Google Nest Cam with Floodlight review
A hardwired floodlight camera with 2400-lumen lights
The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight is an outdoor security camera and floodlight in one, defined by two lights of up to 2400 lumens and power that comes from your home's wiring. It records 1080p HDR video, tells people, animals and vehicles apart, and lights up when it detects activity. While it needs to be wired to an electrical box and is only weather-resistant (IP54), it is a strong replacement for an existing floodlight.
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Two lights of up to 2400 lumens with adjustable brightness
- Hardwired power, so no recharging
- 180° floodlight motion detection on top of the camera's view
- 1080p HDR video with night vision
- Tells people, animals and vehicles apart without a subscription
Cons
- Needs mains wiring at an electrical box
- Outdoor only, and weather-resistant (IP54) rather than fully waterproof
- Only three hours of event history without a subscription
- Larger and heavier than a standalone camera
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
- Lighting
- Two lights with adjustable brightness, 2400 lumens maximum, 4000K
- Motion Detection
- Camera: 110° horizontal view. Floodlight: two sensors, 180° horizontal view, up to 25 ft (7.5 m)
- Night Vision
- Up to 20 ft (6.1 m) with 6 infrared LEDs, with HDR
- Audio
- Speaker and microphone with full-duplex two-way audio and noise cancellation
- Power
- Floodlight hardwired to 100–240V AC, which continuously powers the camera; the camera also has a built-in rechargeable battery
- 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
- Camera 3.27 in, 14.04 oz. Floodlight 6.5 × 12.4 × 3.66 in, 41.09 oz
- Mounting
- Replaces an existing wired floodlight and mounts onto an electrical box
Video, light and motion detection
- Video: The camera records up to 1080p HDR with a 130° diagonal view, and it keeps a live view available around the clock.
- Floodlights: Two lights give up to 2400 lumens at 4000K, with adjustable brightness. The Amazon listing says they light up automatically when there is important activity.
- Wider motion detection: The floodlight adds two motion sensors with a 180° horizontal view, on top of the camera's 110° view.
- Night vision: Six infrared LEDs cover up to 20 ft (6.1 m).
- Talk back: A built-in speaker and microphone let you talk and listen through the Google Home app.
Power and installation
- Hardwired: The floodlight connects to 100–240V AC and continuously powers the camera, so you do not recharge it.
- Replaces an existing floodlight: It mounts onto an electrical box in place of an existing wired floodlight.
- Wiring is involved: This is a mains-wiring job. If you are not comfortable with household wiring, use a qualified electrician.
- In the box: The box includes the camera, floodlight, a mounting plate with grounding screw, cover, screws, wire connectors, a grounding wire, anti-theft screws, an S hook and a hex key.
- 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 Plus.
- Familiar faces: Amazon says it can detect familiar faces with a subscription.
- Outages: If Wi-Fi or power goes out, Amazon says the camera stores up to an hour of events.
How it compares
| Feature | Nest Cam with Floodlight | Nest Cam (battery) |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | Outdoor | Indoor or outdoor |
| Power | Hardwired to 100–240V AC | Battery, or optional power cable |
| Light | Two lights, 2400 lumens maximum | None |
| Motion detection | Camera 110°, floodlight 180° | Camera 110° |
Frequently asked questions
Does the Nest Cam with Floodlight need to be hardwired?
Yes. The floodlight connects to 100–240V AC at an electrical box and continuously powers the camera.
How bright is it?
Google lists two lights with a maximum of 2400 lumens at 4000K, with adjustable brightness.
Do I need a subscription?
No for live view, person, animal and vehicle alerts, and three hours of event history. Longer history and familiar-face detection need a subscription, sold separately.
Is it waterproof?
Google rates it weather-resistant (IP54). The Amazon listing says IP65, so rely on Google's figure.
