Google introduces smart Nest cameras for both indoor and outdoor use, along with a brand-new doorbell powered by AI

During its Google Home event on Wednesday, Google introduced an updated range of Nest products—its smart home security cameras and doorbells—including the new $149.99 Nest Cam Outdoor, $99.99 Nest Cam Indoor, and $179.99 Nest Doorbell. Each device is built to highlight the capabilities of Google’s Gemini AI assistant within the smart home ecosystem. All three models feature 2K HDR video, providing crisper visuals than earlier versions and representing the highest resolution Google has offered so far, according to the company.

Google explained that it selected this sensor to ensure the level of detail required for Gemini’s current and future capabilities as the technology advances. The goal was also to let users zoom in for finer details—such as reading a license plate on a car outside—while also managing data usage efficiently.

Beyond 2K HDR, the cameras now provide a broader and taller field of view than previous generations. The updated 152-degree diagonal angle lets users monitor a wider area. For the doorbell, Google has expanded the field of view to 166 degrees and changed the aspect ratio to 1:1, resulting in a more square-shaped image.

This enhancement allows the device to capture more comprehensive views, such as the full body of someone at the door and the surrounding area, including any packages on the ground.

Thanks to a new sensor and a wider aperture, the cameras now perform better in low-light conditions. Google claims these models are 120% more sensitive to light compared to their predecessors and can remain in full-color mode for longer periods at dawn and dusk. They also retain infrared night vision, which detects heat signatures for visibility in total darkness.

Additionally, when an event is detected at the door, the preview images will now be zoomed in on the trigger, making it easier to identify what happened. Users can also set the doorbell’s view to stay zoomed in on a specific area by cropping and fixing the image as desired.

Gemini intelligence arrives on Nest

Google aims to stand out from competitors by leveraging Gemini’s advanced features and upgraded standard offerings.

To start, the free tier now doubles the event history from three to six hours. For each event within that window, a 10-second video clip is attached. Those needing more history can upgrade to plans offering 10 or 60 days of recordings, among other options.

Gemini enhances notifications by making them more intelligent.

Currently, users receive numerous alerts for camera events—such as motion, people, or package deliveries—but must determine which are important. With Gemini, notifications will include more context.

For example, instead of a generic motion alert, you might get a message like, “dog jumps out of playpen,” along with a zoomed-in video preview of the event.

“That’s the transformation Gemini brings. This experience is powered by what we refer to as ‘semantic scene understanding,’” said Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest, during a press briefing before Wednesday’s announcement. “Since Gemini is multi-modal—and that’s a complex challenge, by the way; it’s not just basic object detection—Gemini can actually analyze and interpret the events in the video,” he added.

“So instead of simply ‘person detected’ or ‘package delivered,’ Gemini can recognize that a FedEx driver is leaving a package on your porch and walking away,” Kattukaran said.

Another feature in the Google Home app, called “Home Brief,” provides a summary of the past 24 hours’ activity you missed while away. This lets you review package deliveries, see if the dog knocked over the coffee table, check who visited, and more. You can also instruct Gemini to make the summary longer or shorter, or focus on specific topics like children or pets.

You might ask Gemini when your kids arrived home from school, if the landscaper came by, or whether UPS made a delivery, for example.

Gemini will also make it easier for users to access advanced features, such as home automations—preset routines that control multiple devices automatically—or to better track their energy consumption.

Instead of manually setting up automations, you can simply tell Gemini (even in general terms) that you want to feel more secure at home, and the AI will suggest routines—like closing blinds, locking doors, or simulating occupancy by turning lights on and off while you’re away.

The cameras are packaged without plastic and come in new color options. The Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd gen, $99.99) is available in Snow, Hazel, and Berry. The Outdoor Cam (Wired, 2nd gen, $149.99) comes in Snow and Hazel, is rated IP56 for weather resistance, and is built to withstand dust and heavy rain. The updated resin exterior is also designed for long-term UV protection and improved sustainability, according to Google.

For privacy, a green indicator light will still appear when the camera is recording or streaming, just as before. Google also provides encrypted video, two-factor authentication, and assures users that their footage will never be used for advertising or personalization purposes.

The Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd gen, $179.99) is offered in Snow, Hazel, and Linen.

These products are available at major retailers and through the Google Store. The Nest cameras are sold in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The new Nest Doorbell will be available in the U.S. and Canada.

To reach a broader audience, Google has teamed up with Walmart to introduce more budget-friendly options: the onn Indoor Camera Wired ($22.96) and onn Video Doorbell Wired ($49.86), both offering 1080p live video. A paid subscription unlocks additional smart features powered by Gemini.

Nest Aware becomes Google Home Premium

With this launch, the existing Nest Aware subscription is being renamed Google Home Premium, but the available plans and prices remain unchanged. (Home Premium Standard is $10/month, and Home Premium Advanced is $20/month.) Google Home Premium will also be included with Google One subscriptions at no extra charge. This means that Google AI Pro subscribers ($20/month) will get Home Premium Standard for free, while Google AI Ultra users ($250/month) will have access to Home Premium Advanced.

Lastly, users will no longer need to alternate between the Nest mobile app and the Google Home app, as all features have now been consolidated into the Home app. The Nest app will not be discontinued immediately; Google plans to ensure a smooth transition for existing Nest users first. (You can find more details about the updated Home app here.)