Google’s Nest has prolonged been among the many most interesting strategies to get started throughout the smart home, by means of its much-loved Finding out Thermostat, however as well as by means of its differ of cameras, the model new Nest Mini speaker, and additional. Simply recently, Google expanded the Nest smart home gadget family, with the model new Google Nest Doorbell, and Google Nest Cam.
For our review of the Google Google Nest Doorbell, you presumably can head proper right here. For this review, however, we’re specializing within the battery-powered Google Nest Cam. It replaces the previous-generation Nest Cam, has a battery for wired or wi-fi use, and works indoors and open air. Nonetheless does it actually perform in a world of more and more smart home merchandise? I’ve been using the Google Nest Cam to hunt out out.
Phrase, the gadget is obtainable in a wired-only model for $99.99, and in a floodlight model for $279.99. Every of those shall be obtainable for purchase “rapidly.” We’re specializing within the battery-powered model on this review.
Google Nest Cam (Battery) design
Google seems to be unafraid of setting up a large, unapologetic gadget right this moment. The Nest Doorbell is method better than you may assume — and the an identical is true for the Google Nest Cam. For a lot of, the size of the Nest Cam shouldn’t be an issue, nonetheless some may uncover it considerably unwieldy. The camera itself is considerably over 3 inches in depth, nonetheless with the table-top stand it measures spherical 5.5 inches tall.
The Google Nest Cam. Image provide: Christian de Looper for BGR
By default, throughout the subject, you’ll get a wall mount that works magnetically and allows you to articulate the camera to degree exactly throughout the path you want. It actually works very nicely — nonetheless it’s important to to keep in mind that there’s really nothing stopping any person from merely strolling as a lot because the camera and detaching it from its magnetic base, as long as they will attain it. It’s perhaps worth inserting it out of attain, if doable. Chances are you’ll get a desk stand as an non-obligatory accent, which retains the camera powered as properly. It costs additional though, and for many who plan on using your camera on this method, it could possibly be worth merely prepared for the cheaper wired chance.
The camera affords an all-white design with a black face, and it seems good. It’s clearly constructed from premium plastic, and under no circumstances felt low-cost or just breakable. It’s moreover weather-proof, so you must put it to use indoors or open air.
The side of the Google Nest Cam. Image provide: Christian de Looper for BGR
Throughout the subject, apart from the camera itself, you’ll get a USB charging cable and power brick. You’ll moreover get the acceptable gear to attach the mount to a wall. The desk mount is non-obligatory, and it comes with its private charging cable that allows you to at all times power the camera.
The 2021 Google Nest Cam is considerably cumbersome, nonetheless it seems good, and is well-built.
Google Nest Cam (Battery) setup
Establishing the camera is simple. You’ll start by connecting the camera to an affect provide. Then, you’ll should get hold of the Google Home app for many who don’t have it already. Faucet the button to connect a model new gadget, and the app must mechanically uncover the camera. Then, observe the on-screen instructions and select your preferences. You’ll be requested if you happen to want to enable points like Acquainted Face Detection, Presence Sensing, and additional.
The underside of the Google Nest Cam Image provide: Christian de Looper for BGR
Setting it up bodily is pretty easy too, counting on the way in which you set it up. To attach the mount to a wall, you’ll need to have the power to screw it in, so that could be considerably harder if you happen to want to mount it to a brick wall, as an illustration. I solely used it with the stand, so didn’t run into that concern.
Google Nest Cam (Battery) choices
Google is artificial intelligence agency, and that extends to the Google Nest Cam. The camera affords a wide range of choices that may help you larger secure your personal residence and warn you when one factor is fallacious. Sadly, however, lots of these choices are locked behind a subscription paywall.
Lets start with the included stuff, paying homage to object recognition. You can define train zones for points like doorways, and you might select the types of points that must be acknowledged in that zone. As an illustration, you presumably can select for the camera to doc video into your historic previous for many who see a person strolling by means of a door, nonetheless not if an animal is detected in that zone. It’s a clever choice to take care of event recording, and allows you to select utterly totally different settings for every zone.
The doorway of the Google Nest Cam. Image provide: Christian de Looper for BGR
The camera can differentiate between seen and heard events too, however that’s the place we start dipping into paid choices. Chances are you’ll get a notification in your cellphone in case your camera hears a carbon monoxide alarm, smoke alarm, or glass breaking, nonetheless solely with a Nest Acutely aware subscription. This doesn’t really make sense to me — it seems like a operate that must be obtainable to those with out a subscription too.
One different paid-only operate is Acquainted Face Detection. This operate can apply to specific zones or to the camera a a whole, and is obtainable to every tiers of Nest Acutely aware subscription.
There’s one operate totally missing from the camera — Google Assistant. The Nest Cam IQ allowed prospects to entry Google Assistant straight from their camera, without having to utilize a Google Home or one different Assistant-powered gadget. It may have been good if Assistant had been on chance on the Nest Cam.
The camera has you lined throughout the event of an affect outage, for as a lot as an hour. As a result of it has a battery, it obtained’t lose power, and it has ample on-board storage to doc as a lot as an hour of video, which it ought to add to the cloud when connectivity is restored.
Out of the sphere, the Nest Cam affords three hours of video storage, nonetheless you’re going to get further. Nest Acutely aware comes at $6 per thirty days, and affords 30 days. Nest Acutely aware Plus is $12 per thirty days, and affords 60 days, along with 24/7 video historic previous.
Google Nest Cam (Battery) app
Should you occur to haven’t used the Google Home app sooner than, it’s comparatively seamless and simple to utilize. It could be considerably powerful to hunt out among the many settings, like Train Zones, nonetheless whenever you get used to it, it’ll be easy. Moreover, the iOS mannequin of the app was considerably buggy in my use. Usually, it put interface parts over others, and usually it failed to indicate the camera on. The Android app labored larger.
Google Nest Cam (Battery) video
Should you occur to’re trying to find a 4K camera, this ain’t it. Nonetheless the camera top quality often stays to be steady. The Google Nest Cam affords a 1,080p resolution, with assist for HDR, at 30 frames per second. It has a 130-degree field-of-view. That’s not pretty as extreme as one other cameras in the marketplace — as an illustration, the Arlo Extraordinarily has a 180-degree field-of-view, though it’s moreover way more expensive. Nonetheless it’s not harmful, and most will probably be succesful to see what they need by means of this camera.
A screenshot of the Google Nest Cam’s video. Image provide: Christian de Looper for BGR
The Nest Cam moreover affords quite a few choices you’d rely on, paying homage to Night time time Imaginative and prescient, which suggests you’ll be succesful to see what’s occurring even when it’s darkish. Alternatively, a Nest Cam Spotlight is on its method, nonetheless we didn’t verify that out.
Usually, the video top quality was good. You’re not going to get the super-fine particulars that you simply’d get with a 4K camera, nonetheless the overwhelming majority of consumers don’t need that anyway. It’s sensible ample for a lot of use, and should seize what you need it to.
Conclusions
The 2021 Nest Cam is an outstanding camera. It’s large good, is versatile in setup, and comes at a steady price. In precise reality, barring the reality that it doesn’t embrace Google Assistant in-built, for many who’re trying to find a security camera in your Google Home setup, that’s utterly the way in which through which to go — however keep in mind that a number of of its best choices are locked behind a paywall.
The opponents
Arlo Skilled 4 Spotlight Digicam – 1 Pack – Wi-fi Security, 2K Video & HDR, Coloration Night time time Imaginative and prescient, 2… Itemizing Worth:$199.99 Worth:$179.99 You Save:$20.00 (10%) 
Accessible from Amazon, BGR may get hold of a payment
Should you occur to reside strictly all through the Google ecosystem and wish to make use of solely the Google Home app, you presumably can’t do larger. Nonetheless there are cameras that are considerably further versatile within the place you must make the most of them. As an illustration, Arlo’s cameras work with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Apple’s HomeKit. Should you occur to’re not firmly invested in a single ecosystem however, it’s worth each deciding on one as quickly as and for all, or looking for a camera which will work with various.
To be clear, for many who’re an Alexa shopper, it’s best to go for one factor from Ring or Blink. Should you occur to’re a HomeKit shopper, take a look at Logitech’s cameras. And, for many who’re a Google shopper, the Nest Cam is an outstanding chance.
Should I buy the Google Nest Cam (Battery)?
Positive, nonetheless supplied that you simply’re firmly planted in Google’s ecosystem, and want one factor battery-powered. The Nest Cam is a super-smart and high-quality security camera.
