Google has released updated versions of its Nest Cam indoor and outdoor models, now featuring 2K resolution and enhanced AI capabilities powered by Gemini. These cameras offer improved detection and notifications, though advanced features require a subscription. The upgrades address long-standing limitations in resolution and app integration.
The new Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) and Nest Cam Outdoor (Wired, 2nd Gen) represent a significant hardware refresh, jumping from 1080p to 2K resolution at 2560 x 1400 pixels. This upgrade enables a wider 152-degree diagonal field of view, support for HDR, high frame rates, and 6X digital zoom, allowing users to focus on specific areas like a garden gate or path. Notifications now include animated alerts with zoomed-in frames of detected events, making it easier to assess activity without viewing full videos.
Setup is straightforward: plug in the camera—using a 10-foot USB-C cable for the indoor model or an 18-foot weatherproof cable for the outdoor one—scan a QR code via the Google Home app, and connect to 2.4-GHz or 5-GHz Wi-Fi. The outdoor camera uses an elegant magnetic mount requiring screws, while the indoor version sits neatly on a shelf. Testing shows both models detect activity more accurately and swiftly than predecessors, with better range; for instance, the indoor camera can spot people across the street, and the outdoor one alerts faster for distant events like entering a garage.
Free cloud video history extends to six hours, up from three in prior generations. However, fuller features demand Google Home Premium subscriptions: Standard at $10 per month or $100 per year includes 30 days of video history, Familiar Faces detection, and basic automations; Advanced at $20 per month or $200 per year adds descriptive notifications (e.g., 'person walks up stairs' instead of 'person detected'), searchable history via queries like 'who opened the back door last night?', and daily Home Brief summaries.
While the AI reduces false alerts from elements like blowing branches or birds, it occasionally misidentifies family members or pets—confusing children with long hair or a dog for a cat, even after corrections. Reviewers note a 'beta feel' to these features, which improve with user feedback but may not justify the Advanced tier alone for all users. Compared to competitors like Amazon's Ring, Eufy, Lorex, and Wyze, Google's cloud-only approach accelerates AI advancements, though local recording options from rivals offer alternatives.