The second generation Google Nest Hub can track your sleep

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 17 March 2021

Google today took the wraps of its second generation Google Nest Hub smart display, and while in many ways, it's rather similar to the original, it has a rather significant change: it can track your sleep.

If you pop your new Google Nest Hub on your bedside table, the smart display can gauge the quality of your ZZZs using Motion Sense technology similar to what was found in the Pixel 4. The Nest Hub has a miniature radar inside it that can detect movement of a human's body, and when coupled with audio input to monitor snores and coughs, Google says its new smart display can provide detailed metrics on your sleep without the need for a wearable device.

The key metrics you'll get are sleep time, restlessness, whether you were snoring or coughing, as well as details of light changes in your room. The Nest Hub can also track weekly trends and will give you a recommended sleep schedule after your first 14 days off use.

Of course, there are a few caveats. The new Nest Hub can only track one person at a time, and you need to sleep in roughly the same spot of your bed every night. If you've got a partner who also wants to track their sleep, they'll need their own Nest Hub on their side of the bed. You also can't swap sides without recalibrating the Nest Hub (but what kind of monster swaps sides?). We're also not sure how the Nest Hub handles any animal friends that might enjoy venturing into your bed.

Sleep tracking is optional, and the functionality can be disabled at any time. You can delete your sleep data at any time, and there's also a hardware switch for physically disabling the microphone. Google says sleep data is isn't used for personalised ads.

While Google Nest Hub's sleep tracking tech sure seems impressive, one big question clouds it: pricing. Google says all Nest Hub owners will get a free preview of Sleep Sensing until next year, but was not able to clarify what will happen after.

A Google spokesperson didn't rule out Sleep Sensing becoming a paid service, and couldn't confirm whether some sleep tracking functionality will always be available for free. This poses a tricky question for consumers hoping to buy the Nest Hub for sleep tracking reasons - there's no clear guidance as to whether the functionality you're after will always work without having to fork out for another subscription service.

Sleep tracking aside, the new Nest Hub isn't dissimilar to the original model. It does however have 50% more bass, has Motion Sense gestures for tasks like snoozing alarms and pausing media, and supports the new Thread smart home device standard.

The new Nest Hub is available for pre-order from today for $149 ahead of a late March or early April release - a firm date has yet to be confirmed. That’s a tad cheaper than original Nest Hub pricing, which originally launched at $219. You'll be able to get it in a choice of Chalk or Charcoal.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

Read full bio