Cameras · Head to head

Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) 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
Indoors or outdoors changes the answer. For the outside of a home, the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the security camera to buy, with 4K video, a 10MP tracking panorama, colour night vision, RTSP and 24/7 local recording over PoE.
Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
Winner
Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
$329.99
Buy on Amazon USA
The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) is the indoor one, and a strong one: sharp 2K HDR video, a wide 152-degree view, Gemini-powered alerts that separate people, animals and vehicles, and a painless Google Home setup, though it is indoor-only and its best features sit behind a paid plan. Choose the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE to watch a yard or a driveway, and the Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) for a room indoors in a Google home.
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FeatureGoogle Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)Reolink OMVI 3i PoEWinner
Price$129.00$329.99Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
Rating4.54.3Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
Warranty1 year2 yearsReolink OMVI 3i PoE
Weather ResistanceNOIP66Reolink OMVI 3i PoE
PoENOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFiEthernetGoogle Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
StorageInternal, CloudMicroSD Card SlotGoogle Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
4K VideoNOYESReolink OMVI 3i PoE
HDRYESNOGoogle Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)
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 Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)

What the differences mean

Indoor or outdoor

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) is indoor-only with no weather resistance. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is IP66 rated and built to sit outside, so only one of the two can watch a porch, a driveway or a yard.

Resolution and HDR

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) records 2K HDR over a wide 152-degree view, which handles bright windows well. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records 4K and a 10MP panorama without HDR, so it wins on detail and coverage while the Nest wins on high-contrast scenes.

Storage

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) keeps a few hours of events free and records to Google's cloud, with no microSD or RTSP. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records 24/7 to a microSD card, an NVR or a NAS and needs no plan.

Smart alerts

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) uses Gemini AI to classify people, animals and vehicles and adds animated previews, with familiar faces and sound alerts behind a plan. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE detects people, animals and vehicles locally and on its own.

Power and network

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) plugs into an outlet and runs on dual-band 2.4 and 5GHz Wi-Fi. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE takes power and data over one Ethernet cable, so it needs a cable run but never drops like Wi-Fi can.

Ecosystems

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) works with Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE works with Google Home and Home Assistant and adds RTSP and ONVIF for third-party recorders. Neither supports Apple HomeKit.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) owners describe the 2K HDR image as crisp day and night and single out the Gemini-powered alerts that tell a person from a pet or a passing car, with animated previews making a notification quick to check. Setup through the Google Home app is called a five-minute breeze, integration with the rest of Google's ecosystem is seamless, and live view loads fast. Their recurring complaint is cost: the camera is pricey, and continuous recording, familiar faces and longer history all need a paid Google Home Premium plan, on top of no microSD or RTSP. Reolink OMVI 3i PoE owners praise the image and the 180-degree panorama and single out the second lens that tracks a person or a vehicle, with the pan and tilt called smooth; Home Assistant owners confirm the integration and value the local, fee-free recording. Their notes are the cable it needs, heavy default notifications and close-range tracking that can look jumpy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) or Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

For an indoor Google home, the Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen), with 2K HDR and Gemini-powered alerts. For an outside spot and free local recording, the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE, with 4K, a tracking panorama and 24/7 storage over PoE.

What is the biggest difference between the Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

Where they can live and how they record. The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) is an indoor-only camera that records to Google's cloud, while the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is an IP66 outdoor camera that records 24/7 to local storage.

Can the Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) be used outdoors?

No. The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) is indoor-only and not weather resistant. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE is the one of the two built to mount outside.

Do the Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) and the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE need a subscription?

The Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen) offers a few free hours of events but needs a Google Home Premium plan for continuous recording and familiar faces. The Reolink OMVI 3i PoE records 24/7 to a microSD card, an NVR or a NAS with no subscription.

Who should buy the Google Nest Cam Indoor (Wired, 3rd Gen)?

A Google Home household watching an indoor room that wants 2K HDR video and Gemini-powered alerts that tell people from pets and passing cars.

Who should buy the Reolink OMVI 3i PoE?

Anyone who can run a cable to an outdoor spot and wants 4K, colour night vision, a wide tracking panorama and fee-free local recording, especially in a Home Assistant or RTSP setup.

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