Google ’s refreshedindoor Nest Camis one of the nice security photographic camera you could buy . The $ 100 wired television camera follow in four semblance and replaces the plain black version that ’s been on the market since 2015 . ThatoriginalNest indoor photographic camera is basically an homage to the brand ’s Drop camera past , while this new indoor security camera ushers in Google ’s new esthetic for the smart dwelling house .
And the newfangled indoor Nest Cam is incredibly chic . Its brushed pastel coloring and real Grant Wood base is pleasing and perfect for most domicile . But the Nest Cam is still plagued by one glaring issue : It relies entirely on the Google Home app for ascendancy and conformation , making it challenging to bring into a home populated with vintage Nest devices .
Google Nest Cam ( indoor , wired )
The new indoor Nest Cam is as stylish as security cameras get.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
What Is It
A security camera from Google
Price
The new generation meets the previous generation.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
$ 100
Like
light to apply , on - equipment facial recognition , design agree seamlessly into a home
The new generation meets the previous generation.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Dislike
New design makes it harder to pivot , Nest Aware ’s free grade is limited , the changeover to the Google Home app is grating
As Chic As Security Gets
This is the thirdNestcamerathat I ’ve reviewed in the past two month , and so far , it ’s the cut of the bunch . It comes in four colors , let in Linen , Snow , Fog , and Sand , which is the version I tested for this review . It looks blush pinkish in mortal . I do wonder how this particular design will have up over time , look at this indoor Nest camera is as of its metre as the original photographic camera was ( and that cam now seem extremely dated ) .
At the very least , Google ’s indoor photographic camera offer some flair with its Sir Henry Wood root . The stand and the camera are one piece , and even the overseas telegram is permanently affix . you may put the camera from right to left , but to pivot it forward or backward you have to spin it almost 180 degrees around the base before it will curve . It consider me a few tries to figure it out , and it ’s definitely not as intuitive as the super cheap TP - LinkKasa Spotcamera I just go over . you could also mount the tv camera on a rampart with the include hardware .
The new indoor Nest Cam is n’t the smallest security measures River Cam around . It ’s about an inch bigger than low-priced models like the aforementioned Spot camera , and it ’s poor than its predecessor . But because of its modern look , it fit nicely into the background of a home . It took a few day before my first cousin , who call in my theatre on a regular basis , realized that the attractive little machine on the ledge was a protection camera .
On the left is the camera preview for the original Nest camera, and on the right is the preview for the new indoor Nest Cam.Image: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Under the Hood
The new indoor Nest Cam is a 2 - megapixel photographic camera with a 135 - degree subject field of view and up to 6x digital zoom . It has HDR ability , night imagination , H.264 encoding , and can record 1080p telecasting at up to 30 frames per secondly . It ’s also equal to of 24/7 live view , considered one of Google ’s marquise sport for its latest certificate tv camera . All cameras but then Doorbellare capable of around - the - clock transcription .
The new indoor Nest Cam does n’t finger like a performance upgrade from the original . Granted , you ca n’t buy that photographic camera anymore since it ’s been quit . But if you add this new model to your lineup of old fold , at least you wo n’t notice a disparity in photographic camera tone .
There is a slight deviation in lighting between the two cameras , as I go through while testing both equipment side - by - side . The new photographic camera pick out in more spark to avail display item around the room . The old indoor Nest photographic camera also has a somewhat narrow-minded subject field of view , but it ’s hardly noticeable between the two camera trailer .
An evening snapshot of our backs with the new indoor Nest Cam.Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
I fix the cameras up in my family room , overlooking the slither door to the backyard . Both camera had upshot wield the exposure from the outside during the daytime . I could n’t see into the backyard on either of them . I prefer the new Nest Cam ’s bright preview overall , however , since it offered better line between item like my daughter ’s toys .
