It’s Time to Build a New Nest
Google announced a slew of new products: three different cameras and one doorbell. The $179 Nest Cam (battery) is Google’s first outdoor battery-powered camera, the $279 Nest Cam with floodlight is the company’s first floodlight option, and the $99 Nest Cam (wired) is Google’s second gen wired indoor camera. Finally, the $179 Nest Doorbell, similarly, is Google’s first…you guessed it…battery-powered doorbell. That said, both the new Nest Cam (battery) and doorbell can be hardwired for power, too. The new cameras and doorbell feature on-device processing for smart alerts and 3 hours of event video history available – so no subscription required (…extended video history and 24/7 still require Nest Aware). The Nest Cam (battery) and Nest Doorbell are now available for pre-order and will go on sale August 24 while the floodlight option and indoor camera are “coming soon.”
The NPD Take:
- These new additions fill in some big gaps for Google. The addition of a battery-powered outdoor camera and doorbell is key to attract those consumers who want the Nest ecosystem but don’t want to deal with the hassle of installation of needing power sources nearby. The addition of the floodlight camera is Google’s very obvious – and very needed – answer to the Ring Floodlight Cam that sells so well. Google Nest and Ring suddenly are very closely aligned, and now consumers’ purchase decision really comes down to ecosystem and not device features. That said, the suggested price points keep Google Nest above Ring and the others, which could be a sticking point for some. On a more trivial note, Google might have come up with some better nomenclature to differentiate one Nest Cam (battery) from the other (wired)...just saying.
Arlo Has Gone From Smart to Secure
Arlo has launched new Arlo Secure subscription plans that replace what was formerly known as Arlo Smart. These new plans include 30 days of up to 2K resolution unlimited cloud storage, interactive alerts, advanced people/object detection, and activity zones. They are priced at $2.99/month for one camera or $9.99/month for up to five cameras for the base plan. Additionally, there is the $14.99/month Arlo Secure Plus, which includes unlimited cameras, plus 24/7 emergency response (sending fire, police or medical response to the camera’s location with one-touch), and 4K video cloud storage. 24/7 continuous video recording still costs additional - $9.99 for 14 days or $19.99 for 30 days.
The NPD Take:
- Arlo is now following in the footsteps of Google to offer subscription plans with support for an unlimited number of devices. The lack of included 24/7 recording, however, is a big miss. Google’s Nest Aware Plus, for example, includes 10 days of 24/7 recording for $12/month for unlimited devices. On the other hand, Google doesn’t offer the same level of emergency response.
Wyze Has Plans for More AI
Wyze has raised $110 million in new funding, which it plans to use to build “world-class artificial intelligence” into its camera products. The company says it has AI features in that works that “will be game-changing for any camera, let alone one that costs less than $36”.
The NPD Take:
- Presumably these features that Wyze refers to are/will be part of Cam Plus. Last year, the company added this premium plan which includes person, vehicle, package, and pet detection. The company is also supposed to be adding facial recognition in 2021. Wyze had already changed the game on device pricing, and its $1.99/month price for Cam Plus is also a game changer.
Please note that due to vacations, there will not be a Week In Review for the next two weeks