Google Nest Cam (Wired, 2nd Generation)
The Google Nest Cam Wired is the most affordable among Google’s security cameras, plus it offers the convenience of never needing to charge. It’s not weather-proof, however, won’t work during a power outage, and has a more limited night vision view.
Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery)
The Google Nest Cam Battery offers more than just wire-free recording – it’s the Nest’s only weather-resistant option as well. The Battery cam also has a magnetic mount and better night vision than the wired cam. However, it is larger and more expensive.
Google Nest Cam with Floodlight
The Google Nest Cam Floodlight takes the battery-powered version and adds a wired floodlight for better night footage. That makes this option ideal for installing where a previous exterior light existed. However, it’s pricier and may need professional installation in some cases.
Google Nest. As a technology writer, I’ve tested security cameras from Arlo, Ring, and several other major brands. But I keep returning to the Google Nest line for its free three hours of event video, geofencing to turn off cameras when I arrive home automatically, and simple setup. But, oncethe smart home camera playing fieldis narrowed down to Google, there are two more key questions to consider. What is the best Google Nest camera? How do theGoogle Nest Cam Battery,Wired, andFloodlightcompare to each other?
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As part of the Google Nest family, all three cameras cary similar features and designs. But, a few key differentiators make the choice easy when it comes to selecting which Google Nest camera to equip your home with. Pocket-lint has reviewed theGoogle Nest Cam Battery,Wired, andFloodlight. So, here’s how they compare and what model I recommend most.
Price, availability and specs
The wired, indoor Google Nest Cam is the most affordable of the brand’s smart homesecurity cameras, sitting at about $100. Key specs for the indoor cam include a 2-megapixel sensor that captures 1080p video with a 135-degree field of view. The camera also offers night vision and a 6x digital zoom.
The Nest Cam Battery model is more moderately priced at about $180. The two key specs that differentiate this model are the weather-sealing and wire-free battery design – it can also be used as an outdoor wired camera by adding the outdoor power cable, which would bring the total cost to about $220. The camera captures 2-megapixel images and 1080p video with a 130-degree view, including night vision.
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Naturally, the inclusion of two lights with the camera makes the Google Nest Cam Floodlight one of the more pricey options, at about $280. It takes identical hardware specs to the Nest Cam Battery and adds wired power and two lights for 2400 lumen brightness and night vision up to 20 feet from the light.
Google Nest Cam (Battery, Indoor or Outdoor)
Design: A familiar design across the Google Nest Cam family
The battery-powered camera is larger, but magnetic
All three camera options in the Google Nest Cam lineup are – unsurprisingly – quite similar in appearance. In fact, the floodlight in the lineup integrates the battery-powered version into a base with two lights. Similarly, Google also offers the battery-powered version as a wired outdoor camera by adding an optional weather-sealed power cord. Each of Google’s current nest cams is a circular design on a dome-shaped base. But, there are some key design differences to note.
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Without the need for a built-in battery, the Google Nest Cam wired is the smallest of the bunch, measuring 98.5 x 64 x 56.9mm and weighing about 3.28 ounces, or 93g. The wired camera can be wall-mounted using two screws, but the easiest setup is to simply place the base on a shelf or tabletop, with no need to purchase an additional base.
Naturally, with the built-in battery, the Google Nest Cam Battery is a larger device, sitting at 83 x 83mm and weighing around 14 ounces or 398g. However, there are two key design differences that can sway smart home buyers towards the battery-powered version. The Google Nest Cam Battery features an IP54 dust and weather-resistant design, which means that it isn’t restricted to the indoors like the wired version is. In fact, Google offers a package with a battery-powered cam and a weather-resistant cable for homes that want wired power outdoors. It’s the exact same camera, but recharges the battery with a weather-proof cord.
If there’s metal where you want to install the camera, you can install it without screws.
The other key difference between the wired and battery Nest Cam is that the battery-powered option has three installation options where the wired has two. Like the wired, the Nest Cam Battery can be wall mounted using two screws, or sit on a tabletop with a stand (though in this case, the stand is sold separately). But, the battery model’s base is also magnetic, which means if there’s metal where you want to install the camera, you can install it without screws.
