Nest Cam (battery) Review: Specs & Verdict

Pros and cons

Pros

Works indoors or outdoors, with no wiring needed
Magnetic mount makes setup quick
1080p HDR video with night vision
Tells people, animals and vehicles apart without a subscription
Two-way audio with noise cancellation

Cons

Weather-resistant (IP54), not fully waterproof
Needs recharging unless you add a power cable
Only three hours of event history without a subscription
1080p is the top resolution

Specifications

Video: Up to 1080p at 30 fps with HDR, 24/7 live view
Camera: 1/2.8-inch 2-megapixel sensor, 130° diagonal view, 6x digital zoom
Night Vision: Up to 20 ft (6.1 m) with 6 infrared LEDs, with HDR
Motion Detection: Single motion sensor, 110° horizontal view, up to 25 ft (7.5 m)
Audio: Speaker and microphone with full-duplex two-way audio and noise cancellation
Power: Built-in rechargeable 6 Ah lithium-ion battery; 1 m charging cable and 7.5W USB-A adapter included
Weather Resistance: Weather-resistant (IP54); operating temperature –4°F to 104°F (–20°C to 40°C)
Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz), Bluetooth Low Energy
Size & Weight: 3.27 × 3.27 in (8.3 cm), 14.04 oz (398 g)
Mounting: Wall mount with 2 screws, or magnetic mount on a metal surface
In the Linked Listing: A 2-pack

Video and night vision

Sharp, wide picture: The camera records up to 1080p HDR with a 130° diagonal view, and it keeps a live view available around the clock.
Night vision: Six infrared LEDs light the scene up to 20 ft (6.1 m), and night vision supports HDR.
Digital zoom: You get 6x digital zoom in the app.
Limit: 1080p is the top resolution, so fine detail at distance is limited.

Power and installation

No wiring: The built-in battery and magnetic mount let you put the camera outdoors or indoors without an outlet nearby.
In the box: Each camera comes with a magnetic plate, wall plate, anchors, screws, a 1 m charging cable and a 7.5W adapter. The charging cable is rated for indoor use.
Continuous power: Weatherproof power cables in 5 m and 10 m lengths, and a stand, are sold separately. Continuous video recording needs the camera plugged in plus a Google Home Premium Plus subscription.
Battery life: Google points to g.co/nest/camlife for battery-life details, which depend on how often the camera records.
Requirements: It needs Wi-Fi with at least 2 Mbps of upload speed per camera, the Google Home app and a Google Account.

Smart features

Alerts: On-device intelligence tells people, animals and vehicles apart, and sends alerts through the Google Home app. Amazon says no subscription is required for this.
History: Three hours of event video history are included. A Google Home Premium subscription, sold separately, extends this to up to 60 days. The Amazon listing calls this Nest Aware.
Outages: If Wi-Fi or power goes out, Amazon says the camera stores up to an hour of events so you can see what you missed.
Security: It uses secure boot, automatic security updates and 128-bit AES encryption with TLS/SSL.

How it compares

Feature	Nest Cam (battery)	Nest Cam with Floodlight
Placement	Indoor or outdoor	Outdoor
Power	Battery, or optional power cable	Hardwired to 100–240V AC
Light	None	Two lights, 2400 lumens maximum
Linked listing	2-pack	Single

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nest Cam (battery) waterproof?

Google rates it weather-resistant (IP54). The Amazon listing says IP65, so rely on Google's figure.

Do I need a subscription?

No for live view, alerts that tell people, animals and vehicles apart, and three hours of event history. Longer history needs a Google Home Premium subscription, sold separately.

How do I power it?

It has a built-in rechargeable battery. You can also plug it in with a weatherproof power cable, sold separately.

Does the linked listing include one camera?

No. The listing we link is a 2-pack.

Google Nest Cam (battery) review