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Yes, the 2020 project appears to have been a genuine custom installation—but it was not an official Google feature or a simple wall-mounting job. The owner reportedly cut an opening beside kitchen light switches, placed a Google Nest Hub Max into the wall, and routed power through the wall. The exact construction method was never documented, and the clean appearance came with real compromises involving sound, electrical access, privacy, ventilation, and future repairs.
What the original project showed
On January 15, 2020, Droid Life reported on a Reddit-shared image showing an unnamed owner’s Nest Hub Max installed in a kitchen-adjacent wall. The display sat near light switches, turning it into a permanent smart-home control panel rather than another device occupying the counter.
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The report says the owner cut a hole in the wall and put the Hub Max in with power routed into the wall. It does not establish whether the unit was fully recessed, supported by a custom frame, resting on framing, or placed inside a purpose-built enclosure. It also does not identify the installer or document the electrical work. The image is evidence of a clever custom project—not a verified installation guide.
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A built-in display can provide a predictable location for recipes, timers, calendars, lights, cameras, thermostats, routines, music, and video calls. It saves countertop space and can make the device look more like part of the home’s architecture.
In a kitchen or hallway, a fixed screen may also be easier for several household members to use than a device that moves from room to room. Those are practical design advantages, but they are inferences from the layout—not measured performance claims about the original installation.
The Hub Max is a substantial wall device
Google’s official specifications list the Nest Hub Max as a 10-inch smart display with a 1280×800 screen. It measures approximately 9.85 inches wide, 7.19 inches high, and 3.99 inches deep, and weighs 2.91 pounds. It requires continuous power through a 30-watt adapter and has no battery.
That nearly four-inch depth makes it much more demanding than a thin tablet. A wall installation must account for the device itself, the DC connector, cable bend radius, a supporting frame, wall thickness, and any clearance needed for sound or ventilation. A standard single-gang electrical box should not be assumed to provide a suitable enclosure.
The biggest compromise is likely sound
The Hub Max is not just a screen. Google lists two 18-millimeter tweeters and a 75-millimeter subwoofer. Recessing the unit can block or redirect its speaker openings, alter the acoustic space around the enclosure, and create muffled sound, reduced bass, rattling, or resonance.
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Droid Life informally warned that putting the device in the wall could “sort of” compromise its speaker performance. That should be treated as an observation, not a controlled audio test. The risk is nevertheless credible because of the Hub Max’s built-in speaker hardware.
There is an important difference between three designs:
- Surface mounting: The device remains outside the wall and preserves the most of its original acoustic enclosure.
- Open-front recessing: The display is inset, but the front and speaker areas remain unobstructed.
- Fully enclosed mounting: The unit is surrounded by a cavity or trim, making audio degradation and service problems more likely.
If music quality matters, a surface mount or separate speaker system is usually a better choice than sealing the Hub Max into a cavity.
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Google lists a 30-watt power adapter and a 1.5-meter cable. The original report does not explain how the adapter, outlet, cable routing, or strain relief were handled.
Rank #3
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Do not treat a hidden extension cord as the default solution. Any in-wall AC work must comply with local electrical requirements and may need to be performed by a qualified electrician. A safer design generally uses an appropriately located, accessible outlet or a compliant low-voltage arrangement suitable for the installation. The adapter should remain replaceable, and the DC connection should not be sharply bent, trapped, or permanently sealed behind drywall.
Google’s cited product and specification pages describe the device and its power requirements; they do not document an official Google in-wall installation system. The project should therefore be regarded as an unofficial custom fixture.
Wall depth, framing, and support
Before cutting, the wall cavity must be checked for studs, wiring, plumbing, insulation, and other obstructions. The source article does not establish whether the wall was load-bearing. Its wording should not be converted into a claim that the project involved—or safely altered—a load-bearing wall.
The Hub Max weighs nearly three pounds, but the larger concern is how the opening affects the wall and how the device is retained. A proper frame should support the unit securely without covering the display, camera, microphones, privacy switch, or speaker openings. The frame should also allow the device to be removed without opening the wall.
Rank #4
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Camera placement changes the privacy question
The Hub Max includes a 6.5-megapixel camera with a 127-degree field of view and auto-framing. Google’s privacy information says a physical switch disables both the camera and microphones. That switch cannot be operated remotely, and Google says a green light appears when the camera sends video.
