The Google Nest Cam Outdoor and Google Nest Cam Indoor feature improved hardware and AI smarts, but it’s worth crunching the subscription numbers to see if they’re the right choice for your home security needs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Compact Design | Fixed cabling could be problematic long-term |
| Sharper 2K video | Some motion alerts are way too sensitive |
| Gemini AI can detect a wide variety of things that pass its field of view | Gemini AI requires a subscription, and costs will add up over time. |
Score: 3/5
In this review
Google Nest Cam Design
Google Nest Cam Camera
Google Nest Cam Performance
Google Nest Cam Verdict
Ethical disclaimer:
The Google Nest Cam Indoor and Google Nest Cam Outdoor used in this review were sent to me by Google for the purposes of this review, though I don’t know if they’re going to ask for them back or not; this doesn’t affect my review in terms of its content, but I do think that it’s important that reviewers are upfront and transparent with their audiences.
Additionally, I did not have to pay for a Google Home Premium subscription, but that’s because it’s also part of a Google One subscription, and I’ve still got time left on that after reviewing the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
I put this kind of disclaimer into every review, because so many don’t and there’s a genuine crisis of trust around reviews. Being absolutely upfront in every way is, I think, the only way to ensure trust, rather than burying it under NDAs, dodgy commercial arrangements or betrayals of trust.
Speaking of trust, one other note: I have tested out the Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor on my own property, but I’m a firm believer in the value of privacy. As such, I’m not including any screenshots of what the cameras have seen in this review, because that’s nobody’s business but my own.
For more on ART’s Ethics position, see here.
Design
Both the Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor — technically they’re the “Nest Cam Indoor/Outdoor (Wired, 2nd Gen), but that’s tiring to either type or say — share the same kind of design style, evolved from the older Nest camera styles but somewhat shrunk down, especially in the case of the Nest Cam Indoor. It measures in at 98.5x64x56.9mm (HxWxD) and weighs 393g (including its power cable), while the larger Nest Cam Outdoor model comes in at 68.3×76.8×76.8xmm (HxWxD) and weighs 265g plus the weight of its magnetic mount.
The Nest Cam Outdoor considerably fatter than the indoor model, but not quite as tall because of that variable base, which is designed to be either magnetically attached – this is how I tested it out – or affixed to a wall with the supplied screws for more permanent installation. No such features for the indoor model, but then it’s designed to be placed anywhere within a home, which is why it has its own integrated base.
The Nest Cam Indoor is physically smaller, but taller (and shouldn’t, strictly speaking, be outdoors like this. It doesn’t like it out here.)
Speaking of integrated parts, one feature that both cameras share is the use of fixed and integrated power cables. The Nest Cam Indoor ends at a USB-C plug, and Google does provide a charger in the box to go with it, while the Nest Cam Outdoor uses a considerably longer split cable, but one that’s fixed at both the camera and plug end.
That’s not a design approach I favour, because the reality for any of these cameras is that cables can fray over time, and if they do, either model will be rendered essentially useless.
I do somewhat understand why Google/Nest might opt for the sealing down of the Nest Outdoor camera to help with water resistance, but there’s little reason for that to be the case for the Nest Cam Indoor.
You definitely wouldn’t want to use the Nest Cam Indoor as an outdoor camera to save a few bucks, because Google doesn’t specify any level of water resistance for it whatsoever, simply that it’s for “indoor use only” according to its specifications.
The Nest Cam Outdoor is more robust in this respect, with a water resistance rating of IP65, which should see it through most rain events excluding flooding, because IP65 won’t save it from immersion. If you’re not across how IP ratings work – and why you shouldn’t push it when it comes to “water proof” devices, I’ve got a full guide to water resistance you can check out here.
Performance
Installation of either the Google Nest Cam Indoor or Nest Cam Outdoor follows the same essential routine, excluding any kind of fixing to walls or brackets or such; that’s up to you.
They’re both managed by the Google Home app for Android or iOS and adding them into your Google Home system is essentially managed by a QR code printed on a sticker that’s found over the lens of either Nest Cam.
QR codes are fine and once I’d assigned them spaces to be and hooked them into my home Wi-Fi, via 802.11ac (2.4GHz or 5GHz), but my larger concern here is that a sticker code is one that’s all too easily lost or will fade over time. Printing them directly onto the cameras might be a smarter play; as it is if they are lost you can pair up a Nest Camera via a numerical code printed on the camera, but this is in tiny script that’s quite hard to see.
If trees had power sockets, the Nest Cam Outdoor could work right here. Disappointingly, they do not.
Once they’re set up, the Google Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor both offer the same essential video quality at 2K, a nice jump up from the older Nest cameras that were distinctly less sharp.