The Google Nest Cam Floodlight takes that same exact battery-powered camera and magnetically mounts it in between two floodlights. The floodlight, however, does require a wired installation. In Pocket-lint’s tests, the reviewer found that installation took around 15 to 20 minutes if you were replacing an existing floodlight, but without a pre-existing light you might need professional help to install. While the Floodlight has a constant power source feeding the camera, the battery-based design will continue working during a power outage.
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Software and features: Smart features stretch across Google’s family of cameras
Only battery-powered options can keep recording in a power outage, however
Because all three of these smart home cameras come from Google, they feature a very similar set of features. All three have facial recognition to customize your alerts with who is at the door, though that requires a subscription.
Without a monthly cost, all three cameras still save videos for up to three hours. Smart homeowners can reduce unwanted notifications using features like activity zones and geofencing, the latter of which can automatically turn the camera off once you arrive home. The cameras also differentiate between people, animals, and vehicles.
For example, you can choose if you only want to be alerted to people so your dog or traffic on your street doesn’t constantly trigger alerts.
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The biggest feature difference between the wired and battery Nest Cams is that the battery-powered can continue recording in a power outage – and because the Google Nest Floodlight uses the battery-powered camera, it has this feature, too. Both cameras have a small amount of built-in storage, so in the event of an internet outage, footage will be uploaded once the connection is restored. That means the alerts will be delayed, but you’ll still have footage of anything that happened during the outage. If both the internet and power are out, however, only the battery version will still save footage.
If you opt for the Nest Aware Plus subscription, only wired cameras can record 24/7 video, whereas the battery version is limited to short clips of up to three minutes. Wired cams can record for up to five minutes without a subscription, or 24/7 with a Nest Aware Plus subscription.
Video and sound quality: A near identical experience in good light
The Google Nest Wired can’t see as far in the dark
All three of the current model Google Nest cameras offer the same two-megapixel stills and 1080p video at 30 fps. That means you won’t notice much difference in video quality between the models in a well-lit room.
However, the Google Nest Cam Wired has a slightly wider 135-degree lens, whereas the battery and floodlight options have a slightly narrower 130-degree field of view. That’s a small enough difference that most won’t notice, but the battery version does fit slightly more into the frame.
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The biggest difference in video quality in the Nest Cam lineup, however, comes from the night vision feature. The smaller wired camera only has two built-in LEDs, which limits it to recognizing people from about 15 feet away. In comparison, the larger Nest Cam Battery has six LEDs and can detect people from 20 feet away. The Floodlight Cam has a similar 20-foot range, detecting generalized motion from up to 25 feet away.
Subscription services: Nest Aware offers top-tier features
But for 24/7 recording, you need a wire
Because all three cameras come from Google, the entire line has almost identical features that can be unlocked with a Google Nest Aware subscription, including facial recognition and video storage beyond the three hours included for free.
The exception to subscription features is that the 24/7 video recording option requires a wired connection. The continuous recording is included with the Nest Aware Plus subscription, and not the more affordable Nest Aware subscription. But even if you pay more for the Plus option, you won’t get 24/7 recording with a camera that’s running on battery power. You can, however, buy the charging cord for the battery-powered version and keep it plugged in to access this feature.
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Which Google Nest Cam is right for you?
Get the Google Nest Cam Wired for indoors, get the Battery for outdoors and away from outlets
Because Google keeps its Nest Cam lineup to just a few models, choosing the right one is pretty straightforward.
Pick the Google Nest Cam Wired if you want an affordable indoor smart home camera and the area you want to monitor is near an outlet. The wired installation means you don’t have to remember to recharge anything, making it the most low-maintenance option.
Buy the Google Nest Cam Battery if you want to install the camera anywhere outdoors, as the wired version isn’t weather-resistant. You should also buy the Battery version if you want to install the camera in a spot that doesn’t have an outlet, you don’t want to see any cords where you install it, or you want better night vision. If you don’t want the hassle of recharging, you can add an optional charging cord and still have the weather-sealing, 20-foot night vision range, and magnetic mount of the battery version, you’ll end up paying more than for the wired cam.
If you want to install a camera where you already have an outdoor light, buy the Google Nest Cam Floodlight. It packs all the perks of the battery-powered version with two motion-sensitive floodlights.
Google Nest Cam Outdoor
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