Introduction
The Nest Secure home security system is the latest product from Nest, a company that’s been known for smart thermostats and smoke alarms. Nest has built its reputation on making life easier and more convenient, so it makes sense that they would create a home security system that does just that. The Nest Secure alarm system uses sensors to detect motion, glass breakage, forced entry attempts and other threats to your home. It also integrates with other smart devices like lights and cameras so you can keep tabs on everything going on inside your house. But what exactly is the Nest Secure system? How does it work? And how do these features compare to other systems out there? Let’s dive into this review!
What is Nest Secure?
Nest Secure is a smart security system that helps keep you and your home safe. It’s part of the Nest family of products, which also includes thermostats and indoor cameras.
The Nest Secure alarm hub comes with a keypad for arming and disarming your system as well as sensors for doors, windows and motion detection. The hub connects to your WiFi network so you can control it from anywhere using the Nest app on Android or iOS devices. It also works with Amazon Alexa (via an additional purchase), Google Assistant or IFTTT – this means you can use voice commands to activate certain features of the device!
Nest Secure installation
You can install Nest Secure yourself, but it’s important to note that this is a DIY installation. If you’re not comfortable installing and configuring smart home devices like this, we recommend enlisting the help of an electrician or other professional who can do it for you.
The alarm system is easy to set up.
The Nest Secure alarm system is easy to set up. The process can be done by a professional or DIY, and it takes less than an hour for most people. You’ll need:
- A power source (such as a wall outlet)
- The Nest Guard hub with built-in siren and keypad
- An optional sensor that goes on doors or windows
Nest Secure app and home automation features
The Nest Secure app is where you’ll find all of your settings for the system. It’s also where you can customize how it works and access the Home, Away, and Disarm features.
The Nest Secure Home feature lets you set up locations that are associated with each sensor so that when a door or window opens in those locations (and only those locations), it will trigger an alert on your phone. For example: If someone opens a window in my bedroom but not anywhere else in my apartment building–or even if they open it from inside my apartment building–I’ll be notified through this feature.
The Nest Secure Away feature allows users who have multiple devices connected to their account to create different “Away” zones throughout their home or apartment building (for example: My bedroom vs The back porch). When one of these zones is tripped by movement or noise within its range (up to 30 feet), an alert will be sent via text message or email depending on how long ago it was activated before being disarmed again using either method mentioned above under “Arm/Disarm Options.”
Integrations with other smart home devices
Nest Secure works with all Nest devices, as well as other smart home platforms. If you’re looking to expand your security system beyond the Nest Secure app and hardware, there are a few great options available. Here are some of the integrations you can use:
- Amazon Alexa – With Amazon’s voice assistant built into most modern smartphones and speakers (and soon TVs), it’s easy to use voice commands with your Nest Secure system. You can ask Alexa questions about what’s happening at home–like whether anyone has opened or closed their door recently–and control locks remotely from anywhere in the world by saying “Alexa, turn on/off [lock name].”
- Google Assistant – The same goes for Google Home products like speakers or phones; just say “Okay Google” followed by any command listed above for getting information about who has been near your door lately!
Alarm latency (time between detection and alert)
The Nest Secure alarm latency (time between detection and alert) is about 3 seconds. This is faster than most competitors on the market, including Ring and ADT Pulse.
Nest Secure users who want quick alerts will appreciate this feature.
Biggest drawbacks of Nest Secure
Nest Secure has some drawbacks, but they’re not deal breakers.
- The biggest is that the system doesn’t have two-way voice. This means that you can’t talk to someone at your front door from anywhere in your home or office–you’ll need to answer the call on your phone and then ask them to repeat themselves if they don’t speak clearly enough for you to understand what they’re saying.
- Another major missing feature is support for smart door locks (like those made by August). If you want one of these systems, you’ll need something like Nest Hello or Ring Video Doorbell Pro instead of Nest Secure because it won’t integrate with these locks out of the box–although there are hacks available online if you really want them!
- Finally, although it’s compatible with Apple HomeKit, there aren’t any IFTTT applets available yet (though Google Assistant does have some).
You can’t beat the simplicity of the Nest Secure system.
You can’t beat the simplicity of the Nest Secure system. It’s easy to install, it integrates with other smart home devices and has a good latency time. And if you’re already invested in other Nest products like an Alexa or Google Home speaker or thermostat, then you’ll be happy to know that they work together seamlessly as well!
In terms of its app, I found it very intuitive and easy to use. I especially appreciated being able to see all my cameras at once so that I could quickly check if something was amiss around my house or business while I was away from home (or work). The Live View feature allowed me set up push notifications on my phone whenever someone opened their door without permission–great for catching thieves before they steal anything!
Conclusion
Nest Secure is a great option for anyone who wants an affordable, easy-to-use security system. The installation process is simple and quick, and there are plenty of integrations with other smart home devices. The biggest drawback is that it doesn’t include any cameras or sensors for monitoring activity around your house; if those features are important to you then you might want to look at other options like Ring Alarm or SimpliSafe.