Google is taking a bold new step into the smart home market with the introduction of Gemini for Home, a system that blends its powerful Gemini AI with the latest generation of Nest devices and a brand-new Google Home Speaker. 
The move signals not just an upgrade in hardware, but a deeper shift toward homes that don’t just react to commands but anticipate needs with contextual intelligence.
The centerpiece of this announcement is the new lineup of Nest cameras: the Nest Cam Indoor (3rd gen), Nest Cam Outdoor (2nd gen), and the upgraded Nest Doorbell. Each device has been fitted with significantly improved sensors, delivering crisp 2K resolution with HDR support. Google argues that this upgrade isn’t just about prettier video – it’s essential for accurate AI-driven detection. With greater clarity, the cameras can distinguish subtle movements and generate alerts like “dog jumps out of play pen” accompanied by a short video clip. Instead of manually scrolling through hours of surveillance footage, users can rely on Ask Home to provide direct answers to natural questions such as “What happened to the vase in the living room?” The system also condenses long stretches of recordings into a Home Brief, offering summaries that save time and effort.
The higher resolution sensors also unlock practical advantages: users can digitally zoom into specific areas of interest without losing too much clarity, and Gemini enhances this experience by generating zoomed-in animated previews alongside alerts. Another significant improvement is the doubling of the event video history from 3 to 6 hours. Instead of just raw footage, each clip is paired with a descriptive text summary, making navigation and context retrieval faster than ever.
Low-light performance has also been rethought. Thanks to wider apertures, the cameras remain in full-color mode during dawn and dusk, when many other cameras switch prematurely to grayscale night vision. Naturally, the devices still include IR LEDs for reliable nighttime surveillance. The Nest Doorbell deserves special mention for its extra-wide 166° field of view in a square 1:1 aspect ratio, enabling homeowners to see both packages on the ground and the faces of visitors in one frame. The Nest Cam Indoor and Outdoor models stick with a wide 152° FoV, while the Outdoor cam and Doorbell boast IP65 ratings, ensuring they withstand rain, wind, and snow.
Pricing remains competitive. The Nest Cam Indoor is set at $100, while the Nest Cam Outdoor costs $150 – or $250 if purchased as a two-pack. The Doorbell is $180 but, at least initially, limited to the US and Canada. These devices are available through the Google Store and partner retailers across a wide range of countries, including major markets in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Meanwhile, Gemini for Home software features will first roll out in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia, with more markets to follow in 2026.
Google also announced a partnership with Walmart to release affordable onn-branded cameras designed for tight budgets but still fully compatible with Gemini for Home. The onn Camera Wired will retail for just $23, while the onn Video Doorbell Wired costs $50 – dramatically undercutting Google’s premium devices while ensuring AI features remain accessible.
The second half of Google’s announcement focused on the new Google Home Speaker, custom-built for Gemini integration. Unlike previous models, this device isn’t just a music player – it’s effectively a household AI terminal. It features 360° audio, a built-in processor to reduce lag during AI interactions, and a distinctive RGB LED ring that communicates Gemini’s current state: listening, reasoning, or responding. The speaker even supports a “Gemini Live” mode, visually confirming when the AI is actively engaged. On the entertainment side, it supports stereo pairing, multi-room audio with both Home and Nest speakers, and compatibility with the Google TV Streamer 4K.
The new Google Home Speaker will be priced at $100, launching in Spring 2026 across major regions including North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. This positions it not only as an evolution of the smart speaker category but also as a gateway to AI-first home management.
Google’s strategy here is clear: it’s not just selling cameras and speakers, but an entire AI-powered ecosystem where devices communicate and work together in ways that previously required manual oversight. Yet, as with past Google hardware, some users may remain skeptical – memories of previous privacy controversies around hidden microphones and data collection are still fresh. Still, if Google manages to combine Gemini’s intelligence with genuine transparency and reliability, the smart home could finally start living up to its futuristic promise.
1 comment
2K video with HDR is nice, finally something not potato quality