Google & First Alert Launch New Smart Smoke Alarm

03/28/2025 Smart Home

Google has teamed up with First Alert to introduce a new smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, priced at $129. This collaboration follows Google's decision to discontinue its own Nest Protect smart smoke alarm. The new alarm is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing Nest Protect alarms, ensuring a unified safety system for your home.

Key Features and Compatibility

The First Alert Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm will be compatible with both the First Alert and Google Home apps. However, it will not work with other smart home platforms. A key feature is its compatibility with existing Nest Protect alarms. According to Ryan Park, senior product director at Resideo (First Alert's parent company), the alarms interconnect using Nest’s Weave communication protocol (based on Thread) to trigger all compatible alarms when one is activated.

This notification system extends to non-connected First Alert alarms, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The new alarms will be available in both hardwired and battery-powered versions, catering to different installation needs. They are expected to be available later this year in the US and Canada and are currently available for preorder at FirstAlert.com.

Replacing Nest Protect

Nest Protect alarms have a 10-year lifespan from their manufacturing date. With the initial launch in 2013, many users will soon need replacements. The new First Alert alarms are designed for easy hardware replacement, allowing Nest Protect users to upgrade their safety systems smoothly.

The First Alert alarms offer several features similar to Nest Protect, including automatic safety checkups, a "Heads-up Early Warning" system that provides voice and app alerts before an alarm sounds, and remote silencing capabilities via the First Alert and Google Home apps. The devices have a 10-year battery or a hardwired option with battery backup, aiming to prevent those dreaded 2 AM low battery chirps.

Differences from Nest Protect

Unlike the Nest Protect, the new First Alert alarms won’t function as a presence sensor for Google Home’s Home & Away feature or include a nightlight. While the design resembles Nest Protect, it lacks the same stylish aesthetic. However, Google highlights that the new alarms can trigger live feeds from Nest security cameras when an alarm is triggered, enhancing overall home security.

Technology and Connectivity

The new alarms utilize First Alert’s Precision Detection, an advanced photoelectric sensing technology. They connect to the Google Home and First Alert apps via Wi-Fi. Existing Nest Protect alarms will soon be integrated into the Google Home app, providing a centralized control point for your home's safety devices.

Competition and the Future of Smart Home Safety

The introduction of the Google Home-compatible alarm follows Kidde's launch of a smart smoke alarm compatible with Ring at CES this year. These new alarms work exclusively with the Ring app. First Alert will discontinue its current Onelink product line in favor of the new models, but will continue to sell its Z-Wave smoke and CO alarm.

While the expansion of smart smoke alarm options is encouraging, the proprietary nature of these systems is a concern, especially with the advent of Matter. Despite smoke alarms being part of the Matter specification, none of the recently announced models are compatible with the new smart home standard. The question of Matter compatibility for the new First Alert alarm remains unanswered.