Customer Ratings & Reviews

So, this would have 5 stars but for the fact that to use all functions and make use of long term history, you need to subscribe to a google plan with a monthly fee. For some this is a deal breaker for others the non subscription features could be worth it. As far as form factor, this is a sleek unit that is compact and easy to mount just about anywhere. I really like the Nest magnetic base which allows for easy aiming into the environment you want to protect. It comes with mounting hardware that is very straight forward to use. The main advantage of a wired unit is that you can place it anywhere there is power and not worry about batteries. Of course, if the power goes out and you don't have it plugged into a UPS, it stops transmitting and recording. The cord is plenty long and the wall wort is small and only takes up one power strip or outlet space. The image is during the day is sharp and clear with surprisingly low latency. Night vision is surprisingly clear. You will get a black & white image but is clear enough to identify who and what is happening. I couldn't make out license plate numbers unless the car was very close though. On the other hand, I haven't had a device that with IR only that does this. Installation was as easy as it could be. Just scan the QR code and add to your google home account. The price is very reasonable for all the features that are available.

This was really easy to setup as the review title implies. No hard wiring required and the app provided really awesome instructions to get it setup and setup the wire as cleanly as possible. You can also stick the QR code under the camera on the base to make it easy to setup again as suggested in the instructions. The camera also moves on the base magnetically. It’s a super strong magnet so once you mount the base, it’s really easy to adjust. The motion alerts are accurate and the live feed also opens up very quickly. The video is crisp and the audio comes through really clearly. The two way audio also works really great. The night vision is also top notch so you can see the feed really clearly at night. It also works right in the Google Home app so you can control it really easily along with other Google devices. The pending addition of Gemini AI support indicated in the app is also going to make the camera even better when it’s released. Overall, I highly recommend this camera based on the ease of setup and the overall quality.

As a current user of the Google Home ecosystem and Nest cameras, I was excited to try out the new Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd Generation) with its upgraded 2K video capability. After using the camera for more than a week, I can honestly say it’s probably not worth the upgrade if you already use the first-generation Google Nest Cam (Indoor/Outdoor) models. If you’re just starting to build your Google ecosystem, this is a great option since it’s the newest model on the market. However, if the first-generation versions go on sale, those might actually be the better buy. In the Box & Setup Inside the box, you’ll find the camera, the newly designed second-generation magnetic mount, wall anchors and screws, and cable clips to help tidy up the 18-foot power cable. Setup is quick and easy—just open the Google Home app, scan the included QR code on the camera, and in about a minute, the device is added to your account. From there, you can complete the rest of the setup through the app. Design & Mounting The new camera’s magnetic mount is noticeably stronger than the first generation’s. The originals were already solid, but this one feels even more secure, which is nice. The field of view has also been improved—from 130° on the first generation to 152°—so you get a wider and taller image that captures more detail in the frame. That said, I actually preferred the power options on the first generation. The 2nd Gen camera has a hardwired, non-replaceable power cable, with a short lead permanently attached to the camera itself that connects to the 18-foot cord via a proprietary four-pin connector. The first-gen models, by contrast, were either battery-powered or could use replaceable power cables in different lengths, which I really liked. I still have several first-gen cameras around my home—some plugged in, some running on battery—and they’ve been great. During power outages, it’s nice knowing that the battery-powered units stay online as long as the home network has backup power. With the 2nd Gen model, I haven’t found any information on whether replacement or longer cables are available, so it seems like you’re stuck with the included 18-foot cable. For me, that’s actually a problem since one of my camera locations needs more length—but I was able to get a longer cable easily for my first-gen model. Video Quality & Performance This is where I ran into my biggest disappointment. The video clarity just doesn’t look improved. Side-by-side with my first-generation camera, the image looks nearly identical. The frame rates are the same, and even though Google advertises “2K video,” I really can’t tell much difference—if any. The night vision is about on par with what I already had, and in some cases, might even be slightly worse. All of my cameras are on a strong 2 Gb home network, so connectivity isn’t the issue—it’s just that the image quality isn’t noticeably better. AI & Smart Features Where Google really shines with this new model is in its AI intelligence features. I pay for the Google Home Premium subscription, which unlocks the cloud storage upgrades and all the advanced detection features. The new AI tools are genuinely impressive—notifications are faster and more detailed, and facial recognition is slightly quicker than before. You can also create home automations using Google’s Gemini AI, which is a great addition if you have other Google smart home accessories. Final Thoughts Overall, the Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd Gen) is a solid camera with strong build quality, reliable performance, and excellent AI features. But as someone who already owns several first-generation Nest Cams, I honestly don’t see much of a reason to upgrade. If you’re new to the Google Home ecosystem, this camera is a strong starting point. But if you already have the first-gen models, you’re not missing out on much—the improvements just don’t feel significant enough to justify the switch.

Protecting your home involves more than just installing locks and setting alarms. For some, adding outdoor cameras provides you with the peace of mind that only visual confirmation can give, whether you're inside the house or away on vacation for an extending period of time. That security is turned up a notch with the Google Outdoor Nest Cam. With its clear picture, practical features, and seamless integration into your Google Home environment, the Nest Cam is the perfect addition to secure your home. Putting up the device is a breeze. The Nest Cam is packed with everything you need to set it up quickly, including its weatherproof power adapter, a magnetic wall mount, several cable clips, and mounting hardware. All you have to bring to the table is a screwdriver and the Google Home app on your phone for step-by-step installation instructions. Because the device is the wired version, I set mine up outside of a second-floor window from a room that sits above my driveway. I ran the wire through a small hole drilled by a previous owner that was used for cable and used the cable clips to keep the interior space clutter-free. The provided wire is very long but for my needs, I didn't need it to be. It can be rotated so that the camera can be installed in all kinds of positions, even upside-down if needed. The picture quality of the Nest Cam is excellent. With such high resolution, I am able to clearly see the entire driveway and front yard area I was hoping to keep in view, as well as the street and a good amount of the surrounding neighborhood. The app has plenty of free features to view day and night scenes, and the paid subscriptions open up a wide range of options to capture video, alert movement or noises, and even communicate with anyone in range in real time. My car was recently involved in a hit-and-run on my street in front of my house, and this device would have easily caught the event had it been installed already. Overall, I am very happy with the Google Outdoor Nest Cam. It was easy to put up and get going on the Google Home app right away, and the feature-filled subscription is worth a few bucks a month for the peace of mind it brings. Highly recommended.