A permanent installation can aim the camera at a kitchen, living room, or entryway for years. Visitors may not realize that the display includes a camera, and a tightly fitted frame can make the physical privacy switch difficult to reach. Choose the position with the camera’s view in mind, and do not install the unit where privacy controls are inaccessible.
Heat, ventilation, and repairs
The available documentation does not provide a thermal analysis of the Reddit installation, so it would be inaccurate to claim that the Hub Max will overheat in a wall. Enclosing powered electronics can, however, reduce airflow and make faults harder to diagnose.
Do not permanently bury the device behind drywall or fixed trim. Leave a planned removal path, keep the power connection accessible, and avoid trapping the unit in a cavity that cannot be inspected. A serviceable custom enclosure is a fixture; it should not be treated as a one-time embed.
Best Value
- Google Nest Hub 1st Gen H1A – 7-inch smart display with Google Assistant built in for hands-free help, smart home control, entertainment, and daily organization.
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- Entertainment & Daily Help – Stream music, watch videos, view Google Photos, check weather, set timers, manage reminders, follow recipes, and get answers hands-free.
- Compact 7" Display Design – Great for kitchens, bedrooms, desks, offices, counters, and nightstands with a clean modern smart display design.
Placement details that matter
- Set the screen at a comfortable standing height and within easy reach.
- Check glare from windows, under-cabinet lighting, and ceiling fixtures.
- Confirm that the camera frames users properly for video calls.
- Keep the privacy switch reachable.
- Leave clearance from sinks, cooktops, steam, grease, splashes, and direct heat.
- Make sure nearby light switches, cabinets, and doors remain fully usable.
- Test Wi-Fi, touch response, microphones, speakers, and removal before finishing the trim.
Could you reproduce the idea?
You can reproduce the concept, but not responsibly by copying an unverified cutout from the 2020 image. Google’s published dimensions are a starting point, not a finished opening size; the required opening depends on the frame and the chosen support method.
- Choose a viewing position away from water, heat, grease, and glare.
- Inspect the cavity for framing, wiring, plumbing, and sufficient depth.
- Plan a secure frame that leaves the camera, microphones, speakers, privacy switch, and display unobstructed.
- Design a compliant, accessible power arrangement. Use a qualified electrician where local rules or AC wiring require one.
- Provide a way to remove the Hub Max and replace its adapter without demolition.
- Test every major function before closing or trimming the opening.
When a different approach is better
Surface-mounted Nest Hub Max
A surface mount is easier to remove, generally kinder to the speaker enclosure, and better suited to renters or temporary projects. It gives up some of the built-in appearance but reduces wall damage and service risk. A third-party mount such as the one referenced by Wall Mount Design is not Google-made and should not be assumed to guarantee acoustic, electrical, or device compatibility.
Nest Hub (2nd gen)
Google’s U.S. specifications page lists the Nest Hub (2nd gen) at approximately 7.0 by 4.7 by 2.7 inches and $99.99 at the time of the cited research. It is shallower and cheaper, making it more practical for a compact control panel, but it lacks the Hub Max’s 10-inch display and built-in camera experience.
Tablet-based control panel
A tablet can offer a broader app ecosystem and easier replacement. It also introduces charging, battery, kiosk-mode, and smart-home software considerations, so it is an alternative category rather than a Google-supported substitute.
Common failure modes
- Poor sound: Rework the trim to expose the speaker area, use a surface mount, or add separate speakers.
- No service access: Redesign the frame so the device and adapter can slide out.
- Bad camera angle: Reposition the unit before completing the wall finish.
- Inaccessible privacy control: Move the frame or choose a less permanent mount.
- Cable stress: Increase clearance and avoid sharp bends at the DC jack.
- Wall damage or unsuitable utilities: Stop cutting and reassess the location or use a surface mount.
- Cooking exposure: Relocate the device away from steam, grease, splashes, and direct heat.
Verdict
The project was visually effective and potentially useful, but it was a custom renovation—not a simple mounting trick. The original image demonstrates that a Nest Hub Max can become a built-in control panel; it does not prove that the exact method was safe, officially supported, acoustically successful, or easy to reproduce.
For most homes, a removable surface mount is the sensible default. Recessing the Hub Max is best reserved for a carefully planned, serviceable installation where wall depth, electrical work, privacy, camera framing, and speaker performance have all been considered.
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