12 Best Google Home Accessories 2017
Note: All the accessories listed below are compatible with all Google Assistant speakers, so you can use them with Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Home Max, as well as third party Google Assistant smart speakers.
1. Google Chromecast (Second-Gen), Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast Audio
Starting with the obvious, the second-generation Chromecast, along with its siblings, Chromecast Audio and Chromecast Ultra, are by far the best accessories for your Google Home considering their impressive set of features and pocket-friendly price-tags. These devices are designed and marketed by Google itself, and use the same Google Home App (Android, iOS), so you can also expect seamless integration with Google Assistant – the AI-powered, voice-activated software that powers Google’s smart speaker. The original Chromecast was always one of the best and cheapest ways to stream online content, and the Chromecast 2 improves upon its predecessor by packing in more antennas for better connectivity, a flexible HDMI connector for better ergonomics.
For the most part, the second-gen Chromecast is an evolved, more polished version of its predecessor, but if you want revolutionary changes, you can always opt for the Chromecast Ultra that supports 4K Ultra HD streaming and HDR content. It’s more expensive at $69 a pop, but is fast and powerful enough to stream all the resource-heavy content without lagging or frame drops. Buy: ($35)
2. Nest Learning Thermostat (Third-Gen)
To control the Nest Learning Thermostat from your smartphone with the companion mobile app that’s available on both Android and iOS. With the introduction of the ‘Works with Nest’ ecosystem and the ‘Home/Away Assist’ features, the Nest Learning Thermostat has only gotten better and more versatile, making it one of the best accessories you can buy for your Google Home. Buy: ($235.99)
3. Philips Hue A19 White and Color Ambiance (Starter Kit)
Philips Hue is pretty much the default go-to brand for people looking to buy smart lights, and for good reason. The Dutch company has been one of the oldest and most-respected names in the lighting industry, and was one of the earliest to spot the emerging opportunities in the IoT sector. The company’s ever-expanding range of smart lighting solutions have something for everybody – from the basic to the fancy, and from residential to commercial. You can buy Philips Hue bulbs, lamps, bowl lights, light strips and more, depending on your budget and taste.
Buy: ($140.48)
4. August Smart Lock Pro (Third-Gen)
The August Smart Lock Pro featured here is the third-generation offering from home automation company August, and comes with a round, cylinder-shaped form-factor that replaces only the indoor portion of your deadbolt, keeping the rest of the older hardware untouched. It lets you add an optional smart keypad, a CCTV camera and a Wi-Fi Bridge for seamless operation with its official mobile app that’s available on Android and iOS. Buy: ($279.99)
5. Belkin WeMo Mini Smart Plug
Plugs and switches are another category of smart home devices that’s seen a large number of entrants recently, with companies like TP-Link, D-Link and Belkin being some of the best-known names vying for the attention of customers. While there are many cool products you can buy for cheaper if you look around, our choice is the Belkin WeMo Mini Smart Plug that can be controlled via Wi-Fi without the need for a separate hub. The device comes with a dedicated mobile app (Android, iOS) that you can use to operate the device, as well as for its initial setup.
The WeMo Mini Smart Plug integrates with Nest Thermostat as well as Google Home, so you can use it to turn appliances on or off. Through an ‘Away Mode’, you can also schedule actions for when you’re away, by configuring the device to switch lights on and off periodically to make it seem like your house is occupied even when there’s no one at home. Buy: ($34.99)
6. Samsung SmartThings Hub
Of the many smart hubs available in the market today, the one that seems to have received the most attention is Samsung’s SmartThings Hub that can be used to connect a number of smart electronic devices seamlessly. The list of devices compatible with the Samsung SmartThings Hub is as long as it is varied, and it is growing by the day. As of now, the hub wirelessly connects hundreds of compatible smart devices including lights, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors, and more, allowing them all to work together seamlessly. It is compatible with a large number of brands, including Honeywell, Netgear, Halo, Phillips and more.
Although Samsung has released a dedicated SmartThings mobile app on Android and iOS, its integration with Google Assistant means that the hub can also be voice-controlled to operate your Philips Hue smart lights and the Nest Learning Thermostat, making it a great accessory for the Google Home. Buy: ($79.99)
7. Nexx Garage Door Opener
One thing that needs to be mentioned, though, is that there’s a pretty long list of garage door openers that are incompatible with the device, although, the company is offering to make an adapter that will allow your incompatible garage door opener work with Nexx Garage. You can download the Nexx Garage app from the Play Store or the App Store. Buy: ($99.99)
8. Nvidia Shield TV (2017)
By common consensus, Nvidia Shield is the best Android TV box available in the market today, and firmware version 6.0 rolled out to the device last month brought support for Google Assistant, something that was announced back in January at the CES trade show in Last Vegas, Nevada. With Google Assistant integration, you can now enjoy hands-free control of media playback, voice search and smart home control through your Shield TV.
Google Assistant can cast audio to the Google Home or other Google Cast speakers and, can also be used to play, pause, skip, fast-forward, or adjust the volume on your TV. It can also stream content directly from Netflix and other streaming services. While Shield is the first Android TV device to get Google Assistant integration, the software is also expected to roll out soon to Sony’s Bravia range of smart TVs. Buy: ($199.99)
9. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay A6
The B&O Beoplay A6 comes with multi-room support, which means it can pair with another A6 or even the (now-discontinued) Beoplay A9. The Beoplay A6 comes with two 14cm woofers (driven by two 60W amps) and a pair of 20mm front-firing tweeters (driven by two 30W amps), as well as a 38mm full-range driver. The device comes with native support for Deezer, Spotify and TuneIn, and is available in Light Grey and Oxidized Brass.
Buy: ($799)
10. iRobot Roomba 690
The list of commands that work with the Roomba 690 is admittedly on the shorter side, but they do take care of all the major functions for the most part. You can start, stop, pause and resume cleaning with the help of those commands, and even locate the Roomba or summon it to home base once you’re done with the vacuuming. Buy: ($324.99)
11. Sony Bravia XBR65A1E Smart TV
As for the TV itself, it has rich and accurate color reproduction and great details in motion rendering. Being an OLED panel instead of a standard-issue LCD (with LED backlight) also means a higher contrast ratio that make the pictures pop. Overall, it is by far, the most expensive Google Home accessory on our list, but if you’ve got money to spend, it’s also very likely one of the best.
Buy: ($3,998)
12. Slickwraps Skin
Slickwraps is one of the best-known brands when it comes to skins for smartphones and other smart gadgets, and you can buy a whole host of them in every different style, color and texture imaginable for your Google Home. The wraps are made from genuine 3M material, and according to the company’s website, every piece has a unique grain design that gives each device a different look. The skins are durable and protect the smart speaker from dust, scratches and small water droplets.
The Slickwraps skins be applied bubble-free and removed residue-free. You can opt for a wide variety of textures, including stone, carbon, metal, leather, hemp and more, while the color options are also quite staggering, and includes everything from black to pink and everything in between. While not all colors are available with all textures, the possibilities, still, are (almost) endless. Buy: ($26.95) SEE ALSO: Google Home Mini vs Google Home Max: Quick Comparison
The Best Smart Accessories For Your Google Home
