New Nest Cam (with cable) from Google, in-depth analysis

Google continues to bet on increasing the range of hardware products that it is able to offer to users, both in the spectrum of mobile telephony, and in order to improve or expand its virtual assistant, Google Assistant, within the range of products compatible with Google Home. All this while Apple with HomeKit and Amazon with Alexa continue to take the lead in sales.

Today we focus on one of the most interesting products in relation to quality / price in terms of Google cameras, We reviewed the new Google Nest Cam with cable, we took a look at this very interesting alternative. Discover with us all its capacities and configuration.

Materials and design

This wired Google Nest Cam is designed for indoors and inherits a 'traditional' design within this range of products manufactured by Google to provide a good connected home user experience. A semi-circular base and a camera that is also like that, with contrasts in black and white tones made entirely of plastic. It has a good construction and good finishes as we have seen, looks stable and easy to handle. It has a support with a very wide degree of rotation made of metal and that will allow us to achieve the desired angle for its use.

• Size: 98.47 * 64.03 * 56.93 mm
• Weight: 393 grams

This integrated support has an addition that will allow us to place it flat, that is, on a traditional table or a shelf, but it also comes prepared so that we can place it vertically, such as on a wall, being very well integrated to our taste. Its parts are made with 45% recycled plastic, so Google's commitment to the environment is maintained. We have in the back some holes for microphones and in the front part of the sensor an LED indicator of the status of the camera.

Technical characteristics

We have a main sensor that is the hard core of the camera and that has 2 MP in total, with a recording in ratio of 16: 9 and a spectrum of vision of 135 degrees in total. In addition, it comes with a XNUMXx digital zoom so that we can focus on certain details. This will allow us to record video in 1080p (FHD) resolutions up to 30 FPS, having night vision through infrared and HDR. The video encoding will be the traditional H.264.

At the wireless level we have WiFi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, therefore compatible with both 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz networks depending on our needs. The compatible encryption will be WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3 and at the configuration level we will be able to enjoy Bluetoot Low Energy (BLE). To connect it to the current we have a 3 meter cable included And that at the end it has a USB-A port, in addition, the necessary adapter is included in the package, something to be appreciated considering that brands are getting us used to not including power adapters for some reason that we do not fully understand very good.

Viewing capabilities and settings

Setting it up is very simple as the informative video from Google tells us, once we have it placed wherever we want, we will simply open the Google Home application and it will appear in the new products section. Yes indeed, it will be necessary to integrate with our Google account and we do not have compatibility with other voice assistants such as Alexa or the list of Apple HomeKit devices. However, being a product of Google itself, it is nothing that surprises us or that can penalize them, we are clear about what we are acquiring.

The camera will allow us to access the recordings of the last three hours completely free of charge, We can go back and both save and share the videos we want through its own player. What's more, the camera has a microphone and speaker to be able to interact with people and animals that we have located where the camera as well as take advantage of its night vision that is quite good and meets expectations, remarkably clear and easy to store due to its quality.

• Notifications are instantaneous and are capable of identifying intruders, people and animals

However, by hiring Nest Aware from Google you can extend the video history up to ten days ago. For five euros a month we can also include all our Google Nest devices as well as screens and the rest of the cameras in the subscription, so if we install a complete security system "it will be more profitable".

• 128-bit AES content protection
• LED light indicating the status of use and safety
• Automatic on and off through routines

Obviously we will be able to configure activity areas to receive notifications about certain areas and thus we only receive information about the content that we want to be alert to.

User experience

The device has a machine learning system, that is, a kind of Google Artificial Intelligence that will allow us to correctly manage the information handled, as well as identify both people and pets so that we are clear about our information preferences. Security updates to prevent any kind of "hacking" are automatic and the encryption mentioned above has TLS / SSL. Of course, unlike previous devices in Google's Nest range, this camera is exclusively designed for indoors, so it does not have any special resistance.

The contents of the box are as follows:

• The camera with its integrated base
• USB power adapter
• Wall screws
• Dowels or wall anchors
• Quick Start Guide
• Warranty and Safety Documentation

The camera is offered from 99,99 in the official Google store as well as in El Corte Inglés and FNAC, usual points of sale, as well as reduced prices directly on Amazon. The price is slightly high and higher than the competition, but it is correctly integrated with the Google Home system so if you want to expand the devices or improve in this aspect, you have no choice but to go to the checkout, despite the fact that from my point of view there are more complete alternatives at more affordable prices.

Editor's Opinion

Pros and cons