Google’s smart home comeback looks set to continue, with evidence suggesting its long-rumored Home Display is going to land soon.
After spending the past year refreshing its Google Home hardware lineup – from the redesigned Nest Cam and Doorbell to the recently launched Google Home Speaker with Gemini onboard, the search giant now looks to be turning its attention back to smart displays for the first time in years.
According to findings uncovered by Android Authority, code within the latest Google Home app points to a new Home Display with built-in camera functionality, potentially reviving one of the standout features of the discontinued Nest Hub Max.
Its report details a series of text strings referencing camera setup and recording features tied specifically to the unreleased display, suggesting it will be able to function as a full Nest Cam as well as a smart home control panel.
That means you could use the purported device to monitor your home, with support for event recording straight out of the box.
As with Google’s existing Nest Cams, users would reportedly receive up to three hours of event history for free, while a Google Home Premium subscription would unlock up to 60 days of event history and 10 days of continuous 24/7 recording.
The leaked code also indicates the Home Display will feature a microphone for voice commands, but it won’t just be listening for “Hey Google.” It appears the mic will also be able to detect sounds and log audio-triggered events, mirroring capabilities already available on Google’s dedicated security cameras.
The code also suggests users will be able to disable recording entirely. If they do, the camera would still provide a live view, but without saving any footage.
While software clues don’t always guarantee features will make it to a shipping product, this is the clearest indication yet of what Google’s next smart display could offer.
There’s still plenty we don’t know. The app code doesn’t reveal anything about the camera’s resolution, viewing angle or other hardware specifications and, of course, Google has yet to officially acknowledge the device’s existence.