Google's product range spans smart home displays and fitness wearables, and most are worth considering if you're already in the Google ecosystem. The Nest Hub Max (£150–£229) is the standout for smart home control, while Fitbit Charge 6 (£129.95) offers the best fitness tracking features among their wearables. Your choice depends entirely on whether you need voice-controlled home automation or daily health monitoring.
Why Google?
Google has been developing consumer hardware since 2010, starting with Nexus phones before pivoting to home devices and acquiring Fitbit in 2021. They specialise in AI-driven smart displays and wearables that integrate deeply with Google Assistant, Gmail, Calendar, and Android devices. What sets them apart is seamless voice control—their natural language processing means fewer mishearings than competitors—and free cloud storage for fitness data through Google Fit. Their Nest Hub displays use ambient EQ technology to adjust screen brightness automatically, and Fitbit devices now sync directly with Google Health data, creating a unified health dashboard.
Top Picks
Google Nest Hub Max Smart Display — £229.00
Best for households wanting a smart speaker that doubles as a video calling device. The 10.1-inch touchscreen supports Google Duo calls, real-time translation, and gesture controls (pause videos by raising your hand). 1280×800 resolution is bright enough for kitchen recipes or bedside info.
Google Nest Hub Max Smart Home Assistant (Charcoal) — £150.00
Best for tight budgets who still want the core Nest Max features. Identical to the £229 model in processing power and voice control; the price difference reflects bundle variations or retailer promotions rather than hardware cuts.
Google Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker (Coral/Champagne Gold) — £129.95
Best for fitness enthusiasts wanting detailed workout metrics without a smartwatch. 6-day battery life, built-in GPS, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking. The 1.04-inch AMOLED screen is readable in sunlight.
Google Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker (Porcelain/Silver) — £129.95
Identical to the Coral version; choose this if the neutral colourway suits your style. Performance and features are completely matched across both finishes.
Google Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker (Lilac Bliss/Black) — £79.95
Best for casual fitness tracking and budget-conscious buyers. Thinner than Charge 6, 10-day battery life, but no built-in GPS (uses your phone instead) and no detailed workout modes. Weight: 18.6g versus Charge 6's 29g.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Standout Feature | |---------|-------|----------|------------------| | Nest Hub Max (£229) | £229.00 | Smart home control + video calling | 10.1-inch touchscreen, gesture control | | Nest Hub Max (£150) | £150.00 | Budget smart displays | Same hardware as £229 variant | | Fitbit Charge 6 | £129.95 | Detailed fitness tracking | Built-in GPS, 6-day battery, AMOLED screen | | Fitbit Inspire 3 | £79.95 | Casual health tracking | 10-day battery, ultra-lightweight (18.6g) |
What to Look For
- Display quality for smart hubs: Nest Hub Max's 1280×800 resolution handles video calls and recipes clearly, but if you only need voice control and clock display, standard Nest Hub (not in this range) at £99 suffices.
- Battery life in fitness trackers: Fitbit Inspire 3 lasts 10 days between charges; Charge 6 manages 6 days but adds GPS. If you charge weekly anyway, Charge 6's features justify the £50 premium.
- Ecosystem lock-in: Both product categories sync tightly with Google Assistant and Android. If you use iPhone exclusively or prefer Apple HomeKit, these are less compelling—consider alternatives.
- Screen size matters for usability: The 10.1-inch Nest Hub Max is suited to kitchens or bedside tables; anything smaller gets hard to read for weather or news at a glance.
The Bottom Line
Buy the Google Nest Hub Max at £150–£229 if you want one device handling smart home control, video calls, and voice commands. For fitness-focused buyers, the Fitbit Charge 6 at £129.95 is the stronger choice—it offers GPS, longer battery than most competitors, and integrates with Google Health. The Inspire 3 is fine if you're just counting steps and checking sleep; the Charge 6 is worth the extra £50 if you run, cycle, or care about precise workout data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google's Nest Hub Max worth £229 compared to cheaper smart displays?
Yes, if you want video calling (Google Duo) and gesture controls. If you only need voice commands and a clock, Google's standard Nest Hub (£99) is better value. The Max justifies its price for multi-person households who use video calls regularly.
Which Fitbit should I buy—Inspire 3 or Charge 6?
Buy Charge 6 if you run, cycle, or want precise workout tracking; its built-in GPS is worth the £50 premium. Buy Inspire 3 if you mainly walk, count steps, and check sleep—its 10-day battery and lightweight design (18.6g) suit casual users.
Does Google Nest Hub Max work with non-Google devices?
Yes. It controls any device that works with Google Home (Philips Hue, LIFX, Sonos, most smart thermostats). It doesn't natively support HomeKit or Alexa devices, but most smart home ecosystems have Google Home compatibility.
Do Fitbit trackers work with iPhones?
Yes, Fitbit apps run on iOS and sync to Google Fit. You'll miss tight integration with iPhone health apps, and you can't use Siri to control them—Android users get a smoother experience.
