Google has already confirmed that Gemini for Home is replacing Google Assistant on a wide range of its own smart home devices, from the original Google Home to the Nest Hub Max. But while the official list only includes Google-made hardware, it now appears that third-party smart displays are quietly being pulled into the transition as well.
A Redditor has shared a screenshot from a Lenovo Smart Display, showing the device prominently displaying an “Update in progress” message with: “Check back soon to get started with Gemini for Home.” The UI closely resembles the updated Nest Hub interface Google previewed when announcing Gemini for Home, complete with the new blue-green gradient banner and refreshed Home dashboard tiles.
This is notable because Lenovo’s smart displays were never mentioned in Google’s confirmed rollout list, which includes only first- and second-party hardware like:
- Google Home (1st gen)
- Google Home Mini (1st gen)
- Google Home Max
- Google Nest Mini (2nd gen)
- Google Nest Audio
- Google Nest Hub (1st & 2nd gen)
- Google Nest Hub Max
- Google Nest Wifi point
Google began previewing Gemini for Home late last month, including early access enrollment through the Google Home app. The preview includes more natural-sounding voices, updated blue/purple visual indicators, and a redesigned voice UI on Nest Hub displays. The full “Gemini Live” experience requires a Google Home Premium subscription, while the base replacement for Assistant is free on older hardware.
Lenovo’s Smart Display lineup, while older and no longer actively refreshed, remains in use among many Google Home households. These devices run the same underlying Smart Display platform that powered Google’s first-party hardware before the Nest Hub line fully took over.
The presence of the Gemini onboarding screen strongly suggests that Google is preparing to extend Assistant-to-Gemini migration to supported third-party displays, despite not publicly confirming this. The rollout could be broader than initially communicated, potentially covering any smart display running Google’s original Smart Display OS.
Given that Google Assistant’s infrastructure is being systematically deprecated, leaving third-party hardware without a fallback would be impractical. Extending Gemini for Home to Lenovo devices ensures the ecosystem remains functional, even as these displays age out of mainstream support.
Hillary Keverenge
2472 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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