The new indoor camera can do object and front acknowledgment , which the original could n’t . It can tell between animals , the great unwashed , and generic motion , and it also works as a sound identifier for smoke alarms . Like theothertwoNest cameras we brush up , the Nest Cam will enter face and let you name them . That information is put in topically and it ’s encrypted . But to teach the automobile , you will have to painstakingly ruffle through each someone before the camera learns who they are .
I notice that the new indoor camera plunk up the data point from the other camera rather quickly . All cameras in the same family share a familiar facelibrary . The idea here that is you do n’t have to teach each new camera that come into the fold .
Each Nest Cam is only as good as its Nest Aware subscription.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
Prepare to Pay For Nest Aware
The indoor Nest Cam was a solid performer during my nearly two weeks of testing , though I ’m looking forward to turning off perpetual notifications since I identify it in one of the busiest rooms in the home . Unlike the other two Nest camera I ’ve examine , this one has no bombardment , so it will necessitate to remain plugged in at all meter to pick up footage .
Google ’s been shifting around itsNest Awaresubscription so that its free user have a few more perk than before . But they ’re still not enough if you want full manipulation of the cameras . On the indoor Nest Cam , you could catch event for up to three hours after they materialise without paying a fee . However , it ’s a minuscule bit of time if you ’re relying on the gimmick for around - the - clock surveillance .
In that case , you ’ll have to devote for Nest Aware , at least for the timeframe in which you plan to be gone from dwelling . Nest Aware costs $ 6 / calendar month or $ 60 / year for 30 solar day of clipping footage and intelligent alerting for familiar faces and dope alarms . But if you want access code to up to 10 days of 24/7 footage , you ’ll need to raise to Nest Aware Plus , which is the high tier up for $ 12 / month or $ 120 / year . Both subscriptions include pinch 911 calling from the Google Home app and cultivate for all Nest devices , include Speaker and saucy display .
Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo (In-House Art)
Long Live the Nest App
One of the most challenging parts of migrate over the new Nest Cam is that if you have any of the older Nest cameras on your internet , you ’ll have to shuffle between the bequest Nest app and the Google Home app to manage them all . At the very least , the Google Home app rent me preview every camera at once and simultaneously rick them all on and off , regardless of the year they were made .
The biggest issue with the migration from Nest to the Google Home app is that schedule the camera has alter . Rather than allow you to manually set the starting time and kibosh time of each television camera flow , like you could in the Nest app , you ’ll have to adjust the Home & Away Routines instead . My previous Nest cameras are scheduled to come on at a specific time every nighttime and go off in the morning , but the new Nest cameras trust on the telephone set ’s emplacement or manual interaction to switch between Home and Away mode . You ’ll involve to programme the modes beforehand so that Google knows which cameras to turn on and off . I favour scheduling them at specific times throughout the 24-hour interval instead of worry whether my subroutine has run .
This two - app system wo n’t last forever . Google hascommittedpublicly to fix this experience , though there ’s no specific time frame . Regardless , the terminal is near for the Nest app , and you ’ll have to picture out how to work with the Google Home app .
Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo (In-House Art)
Worth Buying?
The indoor Nest Cam is the most affordable of Google ’s security system television camera lineup . It ’s priced competitively against budget brands like theEufy SoloCam , which offers features like gamey - solving feeds and custom activity zones for a similar price . But you ’ll still have to factor in that monthly or one-year subscription price to Nest Aware if you need more than a three - hour holding time for footage .
You should only moot theindoor Nest Cam cameraif you ’re already embedded in Google ’s voguish display and speakers ecosystem . It ’s certainly a well - intent security system system when paired with any of the Nest voguish displays and other fellow traveller devices . But unless you ’re married to Google , cheaper security cameras like the TP - Link Kasa Spot River Cam work slap-up for watch out over the house without requiring a monthly fee .
GoogleGoogle NestSurveillanceTechnologyVideo surveillance
Screenshot: Florence Ion / Gizmodo (In-House Art)
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The indoor Nest Cam is really nice. But you might change your tune once you realize a Nest Aware subscription gets the most out of this $100 camera.Photo: Florence Ion / Gizmodo
