r/Nest • u/dressedlikerappers • 3d ago
Is it wise to buy Nest Floodlight/any Nest camera in 2025?
Moved into a new place with existing nest cams (and another security system) but have a glaring blank spot and need a light for the yard. Considering getting the nest cam as i’ve already got the doorbell and a few existing cameras but I see this thing was released in 2021. Are google just not updating these? are they discounted?
Is it a smart purchase?
Cheers!
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u/kbrez 3d ago
I love mine, highly recommend.
There are a bunch of Google home haters in this forum that have poor Wi-Fi networks and blame Google for their devices not being able to function well with the poor connection they are given. Ignore them.
The biggest issue with the current nest cams on the floodlight are they are not 4k. The picture is solid, but there are definitely higher resolution options on the market.
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u/MarvinStolehouse 3d ago
Personally I wouldn't. Google tends kill off "old" products, and if I'm going to invest in an ecosystem, I want it to last a long time.
That and the consistent rising subscription fees have pushed me to look elsewhere for smart home things.
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u/monkaypants 3d ago
Is 10-15 years of life not a long time for "smart" products with aging hardware?
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u/MarvinStolehouse 3d ago
Not if it still works perfectly fine.
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u/monkaypants 3d ago
Sure, and it will continue to work perfectly fine as a regular thermostat / camera. The complaint is about the smart features that age out over time. Or do you still have your commodore 64?
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u/MarvinStolehouse 2d ago
Imagine if commodore was like "welp, we're going out of business, so your computer is going to stop working".
Yeah, the thermostat still works as a regular thermostat, but that's not why I spent several times more on it.
If I'm going to be buying new smart home things, I'm going to buy stuff that doesn't rely on cloud services from a company known for killing their cloud services.
If yall want to buy things that will have to be replaced every X number of years, that's fine, but I'm not going to.
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u/monkaypants 2d ago
Sure that's not why you got it originally but it still works as a thermostat so saying it "Stops working" is inaccurate.
Except it doesn't "stop working" it still works perfectly fine performing its core function...
The sunk cost you paid over 10 years saved that much and more, even if you have to upgrade.
That is a great trade. Nobody should expect indefinite support. Nobody is entitled to demand a company give you infrastructure or security forever.
You literally replace every other technological device within that time frame, why would a smart thermostat be different than any other smart device?
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u/MarvinStolehouse 1d ago
Oh I get it, and if you want to purchase products you know you'll have to replace in the future due to to the manufacturer deciding they don't want to support it any more, by all means go for it.
Personally, I'm going to purchase products, when possible, that will keep working long after the manufacturer ends support.
These days there are so many great alternatives that you can easily avoid throwing money at a company with a history of abruptly killing off products.
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u/monkaypants 1d ago
Not to keep this dragging on, but I believe it is more nuanced than just "ceasing support because it's old".
It is the Nest Gen 1 Learning the regular Gen 1 is still supported
Old hardware is old hardware, every smart thermostat with an app will have this issue, not just Nest.
Which alternatives haven't done this? Ecobee has already: Article Detail
Why are we crapping on Nest for doing the same?
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u/MarvinStolehouse 1d ago
I'm not going to buy an Ecobee either.
Whenever my Gen3 thermostat, or any of my cameras stop working they'll be replaced with something not tied to a proprietary cloud service.
For thermostats, most things zigbee, zwave, or matter should work regardless of manufacturer support. Just plug into your smart home platform of choice.
Nothing is perfect, nothing lasts forever, there's no guarantee that any of this will still work 50 years from now, but I want to insulate myself as much as possible from a (any) company with a history of killing off functionality.
Google Graveyard exists for a reason.
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u/Expensive-Heart3299 3d ago
I have the nest flood light and it works great for me. Currently Best Buy and Home Depot have them on sale for $209 (regular is $280)
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u/moutonbleu 3d ago
I installed 2 wired doorbells and 2 floodlights recently for my FIL and they work well. Look for sales, gone 2 floodlights at 50% off at Home Depot.
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u/slimseville 2d ago
I know a lot of people complain about Google/Nest products on here but I haven't had any issues with my floodlight or doorbell cameras in the years that I've owned them.
