In this review, I compare the Nest Cam Indoor and the Nest Cam Indoor IQ.
It is no secret that Nest has some amazing cameras on the market, but sometimes choosing between them does not only mean taking a look at the prices.
Price, quality, features. They all need to be looked into and examined to know whether or not the camera is right for your home.
In this article, we will take a closer look and compare all the features that they share in common and the ones that may be what makes them the winner.
Before we get started, we are only comparing them in this post.
If you wanna know all the details there are posts for both of them with all the full details.
Check them out here:
Let's talk about the features they both have and why they matter.
Similarities
Resolution
First off, they both have a 1080p resolution, meaning they are going to give you an incredible image, even when you zoom in.
The details are gonna be sharp and clean. Both of them having such good imaging means you can choose either and get good usage.
They both include 30FPS and stream in an H.264 Video Format. That simply means that the videos are compressed.
Therefore, most home networks can support three or four cameras without putting a strain on bandwidth.
Field of view
Both of the cames have an extraordinary field of view, coming in at 130 degrees diagonally.
Meaning you do not need to zoom in, but that feature is also included if you want to get a closer look at something, which is a helpful feature.
Power
Both cameras are plugins and do not come with the option of having batteries which means they rely only on electricity.
They both plug into standard outlets, though they lack the flexibility that comes with having a backup battery if the power goes out.
WiFi
Both the cameras use 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi, meaning they can stream a full 1080p video with high details and quality.
The best part is that they will not slow down your network, therefore, you do not have to upgrade your WiFi plan.
Nest truly thought of everything!
Original content from learncctv.com
Live view and the app
They both offer a live view through the app, which is on-demand to you.
With Nest Aware subscription you can record video for a set amount of time.
Both cameras are easy to watch through the app that is available at all times and can be downloaded on Android, iOS, or Web app.
24/7 recording and Nest Aware plan
With the Nest Aware plan you can have access to continuous video for 5, 10 or 30 days depending on what plan you get.
All Nest Aware plans come with the 24/7 recording, intelligent alerts, clips and time-lapses, and the ability to set activity zones.
he difference in plans is how many days of videos will be stored. They each get a little discount when they are paid yearly instead of monthly.
5 days is available for $5 per month or $50 per year, 10 days is $10 per month or $100 per year, and 30 days is $30 per month or $300 per year.
Cloud storage
When you first sign up for the app you get a couple of days of a Nest Aware free trial.
Apart from that, with no additional charge, you will have this feature at all times.
The 3-hour snapshot history means when weird noises are picked up by the camera, and you miss alerts you will get to see pictures from the last 3 hours.
This feature is pretty useful when it comes to knowing what is happening at home when you are at work and cannot be watching the whole time.
Original content from learncctv.com
Differences
Mounting
The first difference that can be seen between the cameras si the mounting possibilities. On the Nest Indoor Cam post, we have gone over this.
The Indoor cam has various possibilities as to how your camera can be mounted something the IQ cam lacks.
This might not bother you but it is something to keep in mind.
Zoom
The digital zoom is in both cameras, however, the IQ offers an impressive 12x zoom while the Indoor only has 8x.
The IQ also has the extra feature that allows you to track things up close, seeing them move around. This feature is called Close-up tracking view.
There is also Supersight, which allows the camera to track a person from up close, therefore, it is easier to identify them.
This zoomed view can be seen in the Nest app, and have the same 130 degree-view as the regular video.
This feature will automatically be available.
It is available when the camera detects a person, which can be useful to see who is approaching the camera and makes it easier to identify people.
This can also be useful for identifying any intruders or trespassers if anything happens, and it will be all saved in the cloud if you have Nest Aware.
Two-way audio
The Nest Cam Indoor has standard two-way audio. This feature allows you to listen and talk through the camera when you are using the app.
The camera detects when someone is about to talk and will send you a notification to get your attention, how great is that?
However, the IQ cam kicked it up a notch. Nest added better volume and microphone. Along with a noise cancellation feature and an echo suppression.
These new features will make sure you have the best quality audio you can get. Both of them can be used to scare off intruders.
The IQ definitively has a more clear sound, but this may not be a deal-breaker for someone who is going for the Indoor cam instead of the IQ.
Original content from learncctv.com
Motion detection
While both cameras have motion detection, they have different features. For example, IQ cam does not need a subscription.
You read that right, it is already a feature included with the camera. However to enable motion zones and facial recognition you need a subscription.
The facial recognition is only available for the IQ cam. It will send you an alert when it recognizes an unfamiliar face.
The Indoor Cam needs a subscription to create motion zones, and detect people, the face recognition is not available even with the purchase of a subscription.
In the end, the better choice when it comes to these features would be the upgrade version, the IQ Indoor Cam.
Night vision
Infrared LEDs illuminate the whole room and an IR cut-off filter guarantees that you’ll get a clear picture whether is day or night.
However, the IQ has 940 nm lights which will be better than the 850 nm LEDs that the Indoor Cam brings.
The IQ will give you a much better, and clear picture even in pitch-black darkness, which can be useful when monitoring at night.
This is especially important if you are traveling and can run the risk of having a break in the house, so even in the dark, you are going to have an amazing quality.
Color
Though color does not matter at much, the designs are a bit different. Both cameras have beautiful designs and are quite modern.
However, the Indoor Cam is black, and the IQ is white and has a blue LED ring around the camera which makes it that much more attractive.
Google assistant
While the Indoor Cam is compatible with Google assistant, the IQ Cam has a built-in Google Assistant, which means it is more useful.
With the Indoor Cam you already have to have a Google home or hub. This, however, is not the case with the IQ Cam.
With the IQ Cam you are buying both the camera and Google all in one.
So when you say "Hey, Google" the camera will be ready to answer you.
With the Google Home Hub and the Indoor Cam you can use commands such as “Hey Google, show me the living room”. And watch your feed.
The IQ Cam takes it a step further with Google Assistant built-in. Meaning you can speak to your camera and get answers.
You can also manage your to-do list, get information, and control other smart devices through your security camera, how crazy is that?
All you need to do is activate your Google Assistant on the Nest App and enjoy Google and your camera together.
Amazon Alexa also works with both the cameras, however, it is not built-in. But Echo Show and Echo Spot can pull up your video feed and show you what is going on.
You can view your cameras on your TV if you do have an Amazon Firestick or a Google Chromecast, which is a great addition to the team!
Original content from learncctv.com
Comparison
Here is a quick way for you to know whether or not the camera you want has the features you are looking for.
Conclusions
Though the IQ is the better camera because it is the upgraded version, the Indoor Cam does win in one key area which is price.
However if you do want the more reliable camera then I suggest springing for a pricier camera, rather than staying with the cheaper, older model.
The IQ Cam is a bit pricey because you are paying for features like Google Assistant, tracking, face recognition.
The main downside to both the cameras is that there is no option for local storage. Meaning, they rely on WiFi and if your connection goes down you just lost footage.
But apart from that and the fact that they do not have battery backups, both these cameras are great for your house.
Whichever you choose, I am sure you are gonna love it!