Customer Ratings & Reviews

Great upgrade from the gen 1 nest cams I have had for 5 years now.

This fits into my google home ecosystem very well.

Really like this camera. It is much better than the rechargable version!

It did not work for our needs the installation was going to be too complicated for our outdoor usage

Summary: Great video quality (2k), robust weather protection, easy to set up, stays connected (WIFI). Quality costs, but you get what you pay for in this 2nd generation wired (for power) outdoor cam. A decent microphone and speaker mean two-way communication is possible (but not a doorbell). Comes with a tried and tested App for checking in on it, but for all the bells and security whistles there is a subscription service. Pro’s: - Compact, unobtrusive design. - Easy to install. - Great 2k video resolution. - Clear night vision - Fast live view - Expanded video view - Comprehensive easy to use App. - Fast alerts - 30 days of event video history (with subscription) - One hour of events storage (events are short) if WIFI goes down - Green led lets you know video is active Con’s: - Subscription service is required for any long-term video capture and recording. The more cameras you have the more it makes sense. - The power cable is shorter than version 1, only 10 feet in gen 2. You (of course) by an extension for more money. Matter of Taste: - It’s Google. With all the privacy disclaimers that involves. I do turn it off if I want privacy. - No manual. It’s all online. - It’s wired, I like that because it means I don’t have to play with batteries when I am gone months at a time, but your needs might be different. - Gemini AI features… generally work as advertised but still subject to randomness. - 10 foot Power cable could be longer. More Words: Disclaimer first, I have owned the generation 1 design for over 8 years and been impressed with its ability to survive very harsh winters (ocean facing gale wind Maine with no heater). I am only replacing it because I love the view and want the improved 2k video resolution, and I am happy that gen 2 represents a significant improvement (except for power cord length). You can get cheaper outdoor cams so what are you paying for? Quality, a design that is seamless, extremely weather resistant, great video, and yes, great software. It’s easy to install, a plate you screw to the wall, and the cam attaches by magnet, meaning it’s easy to adjust on a ladder. Yes, it is wired for power, but that means you don’t have to fret over it to keep it charged. And the wiring is weather proofed. The App, Google Home, is your primary contact point, though you can share the video feed via URL. It is surprisingly easy to use and self-explanatory including zoom in capability and AI search capabilities. Bottom line is if you want an outdoor surveillance system that you can set up and ignore, this is it. I use it for a summer cabin; it gives me peace of mind during the winter when I am absent.

Google's new Nest 2K outdoor camera delivers meaningful upgrades in a slightly more compact package. Setup was super easy. I had it connected and assigned to a "room" in Google Home within minutes. The big upgrade here is the 2K resolution which is a substantial improvement over the previous generation. Video just looks overall better and zooming in is now a lot more clear. I noticed the field of view is greater as well which means you can capture more area. I've been using mine for backyard monitoring, primarily for animal and people detection, and it's been excellent at catching events and sending timely notifications. As a bonus, it's compatible with last year's magnetic mount. So upgrading doesn't require replacing your existing mount. Key features: Customizable activity zones Seamless viewing across multiple devices (phone, smart displays, and Google TVs) Quick notifications Crisp daytime viewing and night vision Customizable events (animal, people, car, package, etc) Gemini AI integration Note that while these cameras function without a monthly subscription, there's a significant trade off in recording capabilities without it. Comparing this camera to last gen. 1080p camera: 3-minute recorded clips + 3 hours of video previews 1440p (2K) camera: 10-second recorded clips + 6 hours of video previews That drop from 3 minutes to 10 seconds at the higher resolution is disappointing. Would have liked to see more, something more like 1 min. If you dont plan on getting the Home subscription you'll need to weigh whether longer clips at lower resolution or better quality with minimal recording works for your needs. Overall this is a nice upgrade, especially if you are already in Googles Nest eco system. Just be aware that you'll need the subscription to unlock its full recording potential.

Works decently, but picture quality could be better and gets blurry very quickly when zoom is used.

Works decently, but picture quality could be better and gets blurry very quickly when zoom is used.

Having multiple previous gen nest cams, video quality is hardly an improvement over last gen. Quality wise, What you see live and what you get recorded are night and day. The recorded events look like garbage. Wait for a 4k cam or move on. Returned and mabey moving on from nest in the future. For the price you could buy multiple competitor cameras

I am heavily invested in the Google ecosystem, so I was happy to see this upgrade after quite some time. Set-up was a breeze and could not be much easier. More or less plug and play with a quick QR scan added in. Install was the same for me, but I suppose that will somewhat depend on your specific situation. The camera itself is a pretty significant upgrade over past models. Video looks much better as a whole, but also when zooming. It really is noticeable. Both during the day as well as at night. It also has a larger field of view. There are a bunch of nice features, most of which people will be familiar with: activity zones, notifications, events, seamless viewing across multiple devices, recorded clips, and video previews...etc. These all work well, but unfortunately, you lose a little bit of utility with some of them if you decline the monthly subscription. As I said, I have been in the Google world for some time, so I was covered here, but it is something to note. Additionally, while Google Home has served me well over the years, it sometimes has been a bit of a mess. While I am excited to hopefully see the Gemini rollout to Home be successful, and have some added functionality to the camera, we are not there yet. Time will tell with this one. That said, this is a good camera and very nice upgrade over previous models. If you are already in the ecosystem, or not, really, I think it will work well for just about everyone. Just be sure to check if you think you will want the added subscription cost as well if you are not already subscribed.

