Google Nest Cam (Battery)
$179.99
Released 2021-08
Best Security Cameras · head-to-head
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Blink Outdoor 4 is cheaper at $120. Every spec and price links to its source.
$179.99
Released 2021-08
Blink (Amazon)
$120Cheaper
Released 2023-08
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Blink Outdoor 4 is the cheaper at $120.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | | |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $179.99 | $120 |
| Brand | Blink (Amazon) | |
| Released | 2021-08 | 2023-08 |
| Resolution | 1920x1080 (1080p HDR) | 1920x1080 (1080p) |
| Indoor outdoor | Yes | No |
| Power | Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery (6 Ah); optional weatherproof USB-C cable | 2× AA 1.5V lithium batteries (up to 2-year life); optional weather-resistant AC adapter |
| Field of view (°) | 130 | 143 |
| Local storage | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud subscription | free-tier-included | optional |
| Night vision | IR (6x 850 nm LEDs, up to 20 ft); no color night vision on this model | Infrared (1 red LED, adjustable intensity) |
| Release | 2021-08 | 2023-08 |
Sources — Google Nest Cam (Battery): support.google.com (verified 2026-06-15). Blink Outdoor 4: support.blinkforhome.com (verified 2026-06-15).
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Three hands-on testers (TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Reviewed) rate the 2021 Nest Cam (battery) - Google's retail 2nd-gen model - a top pick: sharp 1080p day and night video plus free person/animal/vehicle alerts and 3-hour video history without a subscription. All flag the non-removable battery's slow ~5-hour recharge; the Google-Home-only launch and easily-pulled magnetic mount also drew criticism. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Sharp, clear 1080p video in daylight and at night; Flexible battery power with quick, easy magnetic mounting; Free person/animal/vehicle alerts and 3-hour video history with no subscription.
Flagged: Built-in, non-removable battery leaves camera offline during its ~5-hour recharge; Google Home-only at launch; no Alexa, Siri or HomeKit support; No color night vision (black-and-white only).
Three whitelisted testers (Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and PCWorld/TechHive) went hands-on with the Blink Outdoor 4 and agree it's a top budget outdoor cam: cheap, tiny, easy to set up, with class-leading battery life powered by two AA lithium cells. All three flag mediocre 1080p image quality and key features locked behind a paid Blink subscription. TechRadar and PCWorld both note the manufacturer's two-year battery claim cannot be verified within a review period. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Class-leading battery life (Blink rates two years on two AA lithium cells); Cheap, compact, and very easy to set up; Local video storage via included Sync Module 2 / on-camera image processing for privacy.
Flagged: Only 1080p; footage can look grainy/blurry and trails pricier Nest/Arlo/Ring cameras; Key features (person detection, cloud recording, sharing) require a paid Blink subscription; No pet, package, or vehicle detection.