Android Tablet or iPhone 14 Pro Max to control my Google Home setup?

Tech Talk Hardware
1

I’m just a newbie concerning my Google Home setup. So far I only have 2 nest audio speakers and a Roku attached to that setup. I’ve side loaded the Google stuff on an Amazon Fire Tablet 10 to control everything. I’m not sure I’m happy with that as Fire OS seems to break my Google setup so I have to re side load etc.

I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max I could use instead. And I’m also open to buying an Android tablet depending on the price.

Any recommendations?

2

If you have an Apple iPhone and an Amazon Fire tablet, why did you not buy Apple or Amazon speakers (not buying Amazon, with the advertising they push through those things, I’d probably avoid them as well)?

The integration is always simpler, when everything is in the same ecosystem. If you already have an iPhone, I’d try the Google Home app on that first, before investing more money, using the GH app on the iPhone is no additional cost, so you won’t lose anything by trying.

If you need a bigger display or it is unreliable, you can still buy a cheap Android tablet (I’d look at a respected brand, like Samsung, their A-series is fairly cheap), but the support, especially security updates, has been lacklustre on Android, especially low-end devices until relatively recently, so make sure to check the update status of the device, before buying.

I went with an Apple TV and Apple HomePod minis and they worked very well together, although my wife doesn’t like having the external speakers, so sound is now through the TV :man_shrugging: and I have put the speakers in my office and the bedroom.

3

Thanks for your response. I should have clarified that

  1. My Google nest audio speakers and Roku need to be on a different wifi network than my Apple Hone setup.
  2. I have decided to upgrade my iPhone 14 Pro Max. My new phone will be arriving in a few weeks. That’s why I said I’d be able to use my iPhone 14 to control my Google setup. But when I initiated this project, I didn’t realize I’d be upgrading my iPhone.
  3. I probably didn’t do my homework properly and didn’t think out my plan logically. AI (Gemini) told me that side loading an Amazon Fire tablet would be the cheapest way to go about setting up my Google Home app. I should have double checked that AI suggestions before buying the Fire Tablet.
1 Like