In-Depth Review of the Google Indoor Nest Security Cam 1080p (Wired) – 2nd Generation – Snow
The Google Indoor Nest Security Cam 1080p (Wired) – 2nd Generation – Snow is a modern solution for home security, offering a blend of advanced technology, user-friendly features, and seamless integration within the Google ecosystem. This review explores its functionalities, performance, and overall value for potential buyers.
Design and Build Quality
Compact and Stylish Appearance
The Google Nest Camera comes in a clean and crisp “Snow” color, making it an aesthetically pleasing addition to any room. Measuring just 2.24 x 2.52 x 3.88 inches and weighing 14.1 ounces, it boasts a compact design that can fit into various home environments without being obtrusive.
Mounting Flexibility
With options for wall or tabletop mounting, the Nest Cam’s built-in stand allows for versatility in placement. Whether you wish to monitor your office or living areas, the camera adapts easily to your needs, ensuring effective coverage.
Performance
Video Quality
The 1080p HDR resolution provides a clear and crisp video feed with vibrant colors, significantly enhancing the monitoring experience. Night vision capabilities, reaching up to 15 feet, ensure visibility even in low-light conditions. Users have reported excellent performance in both daylight and nighttime settings, confirming the camera’s reliability.
Field of View and Frame Rate
With a 135-degree field of view and a frame rate of 30 fps, the Nest Cam captures a wider area, minimizing blind spots. This feature is particularly useful in dynamic environments, where movement is common.
Functionality
User-Friendly App Integration
The Google Home app serves as the central hub for accessing and controlling the Nest Cam. While some users miss the compatibility with the Nest app, the Google Home app offers a streamlined experience with various configuration options for notifications and alerts. The ability to set up activity zones for motion alerts enhances user control over what they want to monitor.
Intelligent Alerts
Equipped with built-in intelligence, the camera can distinguish between people, animals, and vehicles, sending tailored alerts directly to your smartphone. This feature is particularly beneficial for those looking to avoid unnecessary notifications from minor movements.
Two-Way Communication
The integrated speaker and microphone allow users to engage in two-way communication, which can be handy for checking in on pets or communicating with family members in the room.
Subscription Services
Free Event Video History
Google offers three hours of free event video history, allowing users to review recent activity without any additional costs. For those requiring longer video history, a Nest Aware subscription is available, providing up to 60 days of recorded footage.
Value for Money
For a security camera priced under $200, the features offered—especially when compared to traditional security systems—provide significant value. Users have noted how affordable modern security solutions have become, making this product a strong contender in the market.
Connectivity
Reliable Connections
The Nest Cam connects via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, ensuring reliable communication and remote access. However, some users have mentioned needing to refresh the connection periodically, which could be a minor inconvenience for some.
Compatibility with Smart Devices
Integration with Google Assistant allows for hands-free operation, enabling users to stream their live video feed on compatible smart displays. This adds an extra layer of ease and accessibility to the overall experience.
Customer Feedback
Mixed Reviews on Platforms
While many users have praised the camera’s performance and ease of installation, there have also been concerns regarding the lack of desktop browser access for monitoring. This limitation could deter users who prefer managing their security systems from a computer.
Installation Experience
Most users report a straightforward installation process, with easy instructions provided through the Google Home app. The setup typically involves plugging in the device and following the on-screen prompts, which eases the transition for those unfamiliar with technology.
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Taking into account the design, performance, functionality, and customer feedback, we assign the Google Indoor Nest Security Cam 1080p (Wired) – 2nd Generation – Snow an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
Pros:
- Excellent video quality with HDR support
- Night vision capabilities
- User-friendly app with intelligent alerts
- Affordable price point compared to traditional security systems
- Two-way communication feature
Cons:
- Limited to Google Home app, not compatible with Nest app
- Occasional need for connection refresh
- No desktop access for monitoring
In summary, the Google Indoor Nest Security Cam 1080p (Wired) is an outstanding option for individuals seeking a reliable and effective home security solution. Its advanced features, ease of use, and affordability make it a strong contender in the market for both personal and business use.
Bema –
Great resolution, even at night. Easy to connect and secure.
Drew K. –
This is a notable upgrade from the first-generation indoor camera series. The image and sound quality have significantly improved. My only complaint is that it can only be used in the Google Home app, not the Nest app, which was mentioned in the advertising and I was aware of.
robert m. –
Effective and reliable. I love it.
Bema –
I mistakenly ordered this product, believing it would work outdoors during a Canadian winter.
TAJ –
Connects to my Samsung right away, but I’m still trying to figure out how to connect my wife’s iPhone.
sandeep –
I just received three cameras today, and I’m really impressed with their quality. Installation and setup were a breeze—just plug them in and follow the step-by-step instructions in the Google Home app. The night vision feature is fantastic for security monitoring; I can see everything in the room through the app, even without any lights on. Plus, Google offers three hours of recording with no fees. It’s incredible how technology has advanced—what would have cost a few thousand dollars a decade ago is now available for just over $200. Based on my experience, I highly recommend these cameras to everyone.
Luis Aguilar –
The installation went smoothly. I swapped out an older outdoor camera that was on Nest Aware, but I’m unsure how to update the subscription to cover the new camera.
