmazonLists of the smart home setups we would put together ourselves, ready to add to your Amazon cart.Shop on Amazon
Full comparison table

Compare all 25 Smoke & CO Detectors side by side

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

  • 25 Smoke & CO Detectors
  • 44 specs compared
  • 41 filters
Open the full comparison
More Smoke & CO Detectors

Top Smoke & CO Detectors to compare next

25 smart smoke and CO detectors from 9 brands compared: X-Sense, First Alert, Kidde, Google Nest and more. Sensor types, interlink and alerts.

All Smoke & CO Detectors
Google

More Google products

A sharper look at other Google products worth comparing.

Explore Google
X-Sense

More X-Sense products

A sharper look at other X-Sense products worth comparing.

Explore X-Sense
Independent · Not sponsoredBrands never pay for placement or rankings. Affiliate commissions never influence our comparisons.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.

© 2026 Smart Home Compared
Search