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Wired or battery-powered: Which Nest Cam is right for you?

Google’s newest cameras offer smarter alerts, better video quality, and AI-powered convenience.

When it comes to your home, you want complete peace of mind. 

From confirming the safe arrival of a package to checking in on the new pup, Nest Cam has always been the smart choice for better home security. Whether you’re refreshing your current setup or just starting to research, you may be wondering which Nest Cam is right for you: wired or battery-powered cameras for security? 

There’s a lot to love about the flexible coverage of battery-powered security cameras, especially in hard-to-wire spots, like a high corner in a garage. Plus, if you want to move a camera around freely, it helps to not have wires to worry about.

But you’ll see more and miss less with the always-on coverage of a wired security camera. With its widest, tallest field of view yet, the wired Nest Cam lets you view what’s happening in and around your home more clearly, with crisp 2K HDR video and enhanced low-light performance.1,2

Busy schedules often depend on reliable support at home, and the wired Nest Cam also provides continuous, always-on coverage. Whether you’re working late, running out to a last-minute meeting, or spending the day at a Little League tournament, you’ll never have to guess what’s been happening while you’re out.

Plug into a premium protection experience

You’re halfway through your commute when the contractor calls to bump up the time of your driveway repairs. Surprise: they’re coming today, not tomorrow. Agree to this last-minute change with confidence, knowing that your wired Nest Cam will send a smart alert as soon as someone arrives. Confirm who it is without even opening your Google Home app.3 With the Standard plan of Google Home Premium, your Nest Cam can send alerts with zoomed-in video previews, so you can see the important information up close.

Busy schedules often depend on reliable support at home, and the wired Nest Cam provides continuous coverage.

Need to make sure your partner parked in the street, not the driveway? Whether you have a wired or battery-powered Nest Cam, your Google Home Premium subscription unlocks familiar face alerts and garage door detection in the Google Home app.4,5

Google Home

Plug into smarter home security

Nest Cam’s broad field of view and highest resolution yet mean you don’t miss a thing.

Google Home

Plug into smarter home security

Nest Cam’s broad field of view and highest resolution yet mean you don’t miss a thing.

Advanced protection for everyday life

Interested in the added convenience of continuous video protection? Search back through 60 days of event video history with the Advanced plan of Google Home Premium on your wired Nest Cam, with access to 10 full days of 24/7 continuous video recording.6 Easily find and review key moments with searchable history and event summaries. And enjoy a more proactive level of smart home security, with more descriptive notifications and daily summaries. 

Want to find out exactly what type of animal made the paw prints in your new asphalt? That’s no problem with an Advanced plan. Your daily summary from Tuesday picked up an animal, and you can scroll less and find more by simply typing, “What walked across my driveway on Tuesday?” into your Google Home app. Gemini will search through the continuous video coverage from your Nest exterior camera to get an event summary and show you relevant video clips of the culprit.7 Good news, possums are harmless. Bad news: those prints are here to stay.

When you buy a new Nest Cam or Nest Doorbell, you’ll be able to try everything Google Home Premium has to offer for 30 days.8

Reassurance during the day, sound sleep at night, and easy-to-find information about the comings and goings around your home make Nest Cams with Google Home Premium the go-to choice. Choosing which one fits your needs is up to you.

Takeaways
Achieve peace of mind in and around your home with Nest Cam security camerasWired cameras provide always-on, clear coverage, while battery-powered cameras allow for flexible placementFind just what you need in seconds, from days or even weeks of footage with Google Home Premium subscription
Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
More insight inside with 2K and Gemini.
Related products
Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)
Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen)
Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen)
Nest Cam with floodlight (wired)
Google Home Premium
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Keep your home running smoothly, even when you’re away. New wired Nest Cams raise the bar. Your dream smart home, by Google Nest.
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  1. Compared to earlier Nest Cam models. 

  2. Availability of 2K resolution is dependent on Wi-Fi and network strength, and requires connectivity speed of at least 3.3Mbps.

  3. Requires Google Home Premium subscription (sold separately), Google Home app, Wi-Fi, and internet connection. Features subject to change; available in select countries and languages. Gemini features work independently of Gemini apps. Check responses for accuracy; results may vary.

  4. Garage door detection requires Google Home Premium subscription, working internet and Wi-Fi and is only available in the US and Canada.

  5. Familiar face alerts require Google Home Premium subscription, working Internet and Wi-Fi. Not available in Nest Cams used in Illinois.

  6. Some features, including mobile and browser notifications, remote control, video recording, video streaming and video history, require the Google Home app and working internet and Wi-Fi.

  7. Requires Google Home Premium Advanced plan (sold separately), Google Home app, Wi-Fi, and internet connection. Features subject to change; available in select countries and languages. Gemini features work independently of Gemini apps. Check responses for accuracy; results may vary. 

  8. Purchase of Nest Cam Indoor (wired, 3rd gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (wired, 2nd gen) or Nest Doorbell (wired, 3rd gen) comes with a 1-month trial of the Standard or Advanced plan of Google Home Premium from date of offer redemption device activation. Offer available to users 18 years or older only. New users are eligible for a 1-month trial of the Standard or Advanced plan. Current Standard plan subscribers are eligible for a 1-month trial of the Advanced plan. Offer is not available to current Advanced plan subscribers or users currently in a free trial of Google Home Premium.(not available to current subscribers or free trial users of Google Home Premium). Redeem offer during device setup in the Google Home app or redeem in Settings in the Google Home app or on the Google Store Subscriptions page after device setup. Valid form of payment and Google Account required at signup. Subscription auto-renews, unless previously cancelled, after expiration of trial membership at $10/month or $100/year for Standard plan or $20/month or $200/year for Advanced plan. Cancel anytime. One trial per home at a time. Return of purchased device may result in cancellation of subscription. No refunds for partial billing periods are available, except as required by applicable law. See g.co/nest/tos for full terms.