Google Home is getting a fresh redesign, which shows Google baking Gemini deeper into the Home app.
The changes should result in a much cleaner layout, making it easier for you to make requests and setup routines, as well as more conversational control according to a new report from Android Authority.
What’s changing
The redesign centres on “Gemini for Home,” which is set to replace traditional Assistant-style prompts with more natural, back-and-forth requests. Expect a simplified layout too: the current Favourites tab reportedly becomes Home, with an “Ask Home” bar up top so you can type or speak a command rather than digging through tiles.
It lines up with Google’s push to make smart home control feel less like running scripts and more like having a quick chat; think “dim the living room to 30% and start winding-down playlist” in one go.
New UI highlights
Early screens point to a less cluttered grid, quicker access to common actions, and tighter camera integration for faster peeks at doorbells and indoor cams. That matters if your setup spans a Nest display and a few peripherals: the Google Nest Hub (2nd gen) review underscores how central the Hub can be to routines, and tighter app controls make it more useful.
Security-wise, the redesign arrives just as new hardware leaks hint at refreshed Nest cameras and doorbells; if you’re browsing options today, the Nest Doorbell (Battery) review and Nest Cam (Battery) review outline where Google’s ecosystem is strongest – but you might want to wait until Google reveals what its got planned.
Rollout and compatibility
Gemini is already creeping into Google’s ecosystem, with Gemini for Home slated to roll out from October 1 in early access. That should dovetail with the existing Gemini–Home linkup that lets you control lights, thermostats and more via the Gemini app.
In practice, the big win will be fewer taps and more natural, multi-step commands that span devices which are useful if you juggle a couple of displays, a thermostat and a handful of smart plugs.
If you’re still building a setup, the best smart speaker covers where Nest, Echo and third-party options currently sit on sound, microphones and smart home chops.
Opinion
Small change, big quality-of-life potential. If Google nails the “Ask Home” flow and keeps the UI light, the Home app finally matches the promise of a truly conversational smart home without burying you in tiles. The next test is reliability such as consistent routines, fast camera loads and fewer “try again” moments. If those land with the Gemini push, this redesign will be more than a fresh coat of paint.