Good cameras but dont buy unless you have google home and updated all existing gome cameras or these will make gen 1 outdoor nest cameras not work anymore

Nowadays indoor/outdoor cameras seem to be more commonplace with a variety of companies putting out similar products. However, Google has continued to put out superior products in this category. With the latest iteration here they have definitely improved on multiple facets while retaining that same ease of use from previous versions. First, right out of the box the actual cosmetics of the camera have not changed as it still retains that premium look and feel. The mounting process is still the same with the included magnetic mount and takes less than 10 minutes. So far I have had no issues with its durability where the hope is it performs over time similar to the last version as I utilize those throughout my home and they are still going strong. Looking at the actual performance of the camera is where the upgrades come into play. The most important facet is obviously video quality which is where this shines as the 2K video is extremely crisp both during the day and at night. During the day the colors are very vibrant and then the night vision here has really stepped its game up as you no longer get the grainy black and white footage as you do with other cameras. The component that is fairly similar to prior models is the extreme field of view as this is something that is great that many other cameras don`t have as the wide field of view here is a huge selling point to reduce the number of cameras needed around your home. Along with the upgraded performance of the camera is the more advanced tracking and alerts. Naturally they throw around the term “AI” here, but the alerts now are definitely a lot better than the previous version. The face tracking and object/event tracking are exponentially better. Instead of the usual “motion detected” alert it actually describes the event taking place. Now yes, it does have a monthly subscription fee to fully utilize these features, but it is definitely worth the cost. After you try it for that first month they will definitely have you hooked to keep using it. Overall, if you're looking for an outdoor camera that provides crisp/clear video with a large frame of view that will provide actual relevant alerts when motion is detected then this is exactly what you are looking for. The integration with the traditional Google Home app is seamless along with the ease of the installation. Google has definitely continued to remain at the top of the pack with smart home products here and leaves nothing further to be desired in an outdoor camera. For that reason I would highly recommend this product.

When I purchased, was not told that it needed to be plugged into an outside electrical outlet. My understanding was that it would be wired through the siding into an inside outlet.

Google has been a major supplier of my ventures into our medium venture into the “smart home”. I started with the Nest (now Google Nest) smoke detectors as we moved into our new house, now about 20 years ago. I added various smart light bulbs and lighting, various brands, and a couple of Nest Hub displays. I even had a Google security alarm system, which alas they discontinued after I had only had it for a couple of years. When I had the security system, we had a couple of cameras, and added the Google Hello doorbell. I am pretty hearing impaired, since my mid 40s, and often even with hearing aids can miss a doorbell ring. But these days, the doorbell also vibrates my smart watch, and sends a text to my phone and watch. So for me, handy integration, even if it is not a Google watch or phone. We had two outdoor security cameras, both Google Nest, and the original generation, probably 5-7 years old. We live in a pretty low crime area in a medium sized town, so there is not much road activity on our street, further enhanced by being a dead end street, so no through traffic. The doorbell integrated camera covered the front of the house and walkway pretty well, so the other cameras were on the garden shed and the back porch, scanning the backyard and driveway areas. We live on a small river, and the other bank of the river is the border of a state park, so the “security” camera’s major function is to record through the night all the the wildlife friends who pass through our backyard. We would have the usual small varmints: neighborhood pets, raccoons, squirrels, but courtesy of living abutting a state forest, we get raccoons, porcupines, woodchucks, deer, foxes, and even black bears. In just the last few weeks, I have started to receive from Google, a daily synopsis of all the perceived camera images. And courtesy of Gemini AI, it has been very accurate for our daytime comings and going in the yard, noting what color jacket I was wearing, if I had a cap on, whether I had a shovel or a rake in my hand, etc. And the Nest older gen cameras and the Hello doorbell (not the newest generation), facial recognition is active, noting me by name as I putter in the backyard, tending to taking the garden trellises down, winding hoses, etc. But it submits a detailed outline of the activity, rather than just stating that “motion noted in backyard". At about the same time, Google released the Gen 2 camera. The reports generated by the vintage camera seemed pretty good, but the AI integration seems to have greatly enhanced the attention to detail, color and style of clothing, etc. For example, a “male wearing a black hoodie walks up the front steps and then departs” rather than “person seen”. The Gen 2 camera installed very easily. There is a generous length of power cable to lead from the camera to the electrical outlet. Pairing the camera to the Google Home app was simple, via a Q code sticker that was attached to the product. The product came with enough screws, wire securing clips, and inserts to use on sheet rock wallboard. It probably took me under 30 minutes. Attached to the garden shed, and powered by a portable lithium battery “power station” (recharged by solar panels on the roof of the shed), the wildlife camera is a three season guardian of our backyard. I already have the Nest Aware (extra subscription charge) program, which was the basic monitoring plan. It seems that the upgrades I have been seeing in my Google Home app have all been roll-outs of Google Gemini, rather than upgrade due to the new Generation 2 camera. Just a coincidence with my obtaining the new camera at the same time. The difference between the Gen 2 camera from my prior cameras are mostly with higher video quality resolution (2K resolution improved over the prior cameras 1080 p resolution ) and wider field of view (150 degrees diagonal FOV over the 130 degree FOV prior cameras). The new model offers a higher dynamic range of resolution, HDR (High Dynamic Range): The 2K models include HDR, which improves image clarity in high-contrast lighting situations (like when there is bright sun or glare). How much a difference that makes in my usage, I’m not yet able to discern, as we enter into the autumn season with lower sun in the sky and less intense daylight. In summary, I think the advances that Google is offering in the AI boost of the interpretation of the footage, whether in the video doorbell or surveillance cameras, and (eventually) the Nest Hub screens indoors will be available for the entire lines of Google Home devices. So I would not “upgrade” a perfectly fine doorbell or camera at this point. But certainly, if you have an unmet need for a device, the 2K camera will not disappoint!

