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The best Google Nest products for 2024

You can make your home a little smarter with help from Google.
By

Published onDecember 19, 2023

Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
MSRP: $179.99
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Positives
Fully wireless and simple to install
Three hours of free cloud backups
Terrific Google Assistant integration
Negatives
Low resolution (960p) camera
Non-removable, slow-charging battery
Expensive
Google Nest Protect
MSRP: $119.00
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Positives
Exceptionally smart Easy to install Works brilliantly
Negatives
Expensive
Google Nest Cam (2nd Gen)
MSRP: $179.00
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Positives
Long battery life
Three hours of free cloud storage
AI smarts work really well
Negatives
Slow charging
Nest Aware is near essential and costs extra
Weatherproof cable sold separately
Google Nest Audio
MSRP: $99.99
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Positives
Price
Compact design
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Integrated Chromecast
Negatives
Highly sensitive touch controls
No aux input
Google Nest Hub Max
MSRP: $229.99
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Positives
Nest Cam features help set it apart
Auto-framing in video calls is a nice touch
Great display, despite the fairly low resolution
Negatives
Only works with Duo for video calling
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
MSRP: $249.00
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Google Nest Wifi Pro
MSRP: $199.99
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Positives
Easy to set up and use
Neat design
Speedy and consistent performance
Thread and Matter support
A good value and no subscriptions needed
Negatives
Easy to set up and use
Neat design
Speedy and consistent performance
Thread and Matter support
A good value and no subscriptions needed
Chromecast with Google TV
MSRP: $49.99
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Positives
Fantastic interface
Google Assistant is wildly handy
Supports Google Cast technology
Exceptional value
Negatives
Volume/input controls don't work for all TVs
No Stadia support
Remote is very slippery

Google bought Nest Labs in 2014 to make a major smart home push, and now, everything from thermostats to speakers and displays bears the Nest branding. Some of the company’s offerings are better than others ― and we’re here to play favorites. These are the best Google Nest products you can buy right now.

The best Google Nest products

To complete a Google ecosystem, we’ve also got a list of the best Google Home devices from third-party manufacturers, such as lights, locks, plugs, and vacuums.

Editor’s note: We’ll add new Nest products to this list as they launch.


Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd gen)

Nest Doorbell 4 colors
Google

With many of us relying on deliveries for everything from groceries to e-bikes, it’s important to keep an eye on our doorsteps. The Nest Doorbell replaces your home’s analog hardware, and streams video right to your phone, tablet, or smart display (even Amazon ones). There are both battery-powered and wired-only Doorbell models, but for many people we recommend going with the latter, which has finally been updated to match the Battery model’s specs including a sleeker design and HDR video (albeit in 960p resolution).

You do sacrifice the ability to keep recording for an hour after power is cut, but you’ll never have to recharge, and you get the option of continuous cloud recording up to 10 days with a Nest Aware Plus subscription. The Battery model can only save event clips. If you don’t care about continuous recording, the cheaper, standard Aware subscription still offers 30 days of event history and familiar face recognition.

Without Aware, both Doorbells offer 3 hours of cloud-based event recording, as well as on-device person, package, animal, and vehicle detection for more selective alerts.

Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
AA Recommended
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
Fully wireless and simple to install • Three hours of free cloud backups • Terrific Google Assistant integration
MSRP: $179.99
Google's Nest brand finally has a fully wireless doorbell. But is it too little too late?
The Google Nest Doorbell is now the best Google Assistant smart entry camera you can get. It's a bit expensive and the camera resolution could be higher, but Google fans who haven't already committed to a doorbell will love it. Unfortunately, that could be the product's downfall, as most smart home folks already own a smart doorbell, and there's not much here that necessitates an upgrade.

Nest Protect

Nest protect device on wall

The Nest Protect is all about the trouble you can’t see — namely, smoke and carbon monoxide. It’s self-testing, and pushes alerts to your phone, where you can also silence those false alarms caused by burning the bacon. A further benefit is app-based battery warnings, so you never have to scramble for a stepladder to shut off annoying chirps.

