Nest Security Camera Review

Guaranteeing that your home is safe and secure can be a difficult task – but with the help of the Nest Security Camera, it could be made a little easier.

The camera provides high-quality video, is easy to set up, and will work with any other smart products you own.

Unfortunately, not everyone speaks of a good experience with this security camera. Some users found the Nest app to be buggy, had issues connecting the camera to their Wi-Fi or to the app and found the camera and the subscription service to be very expensive.

Nonetheless, before you make your final decision, let’s take a more in-depth look at the Nest Security Camera.

Nest Security Camera: The Details

Specs

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 4.5 x 2.9 inches.
• Product Weight: 2 ounces.
• Product Type: Security camera.
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa? Yes.

How Does It Work?

Despite what you may think, the Nest Security Camera is quite easy to set up and use. First, plug in the camera and download the Nest app.

The app is available for both Apple and Android. Download the app, then create an account, and the app will walk you through a quick set-up.

The set-up begins with adding the Nest cam to the app via the QR code on the back plate, and ends with connecting the camera to your Wi-Fi network. Once that’s all established, you’ll be able to watch yourself complete the remaining details from your phone.

If you have other Nest products or plan to buy some in the future, your camera is compatible with these other home devices like the Nest Protect and the Nest Thermostat. If you currently own a Nest product, simply add the camera to your already-existing app.

To record and store video, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee for Nest Aware, Nest’s cloud storage service. It sends you alerts, creates video clips, and holds your recordings for up to 30 days. Your first month of Aware is free but is then available at $10 per month.

You can also set up your Nest camera to work with Amazon Alexa.

Nest Labs: The Brand

Founded in 2010 by former Apple engineers Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, Nest Labs makes residential security systems, thermostats, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as the Nest cam and cloud service.

Their stated mission is “to create a home that takes care of the people inside it and the world around it.”

Nest Security Camera Review

The Positives

Easy to Set Up

Most users of the Nest Security Camera mentioned how easy it is to set up. Once you plug it in, establish it at your desired vantage point, and download the app, it’s pretty self-explanatory from there.

The app guides you through each step, so you’re never left confused or lost in the process.

Whether you’re very tech-savvy or brand new to the security camera game, you’ll be able to enjoy the Nest camera in a matter of minutes.

Excellent Video Quality

Several users mentioned how much they loved the Nest camera’s video quality.

Whether you are trying to catch your dog sneaking treats or are spotting an intruder in your home, you need to have an exceptionally clear view of the happenings – and Nest provides that with its 1080p recording quality.

If you ever need to show footage to the police, it will be sharp enough that they can pick out crucial details and hopefully catch the guilty party.

You’ll have a clear picture both day and night too. The Nest camera comes equipped with night-vision so you’re never left in the dark.

Customers have noted that the night vision is as clear as day so nothing misses your Nest. Perfect for the nursery or at lights-out.

Works With Other Smart Products

Compatibility is the name of the modern tech game. Luckily, the Nest Security Camera lives up to this demand.

You can sync it with your Amazon Alexa or any other Nest products you own, allowing you to streamline your smart home set-up.

Furthermore, it’s operational with most other smart devices, so you can connect it to smart lightbulbs and have the lights go on if the camera detects a disturbance.

The Nest Security Camera goes hand in hand in creating your perfect smart home, working with other devices to up the convenience in your home.

Great Range

No matter where you decide to place your Nest camera, it has the ability to see 360 degrees around your room. You won’t have to deal with blind spots or gaps in the footage, which is exceptionally crucial for home security.

As long as nothing is blocking the view of the camera, you’ll be able to see the entirety of any room you place it in.

Compact and Unobtrusive

This won’t be the camera to be noticed thanks to its small, sleek, compact design.

It’s easy to place anywhere from a shelf, to the wall with the wall plate, or it can even stick to something metallic thanks to its built-in magnet.