This is a great 2k outdoor security camera. This camera comes with about 20 feet of wire and a two prong plug. For an outdoor setup it is easy for me to cover my backyard and fire pit with my patio chairs which we wanted to keep a camera covered to deter thieves. Out of the box it comes with the necessary hardware to mount this camera. What I like about these security cameras is it is very easy to mount and then with the magnetic base you can find the precise angle you would like the camera to be setup with. The setup is very easy and you just need a google account to subscribe to for storing footage of the camera. The wide angle view is very nice and picks up alot more than I had anticipated so it was well worth the cost of the camera. I really like to you reduce the amount that you would like to have recorded and also I really like the video play back and how detailed the video footage is. I love looking through the events and seeing if a person or animal was detected as we live by a highway behind our house so it will say vehicle or person or animal which is great to see so you don't waste your time looking through all the videos. I would highly recommend purchasing one of these cams. I have battery cameras but I do like if feasible using the wired so I don't need to worry about changing batteries in the middle of winter.

I already have several Google Nest cameras monitoring my property so I was excited to add this camera into my current ecosystem. Set up and installation was super easy, there’s a QR code on the camera so all you have to do is open your Google Home app, scan the QR code and the camera sets up. It’s that easy. Installation was a breeze. I found the location I wanted to put the camera, mounted th camera and ensures I had the right angle to monitor the area I wanted, and then I was done. The power cord was plenty long enough for me, and the cable clips helped me secure and hide the wire along my house. The clarity of these cameras was noticeably different than my current set up. I was able to zoom in and get less pixelation, get more clarity, and overall better performance. I’m not surprised being that my current Nest cams are several years old, so I was excited to see the upgrade was noticeably better. I’ve been a user of the Google Home/Nest app for several years already and have an active subscription. I absolutely recommend getting an active subscription if you’re gonna use this camera, it unlocks all the features and makes it completely worth it. It’s a small price to pay for everything you get in return! Well worth the upgrade!

I've had this camera for a few days and it's been great. Its very similar to the older cameras we have but improved in almost every aspect. The installation is very easy. The paper instructions are clear and concise, and anything that's not covered in them is easily accessible through the QR code and online instructions. Setup was quick and painless. Everything worked correctly and synced up just as it should. I was able to add it to the existing app and the new camera came up alongside all the existing cameras with not problem. The 2k image quality is a great improvement over the older cameras. I can zoom in a lot further and still see the detail than with the older cameras. The viewing angle is still wide enough to cover almost everything that I'd want to see. The Gemini features are very handy and the voice prompts are very convenient. I'm still getting used to using all of them but I can see how they'll make life more convenient and easier to go back through the videos. Overall I'd say this is a great new product. They improved the camera in almost every way and I haven't found any real problems with it yet.

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.

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.

As someone who is fully steeped in the google home ecosystem, I am excited to explore adding to my google security products. This camera requires one of the two available Home Premium subscriptions that google offers to work. Of course there are monthly and annual plans, but they boil down to approximately $100 or $200 a year, and mostly give you access to the same alerts with differences in the amount of storage / storage time that they serve, and how you can access it. For the purposes of this review I'll go ahead and assume you have some kind of subscription, because this camera is mostly useless without it. Actually that is what caused me to knock it down one star, even thought I have an subscription and I tested it that way, the hardware + subscription model is a bit offensive to me, especially when there are ecosystems out there that operate without a subscription. That being said, the ability to add facial recognition and then search your video history is game changing! This camera is nice and crisp and clear day and night. I'm a little surprised that for a hardwired camera it doesn't do color at night as that seems to need more power. Overall this is a great camera, but you have to decide for yourself if the features are worth buying into a subscription for.