TL;DR - Google Nest Camera Outdoor is a solid option for DIY security but hides its best features behind a paywall. 6 hours of local storage is enough for lower traffic areas and the AC adapter is small enough to fit under the majority of in-use outlet covers, but the proprietary nature of the power connection means if you break it, it’s not as easy to replace as something USB-based. Unboxing and setup: Google packages this well, definitely letting you know the premium nature of this product. You have a long power cable, small power adapter, plenty of clips and screws to manage wiring, and enough instructions to get you to the Google Home app. If you’ve set up a Matter or HomeKit device before, the new method that Google Home used is similar. I wasn’t asked for my wifi password and it connected pretty quickly. The magnetic base makes this easy to aim. Setting zones is as easy as some competitor devices, but with more customizable polygons for detection zones. Usage: On a Unifi network with Xfinity internet (2 down/40 up), I had zero issues with connecting to the camera to watch or play back video clips. The 6 hours of local storage is plenty for short clips - in my testing, I had well over 500 short clips stored. However, recording 24/7 video is paywalled behind a subscription to Google Home Premium. Even some of the detection features, like garage door detection, is paywalled behind the Google Home Basic subscription. I’m not a fan of paying to use all the features of something I purchased. Google could provide the ability to store things locally like other competing devices, and detecting that a garage door is open should be standard. For those who do want a simple experience, however, the Nest Cam Outdoor is a good option. If you don’t want to subscribe to get the best out of your device, look elsewhere.

What a great addition to our suite of Google cameras! Because I already have a few other cameras and a Google nest doorbell hooked into the Google Home ecosystem, setting this one up felt familiar and was accomplished easily through the Google home app. Once connected, it appears alongside our other devices in the Home app: live view, past clip access, alerts—all in one spot. Google sends all the hardware needed to anchor your camera to your chosen location. I always save the extra hardware too because they look and feel like quality screws and anchors. The wired vs battery option was an individual choice for us because we had the perfect spot that needed some extra attention at our home in Maryland and we had plug access right there. The 2K HDR video has a wide field of view meaning fewer “blind spots” at the edge of our yard. The zoom & crop capability allowed me to hone in on our driveway/porch area without losing overall context. In low-light, even though no floodlight version, the night-vision and HDR did a good job of retaining detail. I can strongly recommend the Google Cam Outdoor Wired 2nd Gen—especially if you’re already in the Google Home universe and want something that “just works” with your existing cameras/doorbell. It brings high-quality video, crisp integration, and manageable installation, and quick timely alerts which is exactly what I look for in a security/monitoring upgrade.

The Google Nest Cam Outdoor, Wired is the 2nd generation of an already popular Google home security system. This one has an upgraded 2K resolution with crisp colors with HDR and includes Google Gemini AI intelligence. It is well built, feels solid with a strong magnetic mount that won’t move around. It comes with everything you need to mount it on the wall with the provided screws and wall anchors. The setup is pretty easy like any other smart device you add to your Wi-Fi network through the Google Home App. Once you’re satisfied with the live view, there are a few cool things you can do that differentiate this Nest Cam from the competition. Much like video door bells, you can set up activity zones and tie them to events and notifications. You can customize what zones and what events you want to get notifications for and when, whether you are at home or away. More intelligent altering and distinction between people, cars, animals. Much wider and taller field of view coverage. Intelligent search of your video history with Gemini. If you need 30-days or 60-days worth of video history, or even 10-days of continuous video recording, you will need to pay for the Google Home Premium subscription, which may be worth it especially if you have multiple Google Nest video devices. That will also enable additional features such as “familiar face detection” against images of people you know from your contacts. Overall at this price-point, I wish Google had included 24-hours of free event history or local recording to an SD memory card like some other brands. All in all, if you are invested in the Google Home ecosystem, this may the camera for you.

I've owned more than my fair share of security cameras, always looking for the next best thing that captures good video day and night and activates appropriately with motion, and identifies things correctly. Honestly the Nest Cam with Gemini seemed like the ticket, and maybe it is, but it seems I cannot use the features yet. Packaging: To start, the packaging for Google products is usually bare-bones and easy to deal with, unfortunately with this device that's not the case, it's weirdly overcomplicated to get out and uses far too much excess cardboard for no real good reason. Setup: Once you do manage to get it out of the packaging then setup is reasonably straightforward, scan the QR code, plug it into the wall and let the google home app finish the setup with a few basic questions. Use: I already had one Google Nest camera though it was an older generation, this one makes my second, the video is excellent, the person identification is good, though not always accurate, but the advertised Gemini feature constantly throws an error saying it's not available in my home yet. Unsure what that's about but hopefully it'll work soon. It did immediately identify a person that crossed in front of it, and with it being the primary camera for my driveway the vehicle identification is valuable and accurate. Bear in mind if you want long term recording storage you will need to get a subscription. Overall: It's a decent security camera, but the feature that it is touted to have with Gemini doesn't appear to work for me.

Great camera, just wish there was a wireless battery powered model. The integration to Gemini and 2k video are phenomenal.