Our kitchen had a small TV mounted above the counter that we barely watched. It mostly displayed the time or played background noise while cooking. When it died, instead of replacing it with another TV, I bought the Google Nest Hub Max. Four months later, I can honestly say it was a better choice. The 10-inch display handles video calls with my parents, shows recipe steps hands-free, streams YouTube while I cook, and doubles as a Nest security camera when we leave the house. My wife uses it for Google Meet calls from the kitchen table during her lunch break. The built-in camera and speakers are surprisingly capable for a device that sits on a countertop. It's become the most-used screen in the house after our phones.
A 10-Inch Display That Does Everything
The Nest Hub Max features a 10-inch HD touchscreen with automatic brightness adjustment that looks great in our kitchen's mixed lighting. The built-in 6.5-megapixel Nest camera serves double duty—it handles video calls through Google Meet and Duo, and it functions as a security camera when you enable "Away" mode. Face Match recognizes who's standing in front of it and shows personalized calendar events, commute info, and reminders. The stereo speakers with a 3-inch woofer fill our open kitchen-living room area with sound that's leagues better than any smart speaker in this price range. Google Assistant responds to voice commands across the room even while music is playing, thanks to far-field microphones. I control our Nest thermostat, Philips Hue lights, and garage door opener directly from the display or by voice.
Specs
| Display | 10-inch HD touchscreen with ambient EQ |
| Camera | 6.5 MP with Nest Cam functionality |
| Speakers | Stereo tweeters + 3-inch woofer (30W total) |
| Microphones | Far-field microphone array |
| Smart Assistant | Google Assistant with Face Match |
| Video Calling | Google Meet, Duo, Zoom |
| Connectivity | 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Smart Home | Works with 40,000+ devices, Thread, Matter |
Kitchen Workhorse and Family Communication Hub
The Nest Hub Max has settled into three primary roles in our household. First, it's a recipe display—I say "Hey Google, show me chicken tikka masala recipe" and step-by-step instructions appear with voice-controlled navigation so I don't touch the screen with messy hands. Second, it's our family video call device. My parents call through Duo several times a week, and the wide-angle camera captures everyone in the kitchen without anyone needing to hold a phone. Third, when we leave the house, I enable the Nest camera feature and get motion alerts on my phone. The camera quality is good enough to identify faces and see what's happening in the kitchen and adjacent living room. The photo frame mode displays our Google Photos albums when idle, which my wife prefers over a blank screen.
Who Should Buy This
The Nest Hub Max is ideal for Google-centric households that want a kitchen-friendly smart display for recipes, video calls, and smart home control. It's especially valuable if you already use Nest cameras or a Nest thermostat, since everything integrates seamlessly. Skip this if you're in the Alexa ecosystem, if you need Netflix on the display, or if the idea of a camera in your kitchen makes you uncomfortable. There's no physical camera shutter, only a software toggle and a mute switch.
[rtg_buy_button url="/go/google-nest-hub-max" text="Check Price on Amazon"]Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Netflix on the Google Nest Hub Max?
No. Netflix is not available on the Nest Hub Max. You can stream YouTube, YouTube TV, Disney+, and a few other services, but Netflix has not released an app for Google smart displays.
Does the built-in camera work as a full Nest security camera?
Yes. When you enable the camera in the Google Home app, it functions as a Nest Cam with motion detection and person alerts. You can view the feed remotely and receive notifications. A Nest Aware subscription unlocks video history.
Can I disable the camera and microphone?
There's a physical switch on the back that disables the microphone. The camera can be turned off in software through the Google Home app, but there is no physical camera shutter like on Ring devices.
Does Face Match work well with multiple family members?
Face Match works well in good lighting conditions and can recognize up to 6 family members. It occasionally struggles in dim kitchens or when someone is far from the display. Each recognized person sees their own calendar, commute, and reminders.
Bottom Line: The Google Nest Hub Max is the best smart display for Google households. The 10-inch screen, excellent speakers, and built-in Nest camera make it a genuine kitchen workhorse for recipes, video calls, and smart home control. The lack of Netflix and the absence of a physical camera shutter are valid concerns, but the overall package is hard to beat for the price.
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