Walmart’s new ‘Onn’ speaker signals the return of third-party smart speakers for the Gemini era

Only a few years ago, it felt like every audio brand on the market was making a Google Assistant smart speaker. From JBL to Insignia to Lenovo, you had countless form factors and price points to choose from. Then, the well mostly dried up. Aside from a few premium outliers like the 2023 JBL Authentics lineup, the third-party Assistant speaker market has been largely dormant.

But as Google prepares to launch its own upcoming first-party Google Home Speaker, a new leak suggests that the third-party ecosystem is about to see a Gemini-powered revival.

The Walmart ‘Onn Smart Speaker’ leak

As spotted by 9to5Google, a new product listing recently surfaced on the website of the organization that oversees the Matter standard: the CSA (Connectivity Standards Alliance). And it reveals an upcoming Onn Smart Speaker manufactured by Walmart.

While Walmart hasn’t officially announced the device yet, the CSA listing gives us a pretty clear picture of what to expect from this budget-friendly Gemini entry:

• Gemini Voice Controls: The listing explicitly confirms it is a “Gemini-powered smart home speaker.”
• Audio Capabilities: It features a 10W speaker, Bluetooth connectivity, and seamless media streaming via Google Cast.
• Hardware Controls: The understated, cylindrical design features physical volume and play/pause controls, LED indicators, and a crucial hardware microphone privacy switch.

Expanding the Gemini Ecosystem

This unannounced speaker fits perfectly into Walmart’s recent hardware strategy. The retailer has been quietly shipping new, affordable Google TV devices to its store shelves without much fanfare, and an accompanying Onn-branded smart speaker would make for a compelling, low-cost smart home bundle.

More importantly, it sets a bit of a precedent. If Walmart is already queuing up a Gemini-powered smart speaker, it’s highly likely that other major third-party manufacturers are doing the same. As we inch closer to the official launch of Google’s own next-generation hardware, the smart home space is finally starting to look exciting again.