The Logi Circle 2 vs Nest Cam: Which Will You Love More?

DIY smart security cameras are very popular now as they help you keep an eye on things without the hassle of looking for professionals to install them.

Two of the best that are out on the market now are Logi Circle 2 and Nest Cam.   

Which one should you buy?  

First Up: The Logi Circle 2   

The Logi Circle 2 gives you full high-definition videos of up to 1080 pixels and can even let you see things at night with its automatic night vision.  It also offers a very wide 180-degree field of view, allowing you to see everything in front of it.

If you need to see things from afar, you can rely on the digital zoom, while the built-in microphone and speaker allow you to talk to anybody within range.  It also has motion sensors that alert you if there are people moving nearby.

Unlike other security cameras, you can tilt and pan the Logi Circle 2 so you could see more of the area that it is monitoring.  You can use a desktop or laptop computer, a mobile device, a television, or any other device to watch the live stream.  

The Logi Circle 2 also works on two bands: 2.4 and 5 GHz, which means that it does not interfere with your devices if the 2.4 GHz band is particularly crowded.  And the best thing?  Your videos and live streams are securely transmitted because of the data encryption and SSL protection.    

Wired vs Wireless Logitech Circle

The Logi Circle 2 has two versions available: wired and wire-free.  You can plug the wired version into any power outlet, or you can choose the wire-free option so that you can be more flexible in placing your security camera.

Using rechargeable batteries, the wire-free Circle 2 can be placed anywhere even if there is no power outlet nearby.  The batteries last three months before you would need to recharge them. 

Logitech Circle Indoors vs outdoors  

The Logi Circle 2 is waterproof and weatherproof, allowing you to use it indoors or outdoors.  The cameras are rated IP65 and can withstand freezing temperatures as well as hot weather with an operating range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Your choice of mounts  

The security camera has a wide array of mounting options available from Logitech, so you can easily and securely place it just about anywhere.   There is a window mount that allows you to attach the camera to your window so that it could monitor everything that happens outside.

The plug mount allows you to easily plug the Circle 2 into any power source, and there is a weatherproof extension so that you could use your wired camera outside and still power it even at 15 feet from the power source. 

Integrations  

The Logi Circle 2 plays well with others and you can even operate it using voice commands.  It is compatible with Amazon Alexa, and this allows you to watch the live stream or to start recording just by telling the camera to do so.

If you have Amazon Echo Show, you can view the camera’s live stream on the device itself.  And it’s not just Alexa; you can also ask Siri if you want to watch the live stream on your Apple Watch, iPad or iPhone, or tell Google Assistant to show the stream on your Chromecast device or smartphones. 

You can also operate it using Logitech POP, where you have push button controls over your camera.  You can use the POP to turn the camera on, turn the privacy mode on, and to start recording. 

What’s in the box? 

 Wired version  

• Circle 2 Camera with Camera Cover 
• Swivel mount  
• 3 meters of cable 
• USB power adapter 
• Wall bracket 
• 4 screws 
• 4 anchors 
• 2 cable clips 
• Quick Start Guide 

 Wire-free version

• Circle 2 Camera with Battery Camera Cover 
• Rechargeable battery 
• Swivel base  
• USB charging cable with USB power adapter 
• Wall bracket 
• 2 screws 
• 2 wall anchors 
• Quick Start Guide 

Subscription plans  

Logi Circle 2 comes with a subscription plan that allows you to store either 14 days or 31 days of videos: the Circle Safe Basic plan and the Circle Safe Premium plan.

But that is not the only benefit you get from paying for a monthly plan.  These plans also activate person detection, which uses advanced algorithms and analysis to differentiate between movements caused by a person and movements caused by something else.

This makes the alerts smarter.  You can also set up as many as five motion zones, or areas that you would like to monitor for movement.  

	Circle Free	Circle Safe Basic	Circle Safe Premium
Storage (AES 256 Bit Dual Layer Encryption)	1 Day	14 Days	31 Days
Unlimited Streaming	Yes	Yes	Yes
Unlimited Downloads	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart Events	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart Alerts	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart Time-lapse Day Brief	Yes	Yes	Custom
Person Detection	No	No	Yes
Motion Zones	No	No	Yes
Advanced Event and Alert Filters	No	No	Yes
Monthly Price	Free	$3.99	$9.99

What you would like about the Logi Circle 2

You can choose the resolution of your videos.  You can opt for full 1080p HD streams, or save on bandwidth and file size with 360p or 720p.  It also uses advanced event filters so that it only records the moments that you need to see.

This helps cut down on the amount of useless footage that you have to go through.  Speaking of which, you can also get a daily brief, a time-lapse summary of all the videos recorded during the day.  So you can review important footage for the entire day all in 30 seconds.  

The Logi Circle 2 also has smart alerts, where you get alerted when the system detects motion that it thinks you should know about.  With Smart Location, Logi Circle 2 will use your phone’s GPS location to know where you are and start sending you alerts when you are not home and stop when you are.  

