Google opens up the Nest camera platform to third parties, starting with a $23 Walmart camera

Amidst all the exciting new first-party hardware announced at Google’s smart home event today, one of the most strategically important pieces of news was a fundamental shift in philosophy. Google has announced that it is opening up its Nest camera platform and all of its new Gemini features to third-party hardware makers.

And this new era of openness is kicking off with a bang. The first partner in this new program is Walmart’s Onn brand, which is launching a new indoor camera with full Nest-level integration for the shockingly low price of just $22.96.

A new ‘Built for Google Home’ vision

This is a massive and very welcome move away from the “walled garden” approach. Google stated that the best Gemini for Home experience “shouldn’t be limited to just one brand, form factor or price point,” signaling a new commitment to giving consumers more choice in their smart home hardware.

Nest features at Wyze prices

The first two products in this new partnership are available starting today, and their prices are incredibly aggressive.

• Walmart Onn Indoor Camera Wired: $22.96
• Walmart Onn Video Doorbell Wired: $49.86

The most important part of this announcement is the level of integration. These are not just “Works with Google Home” devices. They will feature full, deep integration, meaning you’ll set them up and control them entirely within the Google Home app.

Even more impressively, they will have access to all the same core features as first-party Nest Cams, including the powerful new Gemini camera features (like AI Descriptions and Home Brief) and cloud video recording via the new Google Home Premium subscription. It’s a “Nest-level experience at a Wyze-level price,” and it’s a huge win for consumers.

This is a brilliant and long-overdue move from Google that will bring more choice, more form factors, and a much lower cost of entry to the premium Google Home camera ecosystem. These first two Onn cameras are available today, and Google says this is just the beginning of wider partnerships to come.