Google Home's New Speaker May Be the Smartest in the Room

The latest edition of The Verge's Installer column spotlights what could be the new best smart speaker on the market. Alongside the hardware highlight, this week's roundup covers World Cup watching, The Bear catch-up, and a tempting Stanley Kubrick collection.

A New Contender for Best Smart Speaker

Google Home may have just produced the smart speaker to beat. The claim comes from Installer — The Verge's weekly recommendations column — which flagged the device as a standout pick in its 134th edition.

While the full breakdown remains behind the column's broader roundup format, the endorsement carries weight given the column's track record of cutting through the noise in consumer tech.

What Else Is on the Radar

Beyond the hardware highlight, this week's Installer reflects a characteristically eclectic mix of media and culture:

Reading: Deep dives into Polymarket misinformation and the Arts and Crafts Movement
Watching: Not Suitable for Work, heavy World Cup coverage, and a The Bear rewatch ahead of its final season
Playing: Hank Green's 4×3 puzzle game
Resisting: A Stanley Kubrick collector's box set — unsuccessfully, by the sounds of it

Why It Matters

Installer has become one of the more trusted weekly signals for tech-adjacent recommendations, blending gadget picks with genuine cultural commentary. A smart speaker callout in this context — rather than a formal review — suggests the Google Home device earns its place through everyday usability rather than spec-sheet dominance.

For anyone in the market for a smart home audio upgrade, it's worth keeping an eye on the full column for the complete verdict.