Google Nest Cam release date, news, and everything you need to know Nest Cam (battery)
Google has unveiled a new home security camera with facial recognition that, in a first for Google, is battery-powered. The Google Nest Cam (battery) replaces both the Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and the Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor, which have been out of stock since the start of 2021.
If you’d prefer to ensure the Google Nest Cam (battery) is always motioning for motion, an optional weatherproof cable is available for the camera, along with a table-top mount if you want to use the home security camera indoors.
However, the Google Nest Cam (battery) offers more than just the flexibility of how it’s powered – it also comes with the same intelligent detection as Google’s latest video doorbell – the Google Nest Doorbell (battery) that can now recognise vehicles and animals as well as people and packages.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A new battery-powered Google Nest Cam
- How much will it cost? $179.99 / £179.99 /AU$329
- When will it be out? It’s available to pre-order now in the US, UK and Australia, with shipping on August 24
Google Nest Cam range
Google is launching three different versions of the Google Nest Cam. The Google Nest Cam (battery), which as the name suggested is powered by a rechargeable battery, will be joined by two wired home security cameras; the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight, which sees the camera nestled between two floodlights and Nest Cam Indoor, which as the name suggests is a wired security camera designed for use inside. However, these won’t go on sale until later in 2021.
Google Nest Cam price and release date
The Google Nest Cam (battery) will set you back $179.99 / £179.99 /AU$329, which is much more affordable than the Google Nest IQ camera, which was later rebranded as Google Nest IQ Indoor.
This was priced at $299 / £299 / AU$399 when it debuted in June 2017, although it wasn’t released in Australia until mid-2018.
Similarly, the Google Nest IQ outdoor soon followed in September 2017 and was priced at $329 / £329 / (around AU$425) however it has never been released in Australia.
The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight will be priced at $279.99 / £269.99 (around AU$370, while the Google Nest Cam Indoor, will be Google’s most affordable home security camera, costing $99.99 / £89.99 (around AU$130).
This is the first Google Nest camera that doesn’t require a subscription if you want to go back and review the footage it records at a later date. The camera can store up to three hours of video in the cloud for free – but Google’s algorithms determine the footage that is saved based on the motion and sound identified in the video.
However, you can subscribe to an additional Nest Aware service that offers continuous recording, with prices starting from $5 / £5 / AU$9 per month.
Can’t wait for the new Nest cameras to drop? Then check out these deals on other great home security cameras
The Google Nest Cam (battery) is available to pre-order in the US, UK and Australia now, and will ship on August 24. As we’ve already mentioned, the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight and the Google Nest Cam Indoor won’t go on sale until later in 2021, and Google is yet to confirm an exact date.
Google Nest Cam (battery) design
On the surface, the Google Nest Cam (battery) looks very similar to the Google Nest IQ outdoor and the Google Nest IQ Indoor, with a circular design in matt white, and the black fascia containing the 130-degree camera lens taking up the whole front of the device.
However, rather than a wall mount with a ball and socket joint that allows the camera to be angled to cover the area you need, the Google Nest Cam (battery) has a magnetic mount, similar to those found on Arlo’s range of rival cameras, including it’s recently released Arlo Pro 4. It’s weatherproof too – making it suitable for use outdoors.
The Google Nest Cam (battery) is powered by a rechargeable battery, as we’ve already mentioned. However, if you prefer to use the camera on mains-power, an optional weatherproof cable is available, along with other accessories including a table-top mount, and an anti-theft mount.
Google says the battery can last up to three months before it needs recharging. However, the battery is built-in, which means the camera will be out of action when the battery needs recharging – unlike Arlo’s battery-operated security cameras, which have removable batteries, so providing you purchase an additional battery – they’ll never be offline when the battery needs recharging.
As with all of the best home security cameras and video doorbells, how often and for how long live view is activated, as well as the climate and even how often motion is detected will affect how long the battery lasts.
The camera records Full HD footage and has HDR built-in so details in the video will still be clear even if particularly bright or dark at the time, and has a built-in speaker and microphone so you can converse with anyone in the camera’s field of view.
It’ll also send a notification to your smartphone when it detects motion, and using the Home app you can view a live feed from the camera, or review the footage at a later date.
Just like the Google Nest Doorbell (battery), the Google Nest Cam (battery) will store up to 60 minutes of video locally if the Wi-Fi goes down, or the power is cut. When the camera comes back online, this footage will then be uploaded to the cloud and visible in your timeline of events.
Google Nest Cam (battery) features
One of the big draws of the Google Nest Cam (battery) is Google’s claims that it won’t annoy you with alerts about motion caused by rain, snow or other irrelevant sources, as its algorithms can filter these alerts out.
Even better, as well as identifying if a person is the course of a motion alert, the Google Nest Cam (battery) can also identify vehicles, and animals – including different types of animals, and this information will be included in the notifications you receive on your smartphone.
This means it’s easier to see at a glance what the source of the motion is and whether you need to open the app and take action, or simply ignore it.
Google has also considered privacy when it comes to the Google Nest Cam (battery) and included a number of features such as an LED that indicates to anyone close by the camera is recording footage.
Google has unveiled a new home security camera with facial recognition that, in a first for Google, is battery-powered. The Google Nest Cam (battery) replaces both the Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and the Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor, which have been out of stock since the start of 2021. …
