Smoke & CO Detectors · Head to head

First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm vs Google Nest Protect (Battery)

Full Smart Smoke & CO Detectors comparison in 2026

Data from Amazon and official First Alert and Google sites.
2026 verdict
Google Nest Protect (Battery) wins the 2026 matchup against First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm, mainly on rating, connectivity, and integrations. What pushes it ahead is rating, connectivity, and integrations, and sensors and built-in light keeps the advantage from looking narrow. First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm is still relevant if you care most about price and warranty, but Google Nest Protect (Battery) is the stronger recommendation overall. That makes Google Nest Protect (Battery) the clearer recommendation in 2026.
FeatureFirst Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO AlarmGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)Winner
Price$129.98$158.29First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm
Rating3.54.6Google Nest Protect (Battery)
Warranty10 years2 yearsFirst Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi2.4 GHz WiFi, BluetoothGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
IntegrationsGoogle HomeGoogle Home, Home AssistantGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
SensorsSmoke, COSmoke, CO, Occupancy, Temperature, Humidity, Ambient Light, MotionGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
Built-in LightNOYESGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
Tests ItselfNOYESGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
PathlightNOYESGoogle Nest Protect (Battery)
ScreenNONOTie
AlertsFire Alerts, CO Alerts, Low Battery AlertsFire Alerts, CO Alerts, Low Battery AlertsTie
Built-in SirenYESYESTie

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which is better overall: First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm or Google Nest Protect (Battery)?
Google Nest Protect (Battery) has the stronger overall profile in this comparison, especially for rating, connectivity, and integrations.
What is the biggest difference between First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm and Google Nest Protect (Battery)?
Price is one of the clearest differences: First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm lists $129.98, while Google Nest Protect (Battery) lists $158.29.
Which one looks better on price?
Who should buy First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm?
Choose First Alert SC5 Battery Smart Smoke & CO Alarm if your priority is price and warranty and that matters more than rating.
Who should buy Google Nest Protect (Battery)?
Choose Google Nest Protect (Battery) if your priority is rating and connectivity and that matters more than price.
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