Short answer: the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen on measured sound quality, the Amazon Echo Pop on price. The Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen ranks #7 of 8 powered desktop speakers at $109.95. The Amazon Echo Pop ranks #8 at $79.99, $29.96 cheaper.
The case for the Amazon Echo Pop: The half-sphere design is compact and light at 195g, and it still gets the full Alexa feature set: on-board Alexa, Matter and Sidewalk support, and it doubles as an eero Wi-Fi extender adding up to 1,000 square feet of mesh coverage. The tradeoff: PCWorld’s review was blunt: despite a larger 1.95-inch driver on paper, it sounded flat and tinny with only a hint of bass next to the smaller-driver Echo Dot, and called the overall value proposition a hard no.
The case for the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen: Digital Trends’ review found it responds quickly, automatically raises music and response volume over background noise, and is built from recycled plastic. The tradeoff: Digital Trends’ main complaint was that maximum volume could be louder, and RTINGS’ independent review agrees, naming it their one real weakness.
Buy the Amazon Echo Pop if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Skip both if sound quality is the priority. There are better options higher up the 8 powered desktop speakers.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Amazon Echo Pop | Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79.99 each | $109.95 each Discontinued |
| Ranked | #8 of 8 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers | #7 of 8 in Small Size Powered Desktop Speakers |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery | No Battery |
| IP Rating | None | None |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Input | External AC adapter | External AC adapter (15W, DC jack) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (195 g) | 0.4 lbs (181 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes (Alexa) | Yes (Google Home) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch; no motion or temperature sensor) | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| Drivers | 1.95in driver | 40mm driver |
| Discontinued | No | Yes |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes, 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 3.8" x 4.1" x 3.6" (96 x 104 x 91 mm) (H x W x D) | 1.7" x 3.9" x 3.9" (42 x 98 x 98 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ | Google Assistant / Gemini for Home |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen compares with other leading options:
- Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Dot Max vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Google Nest Audio vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
- Google Home Speaker vs Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen
Prices on this page were last checked September 22, 2026 at 5:11 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Amazon Echo Pop: $79.99 each Amazon eBay
Pros: RTINGS’ 2026 testing found its Alexa performance rivals Amazon’s pricier speakers, easily understanding commands from a distance or in a noisy room, with a mic mute button and a balanced enough mid-range that voices sound true to life. The half-sphere design is compact and light at 195g, still gets the full Alexa feature set including Matter and Sidewalk support, and doubles as an eero Wi-Fi extender adding up to 1,000 square feet of mesh coverage.
Cons: PCWorld’s earlier review was blunt: despite a larger 1.95-inch driver on paper, it sounded flat and tinny with only a hint of bass next to the smaller-driver Echo Dot, and called the value proposition a hard no; RTINGS’ more recent test agrees on the underlying tradeoff, noting it can’t reproduce as much low bass as the Echo Dot Max and doesn’t get very loud. It also drops the motion and temperature sensors the Echo Dot has, has no Zigbee hub, and feels cheaper in the hand, being mostly plastic apart from the front fabric. It is mono, has no 3.5mm output or battery, and currently costs the same as the better-reviewed Echo Dot rather than being meaningfully cheaper.
Full Amazon Echo Pop review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Alexa) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (mic mute switch; no motion or temperature sensor) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 3.8" x 4.1" x 3.6" (96 x 104 x 91 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Discontinued | No |
| Drivers | 1.95in driver |
| EQ | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Alexa) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, TuneIn |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Alexa app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa / Alexa+ |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (195 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Amazon Echo Pop vs Google Home Speaker
- Amazon Echo Pop vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Amazon Echo Pop vs Google Nest Audio
- Amazon Echo Pop vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Amazon Echo Pop vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- Amazon Echo Pop vs B&O Beosound 2
- Amazon Echo Pop vs Google Home Max
- Amazon Echo Pop vs JBL Authentics 200
- See all 9 comparisons
Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen: $109.95 each Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Digital Trends’ review found it responds quickly, automatically raises music and response volume over background noise, and is built from recycled plastic. Its 40mm driver is clearer through the midrange and treble than the larger-driver Amazon Echo Dot 3rd Gen it was tested against, though the Echo had more bass and outright volume. A physical microphone mute switch is on the side.
Cons: Digital Trends’ main complaint was that maximum volume could be louder, and RTINGS’ independent review agrees, naming it their one real weakness. There is no 3.5mm or other wired audio input of any kind. This model has been discontinued by Google in favor of the newer Google Home Speaker, so current retail listings run well above the original $49 launch price as remaining stock sells through resellers. Discontinued.
Full Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| App | Yes (Google Home) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | No Battery |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes (3 far-field mics, hardware mute switch) |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 1.7" x 3.9" x 3.9" (42 x 98 x 98 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 40mm driver |
| EQ | Yes (Bass/Treble, via Google Home app) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| IP Rating | None |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Chromecast |
| Optical Input | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Wi-Fi multi-room, Chromecast built-in) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | External AC adapter (15W, DC jack) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Stereo | No |
| Streaming Services | Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| TWS | Yes (Wi-Fi stereo pairing via Google Home app) |
| USB Input | No |
| Voice Assistants | Google Assistant / Gemini for Home |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (181 g) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs Google Home Speaker
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot 5th Gen
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs Google Nest Audio
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Dot Max
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs Amazon Echo Studio 2nd Gen
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs B&O Beosound 2
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs Google Home Max
- Google Nest Mini 2nd Gen vs JBL Authentics 200
- See all 9 comparisons