A cheap Google Nest Mini is the perfect partner for your new Xbox Series X

Kinect is officially dead on the Xbox as of the new Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S with no way back. As a gaming tool it died out a long time ago but as a way of controlling the console with voice many folks kept hold of them. After all, what’s better than just barking a command to turn your console on and launch whatever you want like we’re living in the future?

Well, we are in the future and thanks to Microsoft’s integration with Google Assistant you can replicate all that Kinect voice command goodness for less with this handy Black Friday deal from Best Buy and from Walmart.

Setting up the Google Assistant integration is extremely easy on both the console and your phone or tablet, and isn’t limited to Android, either. iPhone users can also download the Google Home app and set this up just the same. The added bonus for Android users, however, is that the integrated Google Assistant on your smartphone can also act as a remote for your Xbox console, too. Pretty nifty, huh?

The Nest Mini itself isn’t a bad little speaker, either. It’s hardly audiophile quality sound but it’s not bad at all and has a ton of volume. Besides barking at your Xbox to launch your favorite games or media apps, it’s also handy for controlling an actually ridiculous number of smart home devices, playing music from sources like Spotify or YouTube Music, listening to podcasts, helping you manage your day and so much more.

Ordinarily you’ll be asked to part with $50 for one of these, not at all unreasonable for what you’re getting. But in the Best Buy early Black Friday sale you can shave $20 off that, which makes it an absolute no brainer. It also makes a perfect gift for the Xbox lover in your life as we enter the holiday season.

If you’re looking to bundle up and save on multiple devices, Best Buy has some great Nest bundles on discount. One of the highlights is the Nest Mini plus Lenovo Smart Clock for just $65. The Smart Clock is like a smaller version of the Nest Hub, giving you all the power of Google Assistant along with a display and a charging port for your smartphone. It also doesn’t have a camera, which is an important privacy factor for something you may well put in your bedroom.