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Exclusive: Google is developing a higher-end Google Home ‘Max’ w/ stereo speakers

Google is developing a larger, higher-quality, and assumably higher-priced Google Home that would take on the likes of the Sonos Play:3, according to two sources familiar with the project. Both sources say that the device has stereo speakers, while one shared an internal name: Google Home “Max”.

We’re not sure on its feature set or design, but we’re told it has stereo speakers, which likely means a singular unit with dual mid-range drivers and perhaps a single tweeter — or some similar setup. In terms of its outer appearance, we’re only told that it’s “premium” in both design and materials. And yes, a source said that Google Home “Max” is certainly a tentative name.

The product also made an appearance, according to an anonymous tip we received earlier this year, in a focus group held by Google alongside products that might sound familiar after recent leaks: a smaller Google Home, a premium Chrome OS laptop, and other products, including a pair of smart headphones.

We’re not sure on the product’s stage of development, and it’s not clear whether it will be announced on October 4th alongside the recently-leaked Google Home Mini, the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones, and the “Pixelbook” Chrome OS laptop. One source simply said that it was a “possibility.”

Announcing the product now and shipping it later this year might make sense from a strategic point of view, since the Apple HomePod is launching in December. But this speculative guess at a timeline is fuzzy at best, and plans can quickly change. At this point we simply don’t know.

Regardless, it’s clear that Google is highly-interested in expanding the Google Assistant’s reach in your home through dedicated hardware. Especially with the Apple HomePod coming to market as a premium smart speaker more intentionally geared toward high-quality music playback, it would make sense for Google to introduce an Assistant-powered offering with similar strengths.

We’ve reached out to Google for comment, but have yet to hear back.


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Avatar for Stephen Hall Stephen Hall

Stephen is Growth Director at 9to5. If you want to get in touch, follow me on Twitter. Or, email at stephen (at) 9to5mac (dot) com, or an encrypted email at hallstephenj (at) protonmail (dot) com.