Google Consolidates Nest Devices into Google Home App Amid Hardware Decline

Google has completed the migration of most Nest-branded smart‑home devices from the Nest app to the Google Home app, allowing users to manage their hardware in a single interface. While the software integration marks a significant step, the move comes as Google phases out many legacy Nest products, including the Nest Protect alarm, Nest Secure system, and several camera lines. The company’s hardware strategy appears to pivot toward a limited set of new cameras, doorbells, and a rebranded Google Home speaker, all intended to showcase its Gemini AI. Critics note that the hardware reductions and performance issues raise doubts about the long‑term viability of Google’s smart‑home ecosystem.

Software Integration: Nest Moves to Google Home

Google announced that it has finished moving the majority of Nest‑branded smart‑home devices into the Google Home app. Users who own Nest hardware can now control their devices without switching between two apps, and the Nest app can be removed. The transition covers the "best" of Nest’s devices, though some features remain in a public preview beta program.

Hardware Retrenchment: Discontinued Nest Products

Despite the software rollout, Google is winding down sales and support for several legacy Nest devices. The company has discontinued the Nest Protect smart smoke and CO alarm, the Nest Secure alarm system, the Nest x Yale Lock, and the Nest Cam IQ series. It is also ending sales of the third‑generation Nest Learning Thermostat on its site while keeping the fourth‑generation model available.

These products, originally developed by Nest co‑founders Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, were considered category‑defining. Their removal leaves users with newer, Google‑branded replacements that lack the original design elegance and integration depth.

New Hardware Focus: Cameras, Doorbells, and Speakers

Leaks suggest that Google plans to release new Nest security cameras, doorbells, and a smart speaker on October 1st. The speaker will revert to the Google Home brand, echoing the pre‑Nest branding. The camera updates appear limited to a resolution bump to 2K, without a major refresh. Google’s video doorbell, while not matching the original Nest Hello, remains a top recommendation for wired installations.

Gemini AI and the Future of Google Home

Google is positioning its Gemini large‑language model as the core of the next generation of Google Home. The company hopes to embed Gemini’s conversational capabilities into its smart‑home hardware, especially cameras, which can benefit from AI‑driven vision and context. However, critics remain skeptical, noting that Gemini and other LLMs have struggled with basic smart‑home tasks such as controlling lights, running routines, and playing music.

User Experience and Market Reaction

Long‑time Nest users have expressed frustration with declining performance of Google Assistant, misfiring routines, and slow or incorrect responses. Google Home’s chief product officer publicly apologized for these issues, and there is an ongoing investigation into a possible class‑action lawsuit. The lack of new smart‑speaker releases since 2021 and the perceived stagnation of Nest hardware have further eroded confidence.

Analysts suggest that competitors like Ecobee and Aqara, which continue to offer cohesive hardware ecosystems, may be more attractive to consumers seeking reliable smart‑home solutions.

Strategic Outlook

Google’s strategy appears to shift from a hardware‑centric Nest ecosystem to a software‑first platform that leverages Matter compatibility and Gemini AI. While this aligns with broader industry trends toward interoperability, the dismantling of Nest’s original hardware lineup has left many loyal customers feeling abandoned.