The Front Desk Review

Google · Updated June 2026

Google Nest Cam (Battery): price, specs & release date

Google Nest Cam (Battery), released 2021-08. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.

Source: support.google.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger

On the Recordsourced & dated · eligible
See Google Nest Cam (Battery) on Amazon Live price at the store — may differ from the dated listed price above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Google Nest Cam (Battery) — Google
Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Is the Google Nest Cam (Battery) a good buy?

At $180, the Google Nest Cam (Battery) is #16 cheapest of the 19 security cameras we track, where the median is $99.99. On the spec sheet, its field of view of 130 ° is below the median of the 22.

Evidence of Record

Our data
Independent labsmeasured it
2
Physical metricsrecorded
1
Outlets on record2 tested · 1 mention-only
3

Two independent labs measured this product across 1 physical metric — battery. With a second lab on record, each figure comes from more than one independent hands-on source — a measure of how much evidence exists, not a rating of the product.

A coverage record, not a rating. How we count

Review consensus · sourced & dated

What reviewers say about the Google Nest Cam (Battery)

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.

Based on 3 reviews · 3 lab-tested · 2021-08-24

Tested by TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Reviewed

Consistently praised

  • Sharp, clear 1080p video in daylight and at night · 3 sources
  • Flexible battery power with quick, easy magnetic mounting · 3 sources
  • Free person/animal/vehicle alerts and 3-hour video history with no subscription · 2 sources

Commonly flagged

  • Built-in, non-removable battery leaves camera offline during its ~5-hour recharge · 2 sources
  • Google Home-only at launch; no Alexa, Siri or HomeKit support · 2 sources
  • No color night vision (black-and-white only) · 2 sources
  • Magnetic mount is too easy for someone to pull down

Where reviewers disagree TechRadar felt the free 3-hour storage 'won't really be long enough' for most people and leaned toward a paid Nest Aware subscription, whereas Tom's Guide and Reviewed highlighted the same free alerts and 3-hour history as a standout value that rivals charge for.

The sources (3)

TechRadar lab-tested ·

Battery recharge time (full): 5 hours

The Google Nest Cam (battery) recorded clear footage both during the day and at night, while the 6x zoom enabled us to enlarge the video to see small details more clearly.
The battery took five hours to fully recharge, which is disappointing, as because the battery is built-in the camera will be out of action while the battery is charging.
We did find the 130-degree field of view created a slight fisheye effect in the video, although this didn't detract from the clarity of the footage.

Tom's Guide lab-tested ·

As with most security cameras, the Nest Cam has a resolution of 1080p, which proved plenty sharp in my tests.
Night vision is incredibly clear I could easily make out the words on my shirt.
Right now, the Nest Cam will only work within the Google Home ecosystem.

Reviewed lab-tested ·

Battery drain over 2 days (high-traffic area, battery mode): 10%

the view from the new Nest Cam is impressively sharp for being 1080p
After using the camera for two days in a high-traffic area outside, the battery life decreased by 10 percent.
The base of the camera is magnetic, which means anyone can reach up and pull the camera down.

Specifications

Price (US)$179.99 Launch MSRP $179.99 confirmed by 9to5Google launch article (August 2021). Current street price may vary.
BrandGoogle
Released2021-08
Resolution1920x1080 (1080p HDR)
Indoor outdoorYes
PowerBuilt-in rechargeable Li-ion battery (6 Ah); optional weatherproof USB-C cable
Field of view (°)130
Local storageYes
Cloud subscriptionfree-tier-included
Night visionIR (6x 850 nm LEDs, up to 20 ft); no color night vision on this model

Source: support.google.com (verified 2026-06-15) · corroborated by 9to5google.com. support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9259110 (official Google Nest specs page, fetched 2026-06-15) confirms: 1080p at 30fps, 130° diagonal FOV, IP54 rated (indoor/outdoor), built-in 6 Ah rechargeable battery, 6× 850 nm IR LEDs up to 20 ft. local_storage=true: device stores up to 1 hour of clips locally when Wi-Fi is offline (per SlashGear / 9to5Google coverage, corroborated by SafeWise review). Free tier includes 3 hours of event history; Google Home Premium (formerly Nest Aware) $8/month for 30 days or $14/month for 60 days of history. Release August 24, 2021 per 9to5Google. MSRP $179.99 at launch.

Is the Google Nest Cam (Battery) worth it vs cheaper security cameras?

Google Nest Cam (Battery) against its closest cheaper and pricier security cameras on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 19 ranked

ProductPriceResolutionIndoor outdoorPowerField of view (°)Local storage
Google Nest Cam (Battery) this$179.991920x1080 (1080p HDR)YesBuilt-in rechargeable Li-ion battery (6 Ah); optional weatherproof USB-C cable130Yes
Lorex 2K Pan-Tilt Outdoor Wi-Fi Security Camera (F461AQD-E)$169.992560x1440 (2K, 4 MP)NoWired — 12 VDC power adapter (9.8 ft / 3 m power cord)107Yes
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (Battery)$1991920x1080 (1080p)NoRechargeable battery; plug-in, hardwired (100–240 V), or solar panel options140No

Frequently asked questions

What do reviewers say about the Google Nest Cam (Battery)?

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. 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); Magnetic mount is too easy for someone to pull down. (From 3 tester reviews, 3 lab-tested.)

How much does the Google Nest Cam (Battery) cost?

The Google Nest Cam (Battery) has a US price of $179.99 (Launch MSRP $179.99 confirmed by 9to5Google launch article (August 2021). Current street price may vary.), as of 2026-06-15.

How does the Google Nest Cam (Battery) compare on price?

At $180, the Google Nest Cam (Battery) is #16 cheapest of the 19 security cameras we track, where the median is $99.99.

When was the Google Nest Cam (Battery) released?

The Google Nest Cam (Battery) was released 2021-08.

What are the Google Nest Cam (Battery)'s key specs?

Google Nest Cam (Battery) (Google): resolution 1920x1080 (1080p HDR), indoor outdoor Yes, power Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery (6 Ah); optional weatherproof USB-C cable, field of view deg 130, local storage Yes. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-06-15.

Price of record: $179.99 at support.google.com, 2026-06-27. Other retailers may be lower — check the current price:

See Google Nest Cam (Battery) on Amazon As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Similar security cameras

Nearest in price — swipe to browse. Every pick sourced and dated.

All security cameras ranked · Open data & methodology · Queryable via MCP

Compare with

Head-to-head

Cheaper security cameras

Step up

More from Google

Part of the Smart home cluster

Locks, cams, climate and lights that talk back. Same sourcing, same dated prices: