The Newest Upgrades for the Home

New: Google's first new smart speaker in six years went on sale June 25, 2026. It's built around Gemini for Home, so it handles follow-up questions, corrections mid-sentence and multi-part requests. It also works as a Matter controller and Thread border router, plays 360-degree sound, and has a physical mic-mute switch.

Upgrades: A Nest Audio, Nest Mini or original Google Home

Skip if: Their home runs on Alexa or Apple Home. Gemini Live and some advanced features need Google Home Premium after the included six-month trial ($10/month or $100/year); timers, music and basic smart-home commands work without it. Smart-home enthusiasts note it supports Thread 1.3, not the newer 1.4.

New: Ninja's new prep system chops, purées, slices, shreds and crinkle-cuts with a 500-watt motor. It comes with 5-cup and 7-cup bowls that double as storage containers, two lids, and a three-part feed chute with pushers for different-size ingredients. It launched in the US in early October 2026.

Upgrades: An old food processor in the back of the cabinet, or a box grater

Skip if: They already use a full-size food processor: this is a smaller, compact unit. It's brand new, so there are launch reports but no long-term reviews yet. Dicing needs the $229.99 bundle or the separate kit. In the US it's sold through SharkNinja and Walmart for now.

New: Google's current Learning Thermostat has a 2.7-inch screen about 60% larger than the 3rd gen's, a Nest Temperature Sensor in the box, and Matter support so it also works with Apple Home, Alexa and SmartThings. Smart Schedule and Adaptive Eco adjust to their routine. It was the first redesign in almost a decade, and it's still the newest model.

Upgrades: A 3rd-gen Nest, or an old programmable thermostat nobody can work

Skip if: They rent, or you don't know their system: it works with most 24-volt HVAC setups but not all, and some homes need a C-wire. Have them run Google's compatibility check first. If their 3rd-gen Nest works, the changes are mostly the screen and the sensor. It needs installing.

New: Caraway's first coffee maker launched September 22, 2026. The company says no plastic is in the brew path: it runs through stainless-steel tubing into a steel basket and a glass carafe. It brews 2 to 10 cups, keeps coffee warm for up to 90 minutes, runs from one dial, and has a built-in clean and descale cycle. Shipping began in late October.

Upgrades: A plastic drip machine from the grocery store

Skip if: $495 is a lot for drip coffee, and it hasn't had full independent taste reviews yet. It's one dial: no app and no detailed brew settings. Only Caraway and Crate & Barrel sell it, and Crate & Barrel lists it as pre-order. If they have a drip machine they love, they don't need this.

New: Dyson's new vacuum-only robot, out in September 2026, has 21,000 Pa suction, LiDAR mapping with laser obstacle avoidance, and a self-emptying dock with a bagless cyclonic bin, so there are no dust bags to buy. Dyson says the dock holds up to 90 days of debris. It runs up to 60 minutes and climbs thresholds up to 0.79 inches.

Upgrades: An older Roomba, or a robot whose bin needs emptying every run

Skip if: They want mopping: Dyson's R2 Nurovi Wash+Dry ($699, a Costco exclusive) adds mop pads. Its 21,000 Pa is lower than many rivals around this price, and at 3.78 inches tall it may not fit under low sofas. It's new, so there are no long-term reviews yet.