Cameras · Head to head

Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) vs Reolink OMVI 3i PoE

Full Smart Cameras comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Google and Reolink sites.
2026 verdict
One runs on a battery, the other on a single cable, and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the more capable of the two for a fixed outdoor position.
Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
Winner
Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
$329.99
Buy on Amazon USA
The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) is a polished, weatherproof camera that mounts magnetically, works indoors or out, shoots 1080p HDR and includes free event history for the past three hours plus on-device detection of people, animals and vehicles. It is the friendlier camera if your home is built on Google, with Alexa and Home Assistant also supported. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the bigger wired machine: a 4K 10MP 180 degree panorama with a tracking pan-tilt lens, colour night vision and 24/7 local recording with no subscription, but no HDR and a narrower platform list. Choose the Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) for a flexible indoor and outdoor camera in a Google home, and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE when you can wire the spot and want 4K coverage, tracking and local storage.
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FeatureGoogle Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)Reolink OMVI 3i PoEWinner
Price$199.00$329.99Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)
Rating4.14.3Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
Warranty1 year2 yearsReolink OMVI 3i PoE
PoENOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFiEthernetGoogle Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)
StorageInternal, CloudMicroSD Card SlotGoogle Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)
2K VideoNOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
4K VideoNOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
HDRYESNOGoogle Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)
Color Night VisionNOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
RTSPNOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
AlertsMotion, People, Animals, Vehicles, Familiar Faces, Glass breaking Sound, Smoke Alarm Sound, Carbon Monoxide Alarm SoundMotion, People, Animals, VehiclesGoogle Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)

What the differences mean

Power and placement

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) runs on a rechargeable battery with an optional wired mode, so it mounts almost anywhere with its magnetic base. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE needs one Power-over-Ethernet cable, which fixes its position but powers it permanently.

Video quality

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) records 1080p HDR, which handles mixed light well. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records 4K across a 10MP 180 degree panorama and adds a tracking lens, with far more resolution but no HDR.

Coverage

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) has a fixed 130 degree diagonal view. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE watches a 180 degree panorama and moves a separate lens to follow a subject, so a single unit covers more ground.

Storage and subscription

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) keeps the last three hours of events for free and needs a subscription for continuous recording and familiar-face alerts. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records 24/7 to a microSD card or an NVR with no subscription at all.

Ecosystem

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) works with Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is limited to Google Home and Home Assistant, without Alexa or SmartThings.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Both groups praise a clean install, and each stops there for different reasons. Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) owners highlight the strong magnetic mount, the crisp 1080p HDR video that stays sharp at night, the accurate on-device detection and the free three-hour event history, and they like that the same camera can move indoors or out. Their complaints are the subscription needed for 24/7 recording and familiar-face alerts, the fixed 1080p sensor, no HomeKit and the occasional Wi-Fi or charging hiccup. Reolink OMVI 3i PoE owners talk about coverage instead, praising the 180 degree panoramic view and the tracking lens and valuing the fully local recording with no fee, while warning that close-up tracking can be slow and jumpy, that notifications arrive heavy by default and that Alexa and HomeKit are not on the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) or Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

For a fixed outdoor spot with a cable, the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the more capable camera, offering 4K, a 180 degree panorama, a tracking lens and free local 24/7 recording. The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) is the better pick for a Google home that wants a flexible, battery-powered indoor and outdoor camera.

What is the biggest difference between the Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

Power and resolution. The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) is a wire-free 1080p HDR camera with a free three-hour event tier, while the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is a wired 4K panoramic camera with a tracking lens and fully local 24/7 recording.

Do the Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE need a subscription?

The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) includes free three-hour event history but needs a subscription for 24/7 recording and familiar-face alerts. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records locally to a microSD card or an NVR with no subscription.

Which works with HomeKit, Alexa or Google Home?

Neither supports Apple HomeKit. The Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery) works with Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant, while the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE works with Google Home and Home Assistant only.

Who should buy the Google Nest Cam (outdoor or indoor, battery)?

Google Home users who want one weatherproof camera for both indoors and outdoors, a magnetic mount, accurate alerts and a free basic event history without a commitment.

Who should buy the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

Buyers who can run a PoE cable and want 4K wide coverage, a lens that tracks movement and subscription-free 24/7 local recording.

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