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Google Nest Hub is the first smart display to support Netflix

Google Nest Hub beats the Amazon Echo Show and Facebook Portal to the punch

22 Jul 2020

Google has announced that it's become the first company to bring Netflix to its lineup of smart displays.

Google will immediately add Netflix streaming capabilities to the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, making it a do-it-all household hub. You can get your streaming fix by linking your Netflix account to your Google Home or Google Assistant app.

The Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max will allow you to open and control Netflix by voice. All you have to say is “Hey Google, open Netflix” or “Hey Google, play Breaking Bad.” You can also pause and play using your voice.

If you have the Google Nest Hub Max, your controls get another dimension, as its camera allows you to use gesture controls. If you want to pause or resume your stream, simply look at the Nest’s camera and raise your hand.

While the ability to stream Netflix on Nest smart displays is nice, these are hardly ideal streaming devices. They have relatively small screens, 7-inches on the Nest Hub and 10-inches on the Nest Hub Max, and so-so sound, plus they aren’t something you want to carry around the house.

That said, they primarily live in the kitchen or your home office, which aren’t favorable spots for a clunky tablet. So, while it may not be your primary streaming device, it’ll serve well as an additional streaming device when you’re in these areas.