5 Google hardware alternatives that don’t force you to use AI

I’ve weathered a lot of changes to Google’s hardware lineup over the years, but since I picked up my Pixel 2 XL, I’ve cheerfully stuck by Pixel phones, thanks to their straightforward and bloat-free software. My relationship with Google Home products is a little more tenuous, but I still use Google Assistant daily to answer questions about the weather, set timers, add items to my shopping list, and more.

All that is about to change. Google will soon replace Google Assistant with Gemini on Pixel phones, with no option for users to reverse the change. Phones are first, but judging by Google’s announcement, Gemini will replace Google Assistant on all platforms. The only exceptions are devices that don’t meet Gemini’s minimum hardware requirements.

AI is tricky to avoid in 2025, but until now, Gemini and other AI tools have been opt-in. I’ve blocked Gemini on my personal devices since it was available, but soon, this will no longer be possible. So, if you don’t want AI forced on you but love Google’s hardware like me, here are some fantastic replacements for your Google products that don’t rely on AI

5

Motorola is the Android manufacturer with the least bloat

Time to consider the Razr again

There are plenty of fantastic alternatives to Google Pixel phones, but most will soon force you to use AI-powered voice assistants. OnePlus phones running OxygenOS 15 or later have Gemini as the default voice assistant, Bixby on OneUI 7 is now powered by Gemini, and Amazon and Apple are smoothing out the kinks in their AI assistants. Even Nothing has added a physical button that opens a ChatGPT-powered tool on its latest phones.

Soon, it’ll be impossible to avoid AI-powered voice assistants, so your best bet is to use a device that gives you the greatest choice between them. Sure, you can install Alexa, ChatGPT, or Perplexity on a Pixel phone to avoid Gemini, but you’re still at the mercy of Google forcing AI into every element of your Pixel phone.

The best alternative for your Pixel phone is a Motorola Razr+ or Edge device. Motorola’s phones have come a long way in the last couple of years, thanks to refreshed software and hardware that can compete with similarly priced Android phones. Yes, Motorola is rolling out Moto AI features on its latest phones, but as AP’s Stephen Radochia pointed out, Motorola doesn’t force it on you. You will have to deal with poor software support, but in an age where Android updates are becoming more meaningless (and crammed with more AI bloat), this isn’t much of a hardship.

4

Garmin offers the best Pixel Watch alternative

The Venu 3 is refreshingly free of Google’s gimmicks

As most of the best Android smartwatches are manufactured by companies with the worst track record for cramming AI into their phones, you’ll have to look further than the big names to find an AI-free smartwatch. Fortunately, there are plenty of fantastic alternatives that don’t force AI on you.

For the premium experience, Garmin’s watches are your best choice for replacing your Pixel Watch. The Venu 3 has a similar look to the Pixel Watch and can take calls, track exercises, pay via NFC, and play music from Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer. The Venu 3 doesn’t use Wear OS, so you don’t have to worry about AI features sneaking in through Wear OS updates.

If you want a simple smartwatch experience, Nothing’s CMF Watch Pro 2 is the best smartwatch at a two-figure price point you can buy. While it’s build is basic at best and flimsy at worst, it nails all the crucial elements of a smartwatch. It’s a great investment if you’re tired of feature bloat on smartwatches.

3

Switch to Sonos for your smart speaker

Straightforward music controls and voice commands

Setting reminders, adding items to my shopping list, and starting timers are a few actions I’ll have to give up by switching away from Google’s smart home products. However, my smart speakers are primarily for music. I love being able to control my playback while I’ve got my hands full with cooking or cocktails, but I won’t have to give that up by switching away from my Google Home speaker.

Sonos introduced voice controls for its speakers with built-in microphones in June 2022. This feature not only ensures your privacy by processing all your requests on the device, but also supports Sonos Radio, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and Pandora. Support for YouTube Music is limited, but if you’re moving away from Google’s products, this isn’t a huge downside.

All Sonos speakers with microphones support voice control, but they aren’t budget-friendly devices. The Sonos Roam 2 is the most affordable device at $179, but for the best sound quality in your home, you’ll have to shell out $249 for the Sonos Era 100. Nevertheless, Sonos’ smart speakers are the best choice if you want to avoid AI when you speak to your smart speaker.

2

Bose, Sennheiser, or Sony for your earbuds

Third-party earbuds offer greater choice for voice assistants

The last Google device I want to give up is my Pixel Buds Pro. I disabled Google Assistant support immediately after buying them in 2022, and I’ve never looked back. They’re a fantastic pair of earbuds (the touch controls are particularly excellent), but they are locked to Google Assistant (and soon Gemini). Voice controls are handy on earbuds while exercising, but unfortunately, there’s no good way to avoid AI on any earbuds in 2025.

Wireless earbuds in 2025 use Google Assistant, Gemini, or Bixby to process voice commands. Earbuds without direct voice assistant support, like Bose’s products, use the voice assistant you have set up on your phone.

If you absolutely need voice controls on your wireless earbuds, we recommend earbuds from Sennheiser, Sony, or Bose. These earbuds give you a choice of voice assistants, so you’re not locked into one AI ecosystem.

1

Home Assistant is the best Google Home replacement

Open-source and fantastically customizable

Google’s drive for AI in all its products has infiltrated all its smart home devices, including thermostats. However, moving away from Google products for your smart home is tricker than swapping out your smart speaker or earbuds.

Fortunately, developments in smart home technology have provided the perfect escape for AI in your smart home. All you need to avoid Google, Apple, or Amazon having a monopoly over your smart home devices is the Home Assistant platform. This open-source smart home platform lets you mix smart home products from various brands in one platform. It comes with its own voice assistant, which you can customize to fit your needs.

Once you’ve picked up the Home Assistant hub (or set up your own with Raspberry Pi), you just need smart home devices. Any device that supports the Matter standard is compatible with Home Assistant, which is thankfully most of them in 2025. So, if you desperately want to hang on to your Nest Mini speaker like me, you can keep the hardware while switching out the software that controls it.

AI is hard to avoid, but it’s still possible

Google’s phasing out of Google Assistant is frustrating as it hasn’t come close to ironing out the major flaws in Gemini. While I would be keen to work with Gemini if Google stops it from hallucinating (unlikely to be any time soon), forcing me to use the AI assistant will make my day-to-day life even more frustrating. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternative products that let you have control over the amount of AI in your life.