The Google Nest Hub Max is losing some of its Zoom and Meet conferencing functionality
It'll still support Meet, just in a more limited capacity.
Google is continuing its shift away from smart devices by discontinuing support for Zoom as well as Google Meet meetings on its Nest Hub Max, 9to5Google reported. Some users have started receiving notifications that they can no longer join meetings from the device beginning September 28. The news follows Zoom's July announcement that Nest Hub Max support will end for the video calling service on September 30 — guess Google really wanted the services gone by October.
Google said in a statement that "support for joining meetings via meeting codes and links in Meet" is going away, but also noted that "There is no change to making 1:1 and group video calls to friends, family and businesses with Google Meet."
We were fans of the Google Nest Hub Max when it first came out in 2019, giving it an 86 in our review for features like its high-quality display and sound. It initially only offered Google Duo, but the subsequent emergence of the pandemic led to the rollout of Zoom and Meet, and the device soon became known (and bought) for video calling. Now, those programs are on their way out. Plus, Google stopped all game and third-party voice app support in June, and its Nest Cam still hasn't moved over to the Google Home app.
Nest Hub Max owners aren't pleased with the changes: One Reddit user said, "What will it become? A giant paperweight." Another user mentioned seeking a refund since the video calling feature convinced them to buy the device.
Update: September 18, 2023, 4PM ET: This story and its headline have been updated to note that Google isn't discontinuing Meet support entirely, it's just ending support for joining meetings via codes and links.