Comparing the captures from the 2K-capable Nest Cam Outdoor and an older 1080p-capable Nest Cam with Floodlight in the same location, the differences in quality even streaming to a phone were quickly evident. The one advantage the Nest Cam with Floodlight has there is that, well, it has a floodlight, and can illuminate its shots at night-time where the Nest Cam Outdoor makes do with a slightly less impressive IR-based camera approach. It’s still quite good at picking out detail once the sun has gone down, however.
Like most smart home security camera setups, you can set motion zones for notifications, though there’s no way to tell either the Nest Cam Indoor or Nest Cam Outdoor that there might be areas you specifically don’t want recorded. If you live close to neighbours or public streets, you’re grabbing all that vision whether you want it or not.
All of this is fine and the 2K update for these cameras is an impressive matter. During my review period most forms of motion were picked up well, though I’d advise caution around activating the default “motion” setting – you can also specify for things like people, pets, cars and so on – as it’s very sensitive and will (if my experience is any guide) give you a lot of insect-based false positives.
In one instance I’m pretty sure that it tracked and tried to alert me about a mote of dust that was floating around in front of it at 3am. That’s impressive in terms of tracking, I guess, but I’m quietly certain that the mote wasn’t contemplating an early morning burglary run on my home.
All of the Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor’s recording functionality is handled in the cloud; Google doesn’t offer any kind of Nest product with onboard local storage capabilities, though there are alternatives in this space.
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In terms of that cloud storage, like many of its competitors Google has subscription tiers for different levels of security service; these used to be called “Nest Aware” plans, but they’re now called “Google Home Premium” services.
The good news for those who don’t want to spend any more than the cost of the cameras themselves is that Google doesn’t entirely lock you out of basic functionality if you don’t want to spend any more. Without a Google Home Premium subscription, the Nest Cam Indoor or Nest Cam Outdoor will give you access to the last six hours to check over events, as well as basic object detection to give you a broad idea of what’s been seen by each camera.
If you do want more than that, the Standard Google Home Premium Plan runs $15/month (or $150 annually), giving you access to 30 days of event-based recordings as well as the optional ability to activate the “Familiar Faces” feature that lets you know if a known face has wandered into view.
That’s possibly good for knowing if the kids made it back from soccer training if you’re out, but equally it does rely on you telling Google explicitly who the faces coming to your home actually are, which does have some privacy concerns baked into it. Your own tolerances will probably tell you whether you think that’s a good thing or not.
The premium Google Home Premium Advanced ups the ante with up to 60 days of event-based video history as well as 10 days of 24/7 video history for your cameras, but it will run you $30/month or $300 per year.
This tier also enables a bunch of AI integrations around more descriptive notifications (not just “person detected” but potentially “two people detected”, at least in theory), searchable video history and daily summaries.
My own testing has been at the standard tier, and it’s also worth noting that Google’s promised are that some older Nest devices may get access to these features if you’re subscribing later this year. There’s not much more of this year left, Google, though it is nice (for once) to see older devices supported with newer features.
Google Nest Cam Outdoor/Indoor (Wired, 2nd Gen): Alex’s Verdict
At a hardware level, the Google Nest Cam Indoor and Google Nest Cam Outdoor are quite nice. The design is suitable for both indoor décor needs and outdoor weather resistance needs for most Australian conditions, the video quality is decent in most lighting situations and actual detection and notification has been swift throughout my review period.
The biggest complaint I have about the hardware is that the power cables are fixed in place, not replaceable, and there’s no 2nd gen battery option for either indoor or outdoor use, at least just yet.
However, as is so often the case with these smart home camera systems, the hardware is only part of the story; the subscription pricing is the other. I do think it’s laudable that Google offers a practical level of free recording so that you’re not just stuck with simple “I saw something!” notifications but no context if it’s already out of frame. However, to make the most of these cameras and their AI functionality, Google does want more of your money, and it wants it on a recurring basis.
Is it worth subscribing?
That’s a rather open question depending on your precise needs. For my own purposes I probably wouldn’t as the regular free offering is quite decent by the standards of Google’s competitors, but I can see the appeal in longer-term recording and perhaps in more detailed descriptions of what each camera thinks it sees for some people.
Either way, one aspect of the Nest experience you have to accept if you’re buying into it is that these are cameras that ultimately live and die on Google’s own support whims, because there’s no local storage or configuration access at all in any way.
For what it’s worth, Google states that the Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Cam Outdoor will get automatic security updates for at least five years from when they first went on sale in the USA, which should see them running until at least the 1st of October 2030, because it would be rather tricky (and pointless) to provide security updates to cameras that were no longer functional.
After that date… it’s up to Google.
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Google Nest Cam Indoor/Google Nest Cam Outdoor: Pricing and availability
The Google Nest Cam Indoor sells in Australia for $189, while the Google Nest Cam Outdoor will cost you $239.99; a Google Home Premium subscription will cost you either $15 or $30 per month (or $150/$300 annually) depending on the features you wish to use.
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