The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight is a hardwired outdoor security camera with two adjustable LED floodlight heads that mount where an existing fixture is, replacing both the light and the camera in a single installation. The camera records 1080p HDR video at 30 frames per second through a 2-megapixel sensor with a 130-degree diagonal field of view, 6x digital zoom, and night vision. On-device intelligence distinguishes between a person, an animal, and a vehicle and sends specific alerts through the Google Home app without a paid subscription.
A security camera with built-in lighting that’s easy to install
The on-device machine learning is what separates the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight from a basic motion-activated floodlight camera. Instead of triggering on every leaf blowing across the yard, the camera identifies the cause of the motion and labels it. A person walking up the driveway, a dog crossing the yard, and a car pulling in all generate different notifications, so you can decide at a glance whether to check the feed. Activity Zones let you draw specific areas on the camera’s view so you only get alerts for motion in spots that matter.
The camera’s built-in floodlight will turn on automatically whenever movement is detected. This serves as a deterrent to intruders while simultaneously enhancing the quality of captured images. There are two motion detectors that provide coverage over 180 degrees and can detect motion up to 25 feet from the sensor. Infrared LED lights are used for nighttime viewing and remain active even after the floodlight has been turned off. It also has HDR Image Processing, which helps to maintain usable images in scenes with varying lighting conditions.
A built-in rechargeable battery keeps the camera recording during power outages, so a tripped breaker or cut wire doesn’t kill the feed at the wrong moment. Two-way audio with noise cancellation lets you talk to whoever is outside through a built-in speaker and microphone. A Nest Aware subscription adds familiar face detection, extended video history beyond the free three hours of event clips, and the ability to call emergency services from the Google Home app.
The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight connects over dual-band Wi-Fi and works with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. You can stream the live feed to a Nest Hub, Google TV, or Alexa display with a voice command, and toggle the floodlight by voice as well. The unit is IP54 weather-resistant and operates from negative four to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Google Nest Cam with Floodlight is on sale for $200 instead of the usual $280. Most people end up buying a floodlight and a security camera separately, mounting them next to each other, and running two apps. This combines both into one piece of hardware with one app, one install, and smart detection that knows the difference between a delivery driver and a raccoon before it sends a notification.
