I Started Talking to My Security Camera (And It Actually Answered)

When you first get a smart outdoor camera (door bell or security) you're wowed by the fact that it tells you a person or an animal was in your yard!

Then, after a few days, you're turning off those notifcations because it's an endless slew of irrelevant info. Then a porch pirate shows up. Or a mysterious critter is eating the flowers in your garden. Suddenly you're scrolling through the history in 10-second chunks, hoping the info you're trying to find is still there.

Well, Google might have finally fixed that.

Source: Google

I've spent some time with the new Nest Cam Outdoor, and while the hardware is solid, the real story here is how Gemini AI has completely changed how you use it. If you're deep in the Google ecosystem, this is the upgrade you've been waiting for. If you're new to the smart home world, this could be the outdoor camera to build the rest of your system around.

Google Nest Cam Outdoor Wired One Pragraph Review

This is a simple recommendation (as long as you live somehwere that's not usually colder than -20 in winter). The second generation of Google Nest Cam Outdoor Wired has excellent video quality but the general useability is enhanced hugely with AI features. Installation is relatively simple and the ease of use with these cameras is great.

Is the Google Nest Cam Outdoor Easy to Set Up?

You will need some tools and very basic DIY skills, but the Google Nest Cam Outdoor is relatively simple to install.

Before you set it up in it's final location, plug the camera into any outlet and add it to to the Google Home app. You will be prompted with very clear and simple step-by-step instructions guiding you on the install.

I mounted mine on a stucco wall in the centre of my garage. Using the included screws and anchors alongside my existing drill, bits, ladder, and hammer it was a relatively simple process.

The mount is cleverly designed. It's basically in three parts. You have to be quite precise when installing the base mounting plate (measure twice, don't just eyeball). But then, you twist a magnetic mount in place. And once that's on, you attach the camera to the base and the magnetic amount allows plenty of wiggle room so you can get just the right angle for your camera's view.

The comes with a waterproof power adapter and a 5.5m cable, so you've got plenty of length to reach an outlet. But definitely measure it out before you screw in the mount just to double check the cable will reach an outlet.

You can clean up the cable after it's mounted using the included cable clips and anchoring those to your exterior wall.

Does the Nest Cam Outdoor have good video quality?

I think the video quality on the Nest Cam Outdoor is excellent whether it's day or night. In fact, it's so good, it makes me realize that my Nest Doorbell may be due for an upgrade as the quality on the new outdoor cam is noticeably better than the doorbell camera.

The new Nest Cam Outdoor records in 2K HDR, which is Nest's highest resolution ever.

Why does this matter? Having 2K is great for digital zoom. In the Google Home app, you can zoom in and crop the view to stay focused on a specific spot—like your front walkway—and still get a high-quality image in your live feed and history. The video looks crisp, and the Night Vision handles low light really well.

Nest Cam Outdoor Wired Smart Features

The 2025 edition of the Nest Cam Outdoor features smarts unlike anything we've seen before thanks to better camera tech and an improved Google Home App.

Source: Google

While AI is absolutely a buzz word and tacked on to too many things, in the case of the Nest Cam Outdoor the way it works with Google Gemini is genuinely helpful:

• Ask Home: Instead of scrolling endlessly, you can now just ask questions about your video history. You can literally type into the search bar: "Did some kinda animal eat my petunias?" Gemini will analyze the footage and give you an answer like, "Yes, rabbits ate plants on October 29," along with the clip. It is incredibly futuristic and saves so much time.

• Smarter Notifications: The notifications have graduated from vague to specific. Instead of a generic "Person detected," you get detailed descriptions like "Timmy drives toy car". You also get zoomed-in video previews right in the notification, so you can see the important moment up close without even opening the app.

• The Home Brief: If you don't check your phone constantly, the Home Brief is fantastic. Every evening, you get a daily recap summary in the Activity tab. It summarizes the day's events—like packages delivered or people walking by—so you can catch up on your home at a glance.

Bottom Line Is the Google Nest Cam Outdoor Wired (Gen 2) worth it?

The hardware is great, and the 2K video is a welcome upgrade. But the real reason to buy this is the software. The Gemini integration turns a passive recording device into an active home assistant.

I am based in Winnipeg and there's a certain point in the winter where it's just too cold and my Nest Doorbell stops showing video. I assume this will also happen with the Nest Cam Outdoor Wired at some point (as it's "only" rated to -20), though in my experience my Nest Doorbell (wired) starts getting unreliable video around -10. This is to say, I'll be keeping you posted on how well this performs in very cold climates.

The Google Nest Cam Outdoor Wired moel works great on it's own but is certainly enhanced if you have a Google Home Premium subscription.

Smart Security

Nest Cam Outdoor (wired gen 2)

Geeking Out Shop

The Nest Cam Outdoor Wired is a fantastic option for anyone who wants smart security around their home. Thanks to the redesigned Google Home App and smarter notifications, it's easier than ever to monitor your home from anywhere. The cams can be purchased separately or in a two-pack.

• See at Google

Now, I suppose that's also "the catch." These cameras are designed to work best with an active Google Home Premium subscription. It costs $13 per month (replacing Nest Aware). Yet another subscription is a tough pill to swallow however here's something interesting: you get Google Home Premium included for free with a Google AI Pro subscription.

Now this subscription is even more ($26.99 per month). If you're a Gemini Advanced power user, maybe that's worth it. But for most people I assume not. But, when you factor in the included Google Home Premium and the included 2TB of storage and family share options that come with Google AI Pro, that's worth at least considering if you're in the research phase of choosing an outdoor wired smart camera.

Also, if you happen to have upgrded your smartphone to a Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro fold, you get a free year of Google AI Pro. With a regular Pixel 10, you get 6 months.

Without the paid membership, video history has increased from 3 hours to 6 horus (which is a nice perk out of nowhere).

If you are tired of dumb "motion" alerts and want a camera that can actually tell you what is happening, the Nest Cam Outdoor is an easy recommendation. Installation is simple. Video quality is great. And the new smart/AI features are genuinely helpful. It only comes in white, so it may stick out a little bit depending on the colour of your home.

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