AmazonCustomer –
I’ve been using the Amazon Cloudcam since it first launched, but unfortunately, Amazon has discontinued the service. I was quite satisfied with it; the cameras offered decent video quality (considering when they were released), solid performance, easy desktop access, and quick loading of recorded clips.
Transitioning to a new camera was daunting, so I researched extensively and opted for the Google Nest cam. The annual subscription and features appeared attractive, and the cameras were reasonably priced compared to Ring, plus they integrated well with the Google Home ecosystem.
However, once I installed the cameras, the problems began. First off, there is NO option to view your cameras from a desktop browser, which is mind-boggling for a tech giant like Google. With my Amazon cameras, I could easily log into cloudcam.amazon.com and monitor all my cameras at once. But with Google Nest, you’re restricted to using your phone. This is far from ideal, especially when I’m at work, as I can’t check on everything from a larger screen. The disappointment here is immense. I’ve learned that prior to Google acquiring Nest, desktop viewing was indeed an option.
I set up my new cameras in the same locations as my old Amazon Cloudcams, which are adequately distanced from my WiFi router and boosters. The four-year-old Cloudcams worked flawlessly from these spots, with immediate video streaming. In contrast, the Google Nest cameras are constantly refreshing with a black screen and displaying “Live video unavailable” most of the time. After owning them for about four days, I get that message 90% of the time. The performance is shockingly underwhelming for a Google product. How can brand new cameras perform so poorly compared to technology that’s four years old?
Want to watch recorded video clips? Good luck—loading takes forever. By the time they finally load, your house might have already been robbed. Clips can take up to a minute to load, while my Amazon Cloudcam would load a five-minute clip in about 3-5 seconds. Google Nest can take up to a minute just to load a ten-second clip.
When the camera does work (which isn’t often), the video quality is excellent, the night vision is sharp, and motion detection is impressive. Unfortunately, the Google ecosystem leaves much to be desired, and the Home app is poorly designed and seems rushed. The inability to customize icon placements is also frustrating.
As for customer service, I chatted with them today and spent 36 minutes receiving the same copy-paste responses. It took 20 minutes just to figure out how to get me to approve their access to my system. After almost 40 minutes, they asked me for a screenshot. Big yikes, Google.
I genuinely want to like these cameras, but ultimately, I’ll be returning all of them (I spent over $500). I might consider either the pricier Ring or the more budget-friendly Wyzecam instead.
If you’re after an easy-to-set-up camera system with minimal hassle, look elsewhere.
Update: After over 1.5 hours with Google support, they seemed clueless. They suggested I uninstall the app and turn off the cameras, asking me what phone I was using—none of which helped as I had already tried those steps. Consequently, all four cameras have been returned to Amazon. During the chat, I researched other options and decided on Wyzecam, which offers unlimited cameras for $99 a year, includes web browsing, and features color night vision—all at a lower price point for the hardware.
Cheryl Frey –
I was looking for a product that didn’t require any subscription fees, and I’m glad I discovered Google Nest. The images and audio quality are excellent, and I’ve experienced no issues with its functionality. I appreciate the customizable alerts and the ability to easily turn it on and off. It’s user-friendly with minimal lag, and while you may need to refresh the connection occasionally, it performs exceptionally well overall.
Alex C –
I decided to try out a new camera and opted for this one. The installation process was straightforward, and the video quality is surprisingly good. The app functions well, and the notifications are reliable. There are plenty of settings available to customize the notifications. Overall, I’m quite satisfied with the camera.
Jenny L Baird –
The camera matches the description, but if you’re planning to use the Nest app, be aware that it won’t work with it. This Gen 2 model is compatible only with the Google Home app. I wish I had known this earlier, as I prefer the Nest app and was simply looking to add another camera to my existing Gen 1 setup.
Alex C –
We have a camera on each floor to monitor our elderly cat, who has seizures when we’re away. The motion alerts are fantastic, allowing us to follow her as she moves around the house. We can even communicate with her or someone else in the room through the microphone, although we don’t use that feature often—it’s a nice option to have.
What I really wanted was a plug-in feature to avoid the hassle of charging batteries like with the Ring Stick Up Camera. This camera can be wall-mounted or placed on a flat surface, is compact yet sturdy, offers a wide-angle lens, excellent night vision, and is stylish—all at a great price with easy device control. With 1080p resolution, recording capabilities, and management from my phone, it checks all the boxes for me.
It’s plug-in only, has fantastic night vision, motion detection, and sends alerts to your phone. Priced under $200, it’s a solid choice. I compared it to the Ring Stick Up Camera; we actually own both. The Google camera is ideal if there’s an outlet nearby, as it’s meant to stay mostly in one place. We often move the Ring Camera to cover areas where we lack camera views.
Both have great night vision and motion detection. The Ring Stick Up Camera is portable and battery-operated, but keep in mind that the battery lasts only about a day, so getting an extra battery is wise for seamless switching and charging. The plug-in option of the Google camera eliminates the constant need for battery changes.
You can manage the camera through the Google app, which allows you to view all your cameras in one spot. This camera stays on for much longer without going to sleep, while the Ring camera goes into standby mode every 15 minutes, requiring a restart. The light indicator on the front easily shows if it’s on. You can manage all camera settings at any time. Basic video storage is included—around 4 hours, I believe—with additional storage available for a fee. We have two of these cameras, and I really like them and highly recommend them.