Google Nest Minis are the most affordable way to make your home a lot smarter. First, they’re cute, like pastel M&Ms that you can place or mount almost anywhere. And as cute as they are, they’re also powerful little speakers that can communicate with you in all sorts of ways. And when you add the power of Google Home automations to that, it feels like you’re living in the future.

The affordability of the Nest Minis ($49, but often on sale) means you could reasonably deploy a fleet of them around your home. Put a Nest Mini in your bathroom, for example, to listen to music in the shower, and even change the song by shouting into the speaker while you shampoo your hair. A kitchen Mini can convert cups to tablespoons or remind you what temperature to cook chicken to. It can even read you a recipe, step-by-step. Having a Mini in my office is great for quick time checks, weather updates, and appointment updates. It can even send text messages, send emails, and make phone calls. Sadly, it can't dial 911, otherwise it'd be a great tech replacement for the elderly members of your family, but it can make a home a lot more accessible overall. (Technically, if you've also purchased Nest Aware, a subscription that covers Nest smoke guards, it will alert emergency responders to the Minis so they can dial 911.)

The second-generation Nest Mini comes in Chalk (white) or Charcoal (black) and costs around $49:

There are plenty of Google Hubs to consider as an alternative if you want video capabilities and an even more powerful speaker. But for now, let’s talk about how to set up one of these candy-colored speakers. First up, Google has a fantastic guided walkthrough you can use, perfect for sharing with your less tech-savvy family members. If you’re on your own, follow along below.