Gemini vs Google Assistant: What Changed in 2026
Google Assistant is gone from Android phones. Here is the timeline, which devices still run Assistant, how Gemini compares and whether you should pay for it.
By , research by the BestBots team · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
Gemini has replaced Google Assistant on Android. Google began switching phones, tablets, Wear OS watches, earbuds and Android Auto to Gemini on September 4, 2026, and the option to switch back is gone. Gemini is far better at questions, writing and conversation and is free on your phone. Nest speakers and cars with Google built in kept Assistant for now.
Gemini4.5
Gemini for Home4.2The timeline
- March 2025: Google announced it would move mobile users from Assistant to Gemini "over the coming months," including tablets, cars and paired devices such as headphones and watches, and would stop offering Assistant for new downloads.
- December 2025: Google pushed the deadline into 2026, saying it would keep upgrading devices through the year rather than finishing by the end of 2025.
- August 2026: Google announced the final timeline and emailed users that Assistant on mobile was being discontinued.
- September 4, 2026: The switch began. Updates reached devices over the following weeks.
- Late September 2026: 9to5Google reported Assistant gone on every device and account it checked in the US and Europe, and the Switch to Google Assistant option removed from the Gemini app.
Which devices changed
| Device | Status in October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Android phones | Gemini only; switching back removed |
| Android tablets | Gemini |
| Wear OS watches | Gemini |
| Compatible earbuds and headphones | Gemini |
| Android Auto (phone projection) | Gemini |
| Cars with Google built in (Android Automotive) | Still Google Assistant for now |
| Nest and Google Home speakers and displays | Not changed by the phone switch; Gemini for Home rolling out separately |
| Phones that cannot run Gemini | Keep Assistant for now |
Sources: Google's announcement and community notice, 9to5Google and Chrome Unboxed, as cited below.
Gemini vs Google Assistant compared
| Google Assistant | Gemini | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Command system with fixed actions | Large language model that also runs device actions |
| Open questions and explanations | Short web answers | Full conversations, follow ups, reasoning |
| Writing and summarizing | No | Yes, plus Gemini in Gmail and Docs on paid plans |
| Voice conversation | Turn by turn commands | Gemini Live, free |
| Research | No | Deep Research, free |
| Images | No | Image generation and editing, free |
| Timers, music, lock screen actions | Yes | Yes, added before the switch per Google |
| Smart home control | Yes | Yes on phones; Nest devices via Gemini for Home |
| Price | Free | Free; AI Plus $4.99, AI Pro $19.99 |
Where Gemini is clearly better: anything that needs understanding. Ask it to explain a bill, draft a reply, plan a trip or compare two products and it answers in full. It also reads what is on your screen and works across Google apps.
Where users report problems: speed on simple commands and a handful of tasks Assistant handled. One example reported to 9to5Google is "navigate to a contact's house" in Android Auto using the address saved in Contacts. Reports like this are anecdotes, but if you rely on a specific routine, test it after the update.
What Gemini costs on Android
The assistant on your phone is free. The free plan uses Flash-Lite and includes Gemini Live, Deep Research, Canvas, Gems and image generation. Paid Google AI plans add more:
| Plan | Price | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Flash-Lite, Deep Research, Gemini Live, images, 15 GB storage |
| Google AI Plus | $4.99 a month | Flash, 2x usage, video generation, Gemini in Gmail, 400 GB storage |
| Google AI Pro | $19.99 a month | Gemini 4 Argon, 4x usage, Gemini in Gmail and Docs, Jules, 5 TB storage, YouTube Premium Lite |
| Google AI Ultra | $99.99 or $199.99 a month | 5x or 20x Pro usage, highest model access, 20 TB storage and up |
Prices from Google's subscriptions page in October 2026. If you already pay for Google One storage, AI Pro replaces it. Full detail in our Gemini review and Gemini pricing.
What about Nest speakers and displays
The September 2026 change covered phones and paired devices, not the home. Google said Nest and Google Home speakers and displays were not changed. On those devices, Google offers Gemini for Home: the base voice assistant is free on compatible devices, and Gemini Live plus Help me create automations need Google Home Premium at $10 a month or $100 a year (Advanced is $20 a month). Google AI Pro includes Home Premium Standard, and AI Ultra includes Advanced. Compare it with Apple's option in Siri vs Gemini for Home.
Should you keep Gemini or use something else
Keep Gemini for the phone itself; it is the only assistant with Android's system shortcuts and Google app access. If you want a second assistant for writing, images or coding, ChatGPT and Claude both have Android apps and free plans, and Android lets you change the default assistant app in Settings under Default apps. Our best AI assistant for Android guide ranks the options, and ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini compares the big three.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gemini replacing Google Assistant?
Yes, on mobile it already has. Google began removing Assistant from Android phones, tablets and paired devices on September 4, 2026, after delaying the change from 2025. Saying Hey Google or long pressing the power button now opens Gemini.
Can I switch back to Google Assistant?
Not on most phones. The Gemini app removed the Switch to Google Assistant option starting with Google app version 17.60 stable and 17.62 beta, per 9to5Google. Phones that cannot run Gemini kept Assistant for now.
Do Nest speakers still use Google Assistant?
Google said Nest and Google Home speakers and displays were not changed in the September 2026 phone switch. Google is rolling out Gemini for Home on those devices separately, free for the base assistant, with Gemini Live in Google Home Premium from $10 a month.
Is Gemini better than Google Assistant?
For questions, writing, summarizing and conversation, yes by a wide margin, since Gemini is a large language model and Assistant was a command system. For quick device commands, some users report Gemini is slower or misses tasks Assistant handled, such as navigating to a contact's address in Android Auto.
Does Gemini cost money?
No for the assistant on your phone. The free plan includes Gemini Live, Deep Research and image generation. Google AI Plus at $4.99 a month doubles usage and adds video generation, and AI Pro at $19.99 adds Gemini 4 Argon, Gmail and Docs integration and 5 TB of storage.
Does Gemini work in Android Auto?
Yes. Android Auto moved to Gemini with the September 2026 change. Vehicles with Google built in, which run Android Automotive, kept Google Assistant for now, according to Chrome Unboxed.
Can Gemini set timers and play music like Assistant?
Yes. When Google announced the move, it said Gemini had added commonly requested Assistant features such as playing music, setting timers and taking actions from the lock screen.