The Nest Camera can also be attached to a variety of tripod stands making your placement options endless.

Its small design allows it to be less noticed by any would-be intruders and doesn’t take away from your decor no matter where you place it. This makes this camera perfect for a variety of homes.

Two-Way Audio

Nest doesn’t only let you see what’s happening around your home, but you can communicate with those in your home through the Nest Security Camera too!

Users have enjoyed using this feature as they’re able to hear if the baby’s crying or if the dog is getting into trouble.

You can tune in on your camera through the app and be sure that your message is getting across when you decide to use the two-way audio feature.

The Negatives

Expensive

With its price tag and the need to subscribe to Nest Aware if you want to have your video footage stored, the ability to set up action zones, and to get smart alerts to your phone, this becomes a very pricey camera.

Nearly every user mentioned how they didn’t like having to subscribe to an extra service for the camera to really do its job.

A couple of testers even noted that other, similar cameras on the market do not ask you to sign up for a service; it is all included with the device. It’s up to you to decide if you think the Nest Camera is worth it to spend the extra money.

Buggy App

While helpful when operating properly, the Nest app is sometimes buggy and frustrating. It may shut down while being used, may not sync up with the camera on occasion, and, overall, underperforms.

When you’re paying for the camera and, possibly, the added subscription (which demands the use of the app), a buggy app is a huge problem.

Connectivity Issues

Some users also had issues connecting the camera to their Wi-Fi, making them lose footage or have the device continuously reboot.

When the camera isn’t connected or cannot connect to Wi-Fi, it’s basically useless. So, the device is not worth much if your power or internet goes out for any reason, as it will just take live footage without storing it anywhere.

With that in mind, clearly, this Nest camera has some kinks that need to be worked out. If you’re sold on this device, it might be best to make sure you have a strong connection.

Poor Night Vision

Quite a few testers also mentioned that the camera records at a very poor quality at night when placed in certain areas.

But since nighttime hours are when most break-ins occur, therefore making a security camera necessary, this can be a pretty big issue. Users noted that if placed close to a light (like a porchlight), it’s much easier to see.

Again, with the price of the camera and the need to pay for a subscription to really get your money’s worth, the device should provide great quality video all the time, not just when the lighting is right.

False Positives

A few users had the camera sending them alerts that turned out to be false positives. While this wouldn’t be too much of an issue if it happened only now and then, some users found it to be a regular and reoccurring problem.

When you’re buying something for security or surveillance purposes and it gives you false alerts, it can be more annoying than helpful. Eventually, you may end up ignoring the alerts and end up missing something that is truly worth your attention.

You have the option of turning these alerts off, but this might not be convenient for everyone. Especially those who want to stay in-the-know.

Here’s a video showing what the Nest Indoor Security Camera looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After looking over all the positives and negatives, we recommend the Nest Security Camera.

The issues with the connectivity and the app, the cost of the camera, plus the subscription service prevail as a worthwhile concern.

However, the app is continuously updated to resolve issues, and the video quality itself is exceptional – so long as it’s used primarily in the day or near a light in darker areas at night.

While there are other smart security cameras available that offer fewer issues at a better price, you can rest assured that this Nest product will provide you clear, 360 views with promises to improve for those who have patience.

Where to Buy the Nest Security Camera

Nest has made its way to the top of the home security department with their line of innovatively designed smart products. They’re living by their brand and changing the way homes function with their various smart devices.

Their line of smart products including the Nest Camera have gained attention from enthusiasts and experts and we can’t wait to see what other smart devices Nest has in-store.

Thanks to their success and popularity, it’ll be easy to find products like the Nest Security Camera both in-store and online.

It’s usually best to check home department and technology stores, but you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Best Buy (from $199)
• BH Audio Video (from $199)
• Wal Mart (from $164)

And of course, you can also find this indoor security camera on Amazon.

That’s it for our review on the Nest Security Camera. Tempted to give it a try?