For the past few years, third-party Google Assistant speakers have all but disappeared from the market. After a late 2023 push by a few manufacturers, the category quieted down and new releases were scarce. A recent CSA listing, however, indicates that could change: the listing reveals a new Onn-branded smart speaker being developed for Walmart that uses Google’s Gemini voice controls.
The CSA, the organization responsible for the Matter smart home standard, lists a product named the Onn Smart Speaker. According to the listing, the device will support Gemini voice control and offer audio streaming over Bluetooth and Google Cast. Hardware details in the entry describe physical volume and play/pause buttons plus a microphone privacy switch. Internally, the speaker is said to include a single 10W speaker driver and a far-field microphone array for voice pickup. The listing does not include price or launch timing.
A Bigger Trend Taking Shape
This Onn device would arrive as Google prepares to relaunch its own Google Home speaker — the first major new Google-branded smart speaker in years. Walmart’s Onn speaker appears positioned as a budget-friendly third-party alternative that complements Google’s strategy in the same way Onn streaming devices have served as lower-cost options alongside Chromecast hardware.
Google’s Gemini voice system is already available on a limited selection of older Assistant-era speakers through an early access program, and the Onn listing suggests Google is again opening the platform to non-Google manufacturers. That would mark a return to a more open ecosystem similar to the Assistant era when brands such as JBL and Sony produced many smart speakers. The partnership between Walmart and Google on Gemini-powered smart home products is not entirely new, so the Onn speaker announcement fits into broader, ongoing collaboration rather than coming out of the blue.
If Walmart follows through, the Onn speaker would likely target shoppers who prioritize affordability and basic smart speaker features. The combination of a 10W driver and far-field microphones suggests a device engineered for voice interactions and casual music listening rather than high-fidelity audio. The inclusion of a hardware privacy switch for the microphone matches growing consumer demand for visible, easy-to-use privacy controls on connected devices.
From an ecosystem perspective, allowing third-party speakers to run Gemini again could encourage a wider range of products and price points. Increased participation from established retailers and consumer electronics brands would create more choices for buyers and potentially accelerate innovation in smart home audio. For developers and service providers, a broader install base of Gemini-capable devices could broaden the reach of voice-driven features and integrations.
At the same time, some questions remain unanswered. The CSA listing gives a basic hardware overview but does not provide details on software features beyond Gemini voice control, nor does it confirm whether the device will include local processing, what audio codecs will be supported, or how updates and security will be handled. Pricing, availability, and any carrier or ecosystem exclusivity are also unknown. Those details will matter for both consumers deciding whether to buy and for other manufacturers considering their own Gemini-powered designs.
Whether Walmart’s Onn speaker signals the start of a wider third-party comeback depends on how Google will manage partnerships and certification, and whether other brands see commercial value in building new speakers around Gemini. Still, the appearance of an Onn-branded Gemini speaker on the CSA database is a meaningful indicator: the smart speaker market may be waking up again after a long lull, and shoppers can expect to see more budget-focused devices alongside Google’s own hardware in the months ahead.