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u/CanaryStunning1768 3d ago
Google cams are junk now. I removed all 13 of them and went with ubiquiti G6 4K AI cameras. DAY AND NIGHT DIFFERENCE. The Google cams are so blurry comparing them side by side. Trust me, go 4K. 1080 is so old school now.
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u/Kthxbbz 3d ago
No. Do not invest in the Google / nest ecosystem. Look elsewhere.
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u/dressedlikerappers 3d ago
Thanks for the reply? Are you able to give me some insight as to why? For the laymen
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u/ian9outof10 3d ago
I’ll expand, if you’re paying for the subscription, it’s fine. If you were hoping it would be functional and free, it isn’t.
Support lifetime varies, but you won’t be using them in 10 years. If that’s okay with you, then they’re likely fine.
A lot will depend on your willingness to use your own self-hosted system or another product that can operate locally and record to SD card or similar.
There’s no one answer, I guess. For me, Google doesn’t appeal. Plenty of others are happy.
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u/dressedlikerappers 3d ago
i’ve pretty much decided on the eufy at this point. the only google product i’ve paid for is the nest doorbell which wasn’t a massive investment. i’m purely paying for nest aware to be able to watch clips later. i’m an iphone user too so the google home system isn’t of large importance to me.
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u/ian9outof10 2d ago
Probably a fair choice. I want to do similar, but I’m thinking more of a totally self hosted setup, including a security DVR.
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u/dressedlikerappers 2d ago
I have that already (inherited it with the house) but it’s not great with its person detection. to be fair there isn’t one placed where i need it to be but i think i need one camera in this place that has much smart features. so maybe a non-subscription would be best.
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u/CravenTaters 3d ago
They just discontinue stuff quickly, have bad support, app sucks and is dated.
I had the newest security system (obsolete now, moved over to ring), I have the cameras (trash compared to ring re support and cost), I have the protects (smoke and fire - I like them, but older models are losing support), and then wifi (also disconnects, little control).
It’s just not worth investing in their system. The nest app has basically been destroyed (you’re still allowed to do some things) but forced to move to Google home. The Google home app can be glitchy and is not great for the cameras.
I probably had / have 5-6k in Google, and I wouldn’t buy another Google product ever again. My house had Nest so I thought I would stick with it and expand - pure regret now.
Can’t wait to cycle out of it all.
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u/dressedlikerappers 3d ago
looking at the eufy now!
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u/CravenTaters 2d ago
Haha yea I would run from Google products at this point.
Their hardware support is just a joke. The Google Wifi / mesh system is the next thing on my replacement chopping block.
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u/holounderblade 2d ago
Do you want your cameras to be yours and owned by you and always have access to your own footage?
No - Sure they're okay value.
Yes - Get your own NVR setup
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u/dellbites16 3d ago
Recommend you avoid the nest floodlight cam. Bought mine this time last year. Worked great for a few months but now goes offline multiple times per day. Has a hardwired power connection but still constantly tells me the battery is running low. We have the same behavior with another Nest wired outdoor camera. And the issues with both of them started at the exact same time.
Have factory reset both with no improvement. In the daily history you can see the highlights of recording activity but when you try to drill down into the actual video it just shows 'no activity available '. Google support is a ghost town but what else should I have expected.
Is frustrating because I was such a huge Nest fan and advocate early on. But now will be switching as soon as the Ubiquti Unfi 180 degree cameras come available this Fall. Recommend you take a look at those.
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u/h2ogeek 3d ago
If Google could be trusted not to kill off their own products left and right, maybe. And their subscription prices for online storage are nuts. That money would be far better spent on other systems that have a better track record of being maintained, usually superior quality, and often cost less. (Or will once the first subscription charges hit)
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u/PhantomEagle02 3d ago
I’ve moved over to Reolink. Same sort of devices (floodlight cam, doorbell etc.) but you can store everything locally on an NVR so you don’t have to pay for a subscription. They also have hardwired and wireless options.
Added bonus of not discontinuing their products after a few years…
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u/Shiftr 3d ago
If you aren't having issues with the current setup, and don't have any special requirements for a floodlight cam, then I don't see why it wouldn't be...it works very well in my opinion.
If the future scares you or being able to just move on to something else later if you are no longer happy, then maybe skip it.
I won't stop buying GH/Nest products until I have a reason not to.