Nest is one of the most respected names in the security camera business. They offer an amazing range of products, which include indoor and outdoor security cameras. This review is going to compare the various Nest security cameras, so you’re able to choose the perfect security camera solution for your home.
There are so many options these days for the homeowner wanting to improve their security with an outdoor surveillance camera. Indoor cameras serve both to improve your security and allow you to keep an eye on your kids or pets when away from home. Nest security cameras are as beautiful as they are technologically advanced. The only thing they don’t offer is wireless (battery) cameras. This means that all the Nest cameras require a hardwired power source. While this means some extra care when installing your camera, there is an upside. Nest hardwired security cameras are cheaper than any equivalent wireless system of the same high quality standard. If a wireless camera is not important to you, the Nest models will prove to be excellent value for money.
Despite the need for a power connection, Nest cameras have Wi Fi that works with your home router. So, like any of the top security camera systems, you’re able to view what’s happening from your mobile phone, tablet or any computer via the Nest App (available for iOS and Android devices). The high-end models also have microphones and speakers built-in. This allows the user to communicate with the person on the other end, in real time, from anywhere you may be. I should mention that the Wi Fi connection is by means of USB cables, it’s not wireless. As with the hardwired power connection, this means extra installation. Though there is a benefit to a wired router connection, especially if you have large home. Wireless cameras require an additional base station at an extra cost and the signal may not be too reliable over longer distances.
All Nest cameras will save the video image to the cloud. The basic, free cloud storage may be slightly limited by their storage time, it’s only 3-hours. But they have very affordable subscription plans. The Nest Aware plan, not only extends the time for which you can store camera video footage, it also offers some advanced features. I’ll discuss these after reviewing and comparing the Nest Security cameras.
Nest Camera Reviews
1. Nest Indoor Security Camera
The Nest indoor camera is superbly elegant and compact. You can use the stand or magnetic base and this will require basically no installation – just plug and play. It also has a removable wall plate, so you have plenty of options as to where and how you install your Nest indoor camera.
Really smart technology separates the Nest indoor security camera from the pack. High-Definition 1080 pixel video recording is about as good as it gets for home security cameras.
So you can instantly access a crystal clear image from your mobile device at any time. It also has an 8-times digital zoom, giving a close up view when the need arises. The Nest app is available free for any Nest camera and will send you instant alerts whenever motion is detected.
This is all pretty standard stuff when comparing the Nest indoor security camera to most of the other quality products available. What I really like about the Nest camera is the person detection system. You can avoid irritating alerts for general movement and focus only on people entering a room, if that’s what you prefer. Though you should take note that this feature is only available as part of one of their subscription plans.
The intelligent Nest system has a bunch of innovative features that will make your life so much easier. Nest indoor security cameras are compatible with Alexa for voice controls and the system can communicate with any of your smart home devices, like smart light bulbs.
The Nest camera will automatically store your video footage for 3-hours, longer cloud storage plans are available. I’ll discuss this when I talk about the Nest Aware subscription plans. A standard feature, available at no extra cost, is the ability to talk to anyone in vicinity of the Nest indoor security cam. It has a built-in microphone and speaker.
What impresses me most about the Nest indoor security camera is the excellent quality and reliability of the system. Why compromise on your family’s security with cheap products? In saying this, I don’t feel that the Nest system is particularly expensive in comparison to any of the other similar products around. Customers certainly agree with this. Though there are those who feel that the system isn’t too useful without a subscription and this means an additional monthly or yearly cost. If you check out the Nest Aware packages, you’ll see that these too, are not particularly expensive and are certainly worth the peace of mind.
2. Nest Cam Outdoor Security Camera
The Nest HD outdoor security camera has many similarities to the indoor camera. Obviously, the outdoor camera is weatherproof with an IP65 waterproof rating and weatherproof connections. The Nest outdoor camera can operate in pretty extreme temperatures: -4 – 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This is, in true Nest fashion, a compact and well-made outdoor security camera. As with all Nest cameras, this is a wired system and a 100-240 VAC power adapter is supplied with the basic kit. You also get everything needed to install the cameras.
This includes a wall plate and a magnetic mounting plate, which allows you to mount the camera to a metal surface without any drilling or screws. The other stuff, like screws and cable clips, are also included.
The camera is as good as any of the best you can get. You can stream a super-clear image (1080P) to you cell phone or tablet using the Nest app. Like the others, you also get alerts sent to you when there’s movement around your home. The camera has an excellent 8X zoom and really wide (130-degree) field of view. Night vision is taken care of, using 8 super bright infrared LEDS and the image is enhanced by an IR cut filter.
Top notch technology is a given with Nest cameras and this model also has two-way talk and listen. It is activated by a 3 megapixel sensor and you have the option of person detection and zone activation if you choose one of the subscription services. Like all the other Nest cameras, 3-hour cloud storage is standard with the option to upgrade for longer storage as part of the Nest Aware plan.
The only real issue with the Nest outdoor HD security camera system is the need to install cabling and it’s probably a good idea to go for one of the Nest aware plans to make full benefit of the system. Even the basic plan, costing around $5 a month (cheaper if you choose to pay for a full year), gives you all the advanced features. As the subscriptions become more expensive, you receive longer storage for saved video images.
3. Nest Cam IQ outdoor Security Camera
They’ve taken all the design qualities of the Nest HD outdoor security camera system up a notch in developing the Nest IQ outdoor security system. These cameras are tougher, definitely one of the most durable outdoor security cameras on the market.
They’ve improved the zoom abilities and the speakers are better too, as are the microphones. Just about every spec for the nest IQ is better than the standard outdoor security camera system and hard to beat.
I’ll start with weather resistance, the Nest IQ has an incredible IP66 rating and is capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -40 degrees up to 113 degrees. Whilst being just about the toughest home security camera you can get, the Nest IQ looks amazing and is super compact – 5” X 3.7” X 3.7”. The camera has the same 1080 pixel HD image as any of the best products. But the 12-times zoom ability is extraordinary and it has an enhanced tracking view. The 130-degree field of view is the same as the standard Nest outdoor camera, I guess there’s no need to improve on this.
The audio functions are nothing short of exceptional. For the IQ, they’ve used a much better speaker and a 3 microphone array. Of course, it will have all the other features found on the cheaper Nest outdoor cameras, like night vision, cloud storage, instant alerts and all the rest.
The Nest IQ is an outdoor security camera on steroids. These guys have taken an already brilliant camera, and made it better, much better. Compare the features of the Nest IQ to any of the top outdoor security cameras, and I’ll bet none will completely match the durability and outstanding features. Some may come close, but I doubt many can fully compete. Then compare the price to the other high-end options. The Nest IQ may well emerge as the outright winner for the number one position as the best outdoor security camera system. Of course, that’s if you’re not looking for a wireless system. That’s about the only thing the Nest IQ doesn’t have going for it.
Nest Aware Subscription Plans
There are three options available as an add-on subscription service for any security camera system in the Nest range of products. Form the cheapest, up to the top 30-day plan, they all offer the same benefits. The more you pay, the longer your cloud storage is for saved video
images. This amounts to roughly a buck a day for cloud storage. Though it will be even cheaper, if you pay your subscription for a full year, instead of monthly.
Standard Nest Aware Benefits
Regardless of which subscription plan you choose, you’ll receive all of the following features:
The three price variations allow for 5-day, 10-day, or 30-day cloud storage.