Home safety is something lots of people are willing to spend a good deal of money on. This is why most of us want to live in a good neighborhood and are thinking of investing in a security system.

If you’re after the best home security camera that will offer you great convenience, top-notch performance, and the most advanced functionalities, you have to check out the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor. Hailed as one of the best outdoor cams by tech experts, there’s a very good chance that this item will tickle your fancy. It’s loaded with lots of useful features that it easily stands out in the saturated IP camera market.

Interested in learning more about it? Here’s our review of the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor.

Product Review: A Closer Look at the Google Nest Cam IQ Outdoor 4100US

Design and Features

From the first time we saw the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, we knew that it’s a different kind of security camera. Why? For starters, it looks interesting. With its convex shape, it doesn’t really look like a traditional camera. In fact, some might even mistake it for an odd light fixture as its head resembles that of a lamp.

Even its base and wall mount doesn’t look like a regular camera base. The sleek design of the camera hides the joint that allows the camera to move in all directions. As a result, it has a stationary look to it which is very different from what most surveillance cameras look like.

However, with its black faceplate, status light, and prominent lens, anyone who sees it will soon realize that it’s a camera. As it’s also quite big in size, it’s rather eye-catching and you won’t have a hard time catching its details.

Another notable thing about its design is the fact that it’s more weatherproof than the other outdoor camera from Nest. The IQ Outdoor is IP66-rated and can operate from -40F to 113F, making it suitable for outdoor use.

Setup and Usage

Like other Nest cams, the IQ Outdoor is simple to get up and running. Setting it up to start recording is as simple as connecting it to your wi-fi network, and adding it to your Nest app account.

What might take you longer, however, are its settings, mounting, and wiring. This device is highly customizable so you can tweak it according to your preferences and needs. As it’s also a plug-in device, you will need to do some electrical work to complete its installation.

The great news is, unlike the Nest Indoor Cam, its power cord is designed to be concealed. This promises a cleaner look and better durability.

Video Quality

Nest cams are widely known for their video camera so you can expect the IQ Outdoor to have clear and crisp images. Aside from being capable of recording clips in 1080p, its 4k sensor, intelligent imaging, and daytime HDR promise a “supersight”. You’ll certainly be able to see and tell what’s happening in front of the IQ Outdoor camera.

Even its night mode is impressive. It has 4 infrared LEDs so your night vision clips are clear and sharp. You’ll be able to see clearly faces that are up to about 10 ft away. However, it still has some difficulty in balancing the exposure between the illuminated areas and very dark backgrounds so expect some blurring and overexposure when viewing something that is close to the camera lens in the dark.

Combined with a 130-degree field of view, you can certainly get a good view of your property with the help of this camera. The clips recorded in the cloud retain this field of vision so you can easily zoom in and out of the areas your camera covers. You can turn off this feature, however, using the app.

Track and Zoom

As expected from products in its price range, the IQ Outdoor also has tracking capability. Once its motion sensor has been tripped by what the device has determined as human movement, it will track the motion so you can better monitor it from behind your screen. The actual device doesn’t move but the lens does, making it a rather inconspicuous pick.

This camera is also equipped with a 12x digital zoom with enhance functionality. Thanks to its 4k sensor, you don’t have to worry about losing picture quality if you want to take a closer look at certain areas in your clip.

Aside from tracking and zooming, this item also has a facial recognition tech, so your camera can detect who it is that you’re looking at. It’s a really nice touch but the tech itself is still being perfected, so don’t expect it to not have some issues.

Audio Quality

Aside from its HD video, the IQ Outdoor is also equipped with HD audio. It will record and stream the sounds its three mics pick up and it does this well. It also has a built-in speaker, so you can use the camera as an intercom of sorts or for deterring intruders.

Motion and Sound Detection

Another handy feature that the IQ Outdoor shares with other Nest cams are motion and sound detection. It has sound and motion sensors that will alert you using the Nest app about the movement or sound.

Its motion detection is more intelligent than others’, however. For starters, its sensitivity doesn’t need to be adjusted anymore as its 4k sensor does a great job in differentiating movements. It won’t be set off by blowing winds, moving shadows, or small animals.

With this, you can also count on its Person Alerts to perform better. Combined with its facial recognition feature, the IQ Outdoor really gets to do a reliable job in limiting false alerts. Compared to other cameras, it also does a better job of identifying the faces added to its database.

To help you further reduce the occurrence of false alerts, you can also set up activity zones. This way, only the movements in the areas you’ve selected will set off the IQ Outdoor’s alarms.

Cloud Storage Costs

Like other Nest Cams, the IQ Outdoor also doesn’t have local storage and records continuously. It also requires a subscription to the Nest Aware service so you can use all of the features of the device. Without it, you’ll only be able to access your camera’s live feed, its 3-hour history, and optional email alerts.

How much do you need to pay for a Nest Aware subscription? The 10-day rollover plan costs $10 per month or $100 annually. If you have more than 1 camera, you’ll need to pay an extra $5 for each camera per month or $50 annually. For a 30-day rollover plan, you’ll be billed $30 monthly or $300 annually with an added $15 monthly for each additional camera or $150 annually for each cam.

Smart Home Compatibility

Since it’s a part of the Nest Home collection, you can easily integrate the IQ Outdoor to a Nest environment. It’s also supported by Google Home, IFTTT, and Alexa.

Mobile Apps and Web Portals

Another strong point of the IQ Outdoor (and Nest products in general) is its user-friendly app and web portal. Both are beautifully designed with the users’ ease in mind, so you don’t have to worry about it. Even if you’re not a tech expert, you’ll be able to navigate the app and web portal without too much fuss.

FAQs

What is the main difference between the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and the Nest Cam Outdoor?

The Nest Cam Outdoor can only withstand water spray while the Nest Cam IQ can handle low-pressure water jets. This means that the IQ can be placed somewhere that it can get rained on moderately while the Nest Cam Outdoor can only get wet very lightly.

Can I use the Nest IQ without a subscription?

Yes, your Nest IQ Cam will still work even after your initial Nest Aware free trial has expired. However, you’ll have very limited access to its features so you won’t be able to get full use of its capabilities.

Conclusion

With everything said above, it’s not hard to see that the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is one of the most feature-packed and impressive options in the market today. With its range of functionality and superb performance, it might just be worth the splurge for many homeowners.