What’s more, Logi Circle 2 allows you to store 24 hours of video storage for free.  

Lastly, you would love just how affordable these cameras are.  The Logi Circle 2’s wired version costs a fair amount while the wire-free version costs a bit more more.

There are combo packs that allow you to save more, such as the multipack, which gives you two wire-free cameras and one wired camera for a fair amount, thus letting you save some dollars.  

Verdict on Logi Circle 2  

The Logi Circle 2 offers users a wide variety of features that its competitors do not.  It is very flexible and you can get a camera that is fit for your needs.  The free 24 hours of cloud storage you get is also a godsend for those who want to store videos without having to pay for a monthly plan.

Being able to use the camera both outdoors and indoors is definitely a good addition.  The video quality is also top-notch.    

The complaints about it are minor and they do not really concern the cameras.  Complaints are more about things like the Wired version being limited without the accessories, and the charging cable for the wire-free version being a bit short.    

If you are looking for a security camera, then the Logi Circle 2 should be a definite contender!  

Next Up: Nest Cam  

Nest Cam has two versions: outdoor and indoor.  Both are wired security cameras that have night vision, two-way communication and motion sensor.  The camera has a crisp 1080-pixel resolution and a field of view of 130 degrees.    

Nest Cam Outdoor

 The Nest Cam’s footages are also viewable on mobile devices as well as on desktop or laptop computers using the Web browser you prefer.   

 Both Nest Cam versions are available on Amazon (Check out the latest prices here)

Integrations  

Nest Cam works with other devices under the Works with Nest program, as well as with IFTTT recipes.  It is also compatible with Amazon Alexa speakers and with Google Assistant.  

Nest Aware  

Nest has a paid subscription service in Nest Aware, which gives you more features for your cameras.  For Nest Aware’s Basic service, you pay $10 per month and you get 10 days of video history.

For the Extended service, you pay $30 per month and get 30 days of storage.  With both, you get intelligent alerts, clips, time lapse videos, and the ability to set up activity zones.

You get better and smarter alerts, where you only get notified if the Nest Cam sees a person rather than just be indiscriminately triggered by all sorts of movements.  Nest Aware also unlocks continuous 24/7 recording for your cameras, not just when it is triggered by motion.  

Side-by-side comparison: Logi Circle 2 vs Nest Cam

	Logi Circle 2 Wired	Logi Circle 2 Wire-Free	Nest Cam Indoor	Nest Cam Outdoor
MSRP	(Check out the latest prices here)	(Check out the latest prices here)	(Check out the latest prices here)	Nest Cam Outdoor
Dimensions (HxWxD, inches)	3.4 x 2.8 x 2.6	3.8 x 3.2 x 3.7	4.5 x 2.9 x 2.9	7.2 x 2.8 x 2.8
Weight (grams)	207.0	340.2	213.0	313.0
Dual band	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
iOS app	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Android app	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Web browser app	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
1080p Resolution	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Field of view	180	180	130	130
Night vision	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Digital zoom	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Two way communication	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Motion sensor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pan and tilt	Yes	Yes	No	No
Weather proof	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Temperature range (°F)	-4 to 122	-4 to 122	32 to 104	-4 to 104
Free streaming	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Free video storage	24 hours	24 hours	3 hours	3 hours

Where Nest Cam wins  

Nest has a deeper integration with other devices, especially with platforms and devices under the Works with Nest program.  Plus, the continuous recording option makes Nest the better choice for those homeowners who do not want to take chances and miss out on anything. 

Read my full review of the Nest Cam IQ here!

Where Logi Circle 2 wins  

The Logi Circle 2 has a better camera than Nest.  It has a wider field of view at 180 degrees, and you can tilt or pan the cameras to see more of the area where your camera is located.

When placed outdoors, it has a wider range of operating temperatures.  It can go from -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.  The Nest Cam Outdoor can only handle up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Logi Circle 2 also has more video storage, allowing you to store 24 hours worth of videos vs. Nest’s 3 hours free video storage.  The subscription plans for Logi Circle 2 are also more affordable than the ones available for Nest Cam.  

When it comes to integration, Logi Circle 2 is able to work with Apple HomeKit.  Nest Aware has planned integrations with HomeKit, but this is not available yet.  

Nest Cam is also more expensive when compared to the wired Logi Circle 2.   

What should you buy?  

If You Currently Have Other Nest Devices: such as the Nest Learning Thermostat and/or Nest Protect, then you should consider the Nest Cam if only for the integrations. Nest also offers 24/7 recording when you pay for a Nest Aware subscription.

If You Don’t Have any Nest Devices Yet: The Logi Circle 2, however, seems like the overall better choice.  It has more features, has a better camera, and has cheaper prices.   

How does Nest Cam compare to other security cameras?

• Nestcam vs Foscam
• Nest cam vs Dropcam Pro
• Arlo Q vs Nest Cam