There are wired and battery-powered versions, and it even lights up when you walk underneath at night. The wired model takes three AA batteries as backup. We do wish it had wider platform support, since as things stand it only integrates with other Nest products. We’re hopeful Google will release an updated model sometime in the future.

Google Nest Protect
Google Nest Protect
Google Nest Protect
MSRP: $119.00
Google Nest Protect (Battery) packaged with a Google Seal for Online Marketplace.

Nest Cam security cameras

Nest Cam battery with stand separate accessory
Google

Google’s Nest security cameras are nearly as popular as its thermostats. There are indoor and outdoor versions, both of which offer a 1080p video feed, a 130-degree field of view (technically, 135 degrees for the indoor model), and the detection of motion, people, vehicles, and animals. They’ll keep recording for an hour if they lose Wi-Fi.

The outdoor camera is weatherproof and supports battery power, whereas the indoor version is wired-only. If you’re all-in on Nest for home security, you can grab an upgraded outdoor Cam with floodlights, and/or multi-packs to rig up your whole home. Like the Nest Doorbell, you’ll need an Aware subscription to get expanded video history or familiar face detection.

Google Nest Cam (2nd Gen)
Google Nest Cam (2nd Gen)
AA Editor's Choice
Google Nest Cam (2nd Gen)
Easy to install • Versatile • Supports Google Assistance
MSRP: $179.00
A secured and accurate AI-based system with Google Nest Cam second generation
Google Nest Cam (2nd Gen) can be used wired or wireless, indoors or outdoors. It is easy to install, and the battery life is excellent.

Nest Audio

Google Nest Audio on top of coffeetable with a book and pair of Google socks
Adam Molina / Android Authority

The Nest Audio automatically tunes itself to the type of content you’re listening to (music, podcasts, etc.) as well as ambient noise levels. Adding a second unit enables stereo pairing, and you can link it with other Google-equipped speakers for a whole-home experience.

The product is a strong foundation for a smart home with support for Google Assistant, not to mention a wide array of services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and (of course) anything connected to Google. It may also be the smart speaker of choice for privacy. Yes, Google is using your searches for ads, but by default Google doesn’t record any of your voice commands for improving Assistant. You can easily ask your speaker to delete recordings if you do opt in.

Google Nest Audio
Google Nest Audio
AA Editor's Choice
Google Nest Audio
Decent price • Compact design • Excellent audio for its size
MSRP: $99.99
Get cozy and nestle up with Google’s latest smart speaker.
Nest Audio is an approachable, entry-level smart speaker for the minimalist music lover. This compact speaker produces excellent audio quality for its size, and is a great jack-of-all-trades. Google Assistant and Chromecast integration make it easy to set reminders, make inquiries, stream your favorite podcasts, and more. For under $100, the Nest Audio speaker is a great value.

Nest Hub Max

Google Hub Max Controls

If you want to step up from the Nest Audio to a smart display while keeping audio quality intact, look no further than the Nest Hub Max. The product pairs a 10-inch touchscreen with two 18mm, 10W tweeters and a 75mm, 30W woofer. Adding a screen makes a big difference, since it enables things like video calls, guided recipes, and video services like Netflix and YouTube. If you have a Google-compatible doorbell or security camera, you can stream live footage.

Often, though, it’s the simpler things that make a Nest Hub worth it. It’s a quick way of getting the time, weather, and upcoming Google Calendar events, and you can assign it a Google Photos album for rotating wallpaper. With a visual interface, you can control smart home accessories without disrupting other people. It additionally serves as a Matter controller and Thread border router.

There are legitimate reasons to want the smaller 7-inch Nest Hub. That one has less powerful sound and lacks a camera, but it’s both cheaper and more compact, while offering an option the Max doesn’t: Sleep Sensing, which can gauge sleep issues when the Hub is sitting on your nightstand.

