It’s as if some of the world’s biggest tech brands got together and decided this was the week to upgrade their smart home kit. Shortly after Amazon announced a new suite of security cameras, Google followed suit with two new Next Cam models coming to Australia.
A third-gen Nest Cam Indoor and a second-gen Nest Cam Outdoor are part of Google’s upcoming smart home range, with sharper image quality the main drawcard. Both wired models record 2K HDR footage, which camera benchmarking company DXOMARK labelled as being the best in their respective classes.
Google also says its new Nest Cams have a wider field of view and better low-light quality. Both the indoor and outdoor cameras capture a 152-degree diagonal view, while a wider aperture improves the light they can take in, helping with night vision.
But, like Google’s Pixel phones, hardware is just one part of the story. Google positions its new smart home gear as being “built around Gemini”. Similar to features offered by competitors, the Nest Cams support AI-generated captions of recorded events, in addition to finding footage by asking specific queries. Home Brief is Google’s summary feature, condensing the events of the day’s footage into a quick recap.
These features require a Google Home Premium subscription, however. In Australia, the service starts at $15 per month for Standard, which saves 30 days of video history and enables Gemini integration. Meanwhile, Advanced, required for searchable video history and event descriptions, costs $30 per month.
As for the devices, the new Nest Cam Indoor costs $189, while the upgraded Nest Cam Outdoor costs $239.99. Both are available in Australia now via Google’s online store and local retailers.
A new Google Home Speaker is also on the way, producing 360-degree audio and Gemini integration. It’s due out next year during the Australian autumn.
