Nest Cam IQ (Outdoor, 2017)

Excellent video quality ; Powerful face-recognition ; High-quality cloud service with Nest Aware

May need professional installation ; Scheduling doesn't work with location detection

A super-impressive outdoor security camera, with the best cloud storage service and the best video quality.

Robust, good-looking hardware ; Fantastic imaging and clear two-way audio ; Intelligent zoom, image enhance and tracking ; Instant notifications and easy clip review ; Smartphone, web browser and Android TV viewing

Trickier to install than a battery-powered camera ; No siren or floodlights ; Nest Aware subscription required to unlock some features

It may lack some of the more obvious security features supported by competitors, but Nest Cam IQ Outdoor wins plaudits for its sleek lines, smart features and fantastic day/night image quality. However, those features come at quite the price. Nest...

Elegant design. 24/7 live video with 4K sensor, HDR, and close-up tracking. Weatherproof with IP66 rating. Two-way audio. Person alerts.

Expensive. Facial recognition feature requires extra subscription.

Packed with features, the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is one of the more versatile outdoor security cameras we've seen. Its facial recognition engine works as advertised and it does an excellent job of differentiating between motion caused by people and other...

Powerful person alerts ; Good quality video footage ; Loud two-way speaker system ; Secure fitting and installation options ; Customisable notifications ; Compatible with other smart home devices

Free plan is limited to three hours of footage (competitors offer far more) ; Notifications are sometimes overwhelming ; Person detection isn't always perfect ; Digital zoom is underwhelming

The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is a great, albeit expensive, outdoor security camera that's bigger and more secure than its predecessor. It's only really let down by the three-hour capture limits available with the free plan - meaning a subscription, at extra...

Elegant design and sturdy build quality ; App is easy to use ; Face alerts are fast and accurate ; Video quality is excellent

Installation may involve drilling ; Expensive ; Needs a Nest Aware subscription for maximum functionality

4K sensor and 1080p video ; Facial recognition and intelligent audio alerts ; Supports motion and audio detection zones

Requires you to drill a hole in your exterior wall ; Expensive

There’s no question the IQ Outdoor is a more feature-rich camera than the Nest Cam Outdoor. Whether that makes it a “better” camera for you probably comes down to price and convenience. The IQ Outdoor costs nearly $200 more than the Nest Cam Outdoor,...

Excellent audio quality ; Very good video quality ; Intelligent Familiar Face detection ; Well-designed, intuitive software

No local storage ; Key features, including video history, require cloud subscription

cameras are a better deal, but the Nest Cam IQ is also worth your consideration.