Nest isn’t dead – Google takes on Ring with new AI-powered video doorbell and security cameras

• Google has launched its first 2K security cameras and video doorbell
• All the new devices use Gemini for Home to give detailed alerts
• You can also use 'Ask Home' to search for moments in your video history

Google has just launched two new Nest home security cameras and a video doorbell, ending speculation that the Nest brand might be dead.

For a while, it looked as though Google might be dropping the Nest name altogether. Nest Aware is turning into Google Home Premium and the company has abandoned the brand for its smart speakers, but the Nest name is clearly still alive and kicking for home security hardware.

All three devices record at 2K, with a 1x1 aspect ratio and improved low-light performance compared to previous-gen devices. If you subscribe to Google Home Premium, you'll also get AI-powered features like detailed movement alerts (such as 'dog jumped out of playpen'), searchable event history, and Home Brief, which gives you a summary of the day's events.

Google Home Premium subscribers will get up to 60 days of video storage, but even if you don't sign up for a membership plan, your Nest device will still save video clips lasting up to 10 seconds for up to six hours.

All three new Nest devices are wired. Google hasn't yet revealed whether battery-powered versions will be released later, but it's possible. The company's last battery doorbell arrived several months after the wired model, so it might just be a matter of time.

Wired and watching

The Nest Doorbell (3rd Gen) offers 6x digital zoom and a 166-degree field of view. It works with Gemini for Home voice assistant and Google Assistant, and is compatible with Alexa. It's only available in the US and Canada for the time being, priced at $179.99 (around £135 / AU$275). Google hasn't yet revealed if or when it will go on sale outside North America.

The Nest Cam Indoor (2nd Gen) has a slightly narrower field of view than the doorbell at 152 degrees, but its specifications are otherwise very similar. It records at 2K, and offers the same free and paid video storage options.

It can be placed on a flat surface, or mounted on a wall or ceiling using its integrated mounting plate and a pair of screws. It comes in three colors (snow, hazel, and berry), though the latter two will only be available in the US. The snow colorway will be sold globally, and the camera has a list price of $99.99 (about £75 / AU$150).

Finally, the Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd Gen) has a 152-degree field of view, 24/7 night view, and night vision with HDR. It's available globally in one color (snow) and has a list price of $149.99 (about £110 / AU$230) for one, or $249.99 (about £190 / AU$380) for a pack of two.

Is Google already behind?

Google is facing stiff competition, however, with its doorbell and camera launch coming just one day after Amazon revealed a set of new Ring doorbells and cameras. with higher resolution and more advanced AI-powered features than the new Nest devices.

At an event in New York yesterday, Amazon showed off its first doorbells and security cams with 4K resolution, and a new feature called 'Ring Retinal 4K', which samples images over the course of two weeks and adjusts the image processing to optimize the picture quality.

Like the new Nest devices, Ring's updated cameras and doorbells offer AI subject-recognition so you can receive detailed notifications describing exactly what has triggered a recording (such as a dog running around the yard, a package on the doorstep, or someone loitering by a window).

However, the new Ring devices also have a new subscription-only feature called Alexa+ Greetings, which can converse with callers on your behalf. For example, if a courier calls, Alexa+ Greetings could tell them to leave any packages with a neighbor, or in a specific safe space.

Another feature exclusive to the new Ring doorbells is Search Party, which can help you find a lost dog by searching for it in footage from your neighbors' Ring devices, effectively tracking its movements. Search Party should be available for other animals (such as cats) in the near future.

I'm hoping to test all the new devices soon to see whether they deserve a place in our guides to the best video doorbells and best home security cameras.

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