Google Nest Hub Max
Google Nest Hub Max
AA Editor's Choice
Google Nest Hub Max
Nest Cam features help set it apart • Auto-framing in video calls is a nice touch • Great display, despite the fairly low resolution
MSRP: $229.99
The Google Nest Hub Max blends a smart display with a smart cam to great results.
Whether you're across the house or across the country, the Nest Hub Max helps everyone stay in touch. You can make video calls or leave video messages with Duo. The 10-inch HD touchscreen delivers sharp images and text, while the 6.5MP camera captures photos in stunning detail.

Nest Learning Thermostat

google nest learning thermostat 3rd gen

We’ve finally reached the product that put Nest on the map. The Learning Thermostat optimizes your heating and cooling systems, ultimately paying for itself by saving money on your power bill. You can create your own schedule, or as its name implies, let it learn from common manual adjustments. You’ll see a green leaf onscreen whenever you’re using a power-efficient setting.

Nest’s flagship is actually one of the simplest smart thermostats on the market. Its round shape is also aesthetically pleasing, moreso because you can choose colors like black, white, steel, or brass to match your décor. It’s compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Google Nest Learning Thermostat
Excellent automation • Slick, user-friendly design • Alexa and Google Assistant
MSRP: $249.00
The Nest Learning Thermostat is a gold standard, challenged only by Ecobee.
The Nest Learning Thermostat optimizes heating and cooling in your home, and learns your habits so it stays one step ahead. You can also program manual schedules, and control it with Alexa or Google Assistant.

Nest Wifi Pro

Google Nest Wifi Pro
Google

A continual challenge with any smart home is keeping every device online. For many people, Google’s Nest Wifi Pro should do the trick. It’s a mesh router, which means you can add extra units to improve coverage if range or obstacles are a factor. A single Pro covers up to 2,200 square feet (about 204 square meters).

Google has made some critical upgrades over the original Nest Wifi, most notably leaping from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6E for superior bandwidth and a much, much larger number of simultaneous connections. Each unit now has two gigabit Ethernet ports, and if you’re on the cutting edge of smart home tech, there’s support for Matter and Thread.

Google Nest Wifi Pro
Google Nest Wifi Pro
AA Recommended
Google Nest Wifi Pro
Wi-Fi 6E support • Multiple colors • Future-proofing
MSRP: $199.99
The Google Nest Wifi Pro router will blanket your home in Wi-Fi.
The Google Nest Wifi Pro is the company's 2022 mesh router system. It supports Wi-Fi 6E with a 6GHz spectrum, giving your home fast, reliable, and low-latency Wi-Fi.

Chromecast with Google TV

Google Chromecast with Google TV on table style photo
David Imel / Android Authority

Our final product is technically missing Nest from its name, but slots in neatly with the rest of the lineup, and is a natural choice for a Google-based smart home. The Chromecast features the Google TV interface, a remote with Google Assistant, and the ability to stream video from Google-compatible security cameras. In effect it can turn your TV into a giant Nest Hub, though you may want a separate Assistant speaker or display to improve the convenience of voice commands. There are 4K and HD (1080p) versions, depending on your needs and budget.

The Chromecast’s main purpose is streaming movies and TV shows. It packs all of your favorite streaming apps, such as Netflix and YouTube, and you can use Google Cast to push media from phones, tablets, and laptops. Google bundles it in a “Home of Entertainment” package with two Nest Audios and a Nest Hub Max, which is a pretty solid way of decking out an entertainment system, even if you can’t use the Audios as TV speakers. On its own, the Chromecast is $50 or less.


The best Google Home devices

Google only makes so many smart home products, so to complete a Google Home ecosystem, you’ll need to turn to third-party accessories. The options below should be a safe bet. Note that once you choose a brand in a particular category, you should stick with it if you can, since that will simplify setup and ensure consistent results.

Smart bulbs

A Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit
Philips

Door locks

August smart lock side profile

Smart plugs

TP Link Kasa Smart WiFi Plug Mini

Robot vacuums

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum top right angle view
Kris Carlon / Android Authority

Security cameras

The Eufy Video Doorbell Dual mounted on a doorframe
Roger Fingas / Android Authority
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