Customer Ratings & Reviews

The 2nd generation Nest Cam Outdoor features really great image quality and integrates nicely into the Google Home app – which I’m already using for other connected home devices. The app walked me through each of the steps to setup and install the camera, and I was very pleased to find everything needed (including screws, anchors, and even cable clips) right there in the box. Once the camera was up and running, I used the Google Home app to set detection zones and setup my notification preferences all of the things this camera can detect -- people, familiar faces, animals, vehicles, etc. I already had a Google Home subscription when I added this camera to my system, and I’ll note that a paid subscription required for some of its features (like more than 6 hours of cloud video storage and familiar face detection). The alerts seem to be reliable, and the video is very clear and crisp, in daytime or after dark. The Google Home app isn’t the most intuitive to use for filtering detected events, but once you get used to it, it isn’t so bad. Some other nice perks – there’s plenty of cord (18 feet), and the wall plug is small enough to fit into the enclosure surrounding my outdoor outlets (and even leave room for the other plug to be used). Overall, this is a nice upgrade from the first-generation

A nice upgrade from the original Nest cams. I’ve had an outdoor Nest camera since before they were bought by Google, and it’s great to see them finally give it some proper attention. Physically, it’s practically identical which is a good thing. The design is compact, modern, and elegant enough to belong most anywhere. The low profile magnetic mount is strong and securely holds the camera in a wide range of angles which also gives you the freedom to mount it in more places. If it’s built like the original, it should hold up for years without issue. Picture quality wise, it’s a sharp and bright 2K image that’s good for catching details. The camera angle is wide enough to cover a whole patio without heavily distorting subjects. Audio pick up is good and night vision is fairly clear. It’s a solid camera all around and if you’re coming from an older Nest cam, it’s pretty much the same but sharper. The major notable change in the Google Nest Cam is the addition of Gemini Ai and the Google Premium Advanced service. The camera works well without the Google Premium Advanced service, but adding it sure adds a lot of advanced features. It unlocks 60 days of event history, 10 days of 24/7 video history, facial recognition, and a really neat but creepy Daily Briefing. And I only say it’s creepy because of how detailed it is. It reminds me that “the eye is always watching”, which I guess is what you want from a security camera. It’s just funny seeing notes on yourself. But as smart as it can seem, it also frequently mistakes black squirrels for a cat and sometimes mistakes shadows for cars. It’s still really convenient that it describes every event though. Scrolling through the history it’ll label events like “”person delivers package”, “a black Mercedes Benz SUV drives by”, “a person in a blue sweatshirt walks by”, and of course “a cat walks up stairs”. Even though that cat was a squirrel, the rest were pretty dead on. And the best part of it all is that the service upgrades seemingly all generations of the Nest cam. I was shocked to find out that even my original, over 10 years old OG Nest camera was upgraded with the new Gemini Ai features. It’s incredible. Should you buy the new Nest camera? If you’re in the market for a wireless cloud based security cam system, I think it’s an excellent option. It’s well built, the picture quality is great, it’s easy to access footage from your phone, and the Google Premium Advanced service makes it super easy to sift through footage. PROS - Excellent picture quality - Syncs with Google Home - Well built - Comes with install hardware - Gemini daily briefings are neat - Easy setup - Event history easily searchable - 10 days 24/7 video history accessible in cloud with Google Premium Advanced sub - 60 days of event history accessible in cloud with Google Premium Advanced sub CONS - Knowing the camera is “always” watching - Level of detail in Gemini daily briefings can be creepy - Gemini Ai can be really accurate or really off

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.

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.

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.

We have our home integrated quite deeply into the Google ecosystem, so when we started looking for additional cameras to add coverage, Google's Nest cameras were the first place we looked. This camera is their latest generation, adding 2k resolution to the mix. Their previous HD 1920x1080 resolution was already sharp - this just takes it to the next level! The provided cord is 18 feet long. Granted, this is quite a long cord, but I'll be on the lookout for 3rd party solar power kits for it. This is our first Google branded outdoor camera, so we are hopeful that solar power becomes available for it so we don't have to have that long power cord running to an outlet. Don't get me wrong - 18 ft is a long cord, but it's see a hinderance because you have to be within 18 ft of an outlet! Two-way audio is quite clear and intelligible on both ends. I do love how they moved to a magnetic attachment to the base, giving you pretty much unlimited freedom on how it points. I look forward to getting just a few more Google Nest cameras - then we can do away with the DVR-based cameras we have setup now covering those fringe areas. Google for the win!

I was hesitant to get this camera as I am not as big of a fan of Google Home as I was Nest app. The last one we got on this platform was not my favorite. They have made many user freindly updates since my last Google Nest camera putchase. The camera is super crisp. The facial recognition works really well. We are in a time where my toddler wants to let him out into the backyard on his own. This gives us instant notifications when he sneaks out. I am also able to talk through the camera. Anyone outback can clearly hear the voice co.ing through the camera. The microphone pickes up voices great as well. I love that I can turn notifications off for animals. We have 4 dogs, so without that feature we would have notifications non stop. I thought the color was going to be more of a sage green, its really more grey. That was the only thing I was dissapointed in. The power cord that comes with it is extremely long, making installation a breeze. The Google Home app has become more userfriendly and categorizes every interaction. I enjoy these upgrades

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.

Bought as Christmas gift for husband & he loves. Was easy for him to self install but we had a hiccup because when I ordered, I added installation & on the day of, got a call telling me they do not install it. Otherwise great product. Only reason not 5 stars is that the product doesn’t explain that you have to PAY for app to have storage of camera feed. Only for a temporary time do you get that access.

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

I got a couple of these and love them. They hold up to the weather and are very smart cameras.