A new smart display tied to Google’s home ecosystem is starting to take shape, and the strongest clue so far is a device name that has quietly appeared inside the Google Home app for iOS. The name, “Home Display,” has not been officially announced by Google, but its presence in internal app code suggests the product is still under active development.
The discovery matters because it points to a possible successor to Nest Hub Max, a category Google has not abandoned despite the lack of a formal unveiling. Two strings in the Google Home app reportedly reference Google Home Display alongside other Google smart home devices, including Google Nest Hub Max.
What the app code actually revealed
The first public hint came from X user @aaronp613, who spotted the references in the app. Even so, the code does not expose the details that would normally help define a device’s place in the lineup.
There is still no confirmation about screen size, physical design, added functions, or technical specifications. That leaves the Home Display name as a meaningful signal, but not yet a full product picture.
A possible shift in design direction
The name itself has already triggered speculation about how Google may want the device to be used. Some Reddit users have suggested it could arrive as a wall-mounted smart display, which would set it apart from the more familiar tabletop and shelf-friendly products in Google’s current smart home range.
That idea has not been confirmed by Google, but it fits the broader impression that the company may be considering a different approach from Nest Hub Max. Until more details surface, the hardware format remains one of the biggest unanswered questions.
Why the timing looks relevant
Hints that Google remains interested in smart displays did not begin with this app discovery. Earlier in 2025, Anish Kattukaran, Google Home’s Chief Product Officer, told The Verge that Google is “committed to smart displays.”
He also described smart displays as an “incredible form factor” for interacting with Gemini for Home. That comment gives the Home Display name added context, especially if Google is preparing a screen-based device designed to work closely with its Gemini-powered home experience.
What the device may mean for Google Home
If Home Display is indeed a smart display, it would fit naturally into Google’s home ecosystem. A screen offers visual interaction, and that makes the category especially relevant for a platform like Gemini for Home.
For now, though, the evidence is limited to a device name in app code and a set of remarks from a Google Home executive. Google has not made an official announcement, and that means pricing, launch timing, and feature set are all still unknown.
If more concrete information appears, Google I/O 2026 may be the most likely stage for it. The event begins on 19 May, and it could offer the first clear look at whether Google is preparing a new smart display with a different design direction from Nest Hub Max.
