Bose finally adds Google Assistant to its smart speaker range

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When Bose decided to take on Sonos in the smart speaker market last summer, the company promised that the speakers and soundbars would ship with Alexa, with “other voice assistants to follow.” Starting tomorrow, Bose says that one more voice assistant will be available on its smart speakers and soundbars, with Google Assistant support coming via an automatic software update.

Existing devices getting the update include the Home Speaker 500, Soundbar 500 and Soundbar 700. Bose also unveiled a mini version of its smart speaker, the Home Speaker 300.

The shrink from the Home Speaker 500 drops the barely-useful on-board display of the larger device. It was only used for things like album art while listening to music and I don’t think you’ll miss it if you decide you want the smaller device once it’s on sale at the end of June.

Bose still promises that the Home Speaker 300 has the “powerful bass and true 360-degree sound” of the bigger speaker, just in a smaller, cheaper package

Is the $140 difference in price between the Home Speaker 500 and the Home Speaker 300 worth the larger size and the screen? We’ll have to wait for reviews to trickle in for that, although my gut says “probably not.”

Image: Bose

How to enable Google Assistant on Bose smart speakers and soundbars

If you prefer to use Google Assistant instead of Alexa, the process to set up the Assistant varies slightly depending on if you already own one of the smart speakers or if you’ve just purchased one.

If you already own a Home Speaker 500 or one of Bose’s Alexa-enabled soundbars:

If your device is powered on and connected to your home network, the update that enables Google Assistant will automatically download and install. You’ll still need to enable it in your settings, so here’s how to do that:

1. Check that your Bose smart speaker is powered on and connected to your network
2. Open up the Bose Music app on your mobile device
3. Go to Voice Settings in the Bose Music app
4. Select the Google Assistant and follow the guided setup process

If you just bought one of Bose’s smart speakers:

This is probably the easiest way to enable Google Assistant, as the set-up process will ask if you want Google Assistant or Alexa as one of the steps.

If you’re an Apple household, you might have to wait for Siri control on your Bose smart speakers. Both models have support for AirPlay 2, so at least you can cast from your Apple devices while you wait.

What do you think? Interested in a Bose smart speaker? Happy to see Google Assistant on it now? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The Google Pixel 3a is randomly shutting down for some early adopters
• Bose’s best headphones don’t even play music, but they could help you sleep
• 2019’s AirPods will feature better bass and built-in Siri support
• Gmail has been keeping tabs on every single purchase you’ve made
• Mozilla’s Firefox browser is getting a much-needed speed update

Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.