Walmart just dropped a bombshell in the smart home market, launching AI-powered security cameras starting at just $23. The retail giant partnered directly with Google to build these Onn-branded devices around the tech company's Gemini AI platform, marking the first major collaboration in Google's push to democratize smart home AI beyond its own hardware.
Walmart just rewrote the playbook for budget smart home security. The retail giant's new Onn cameras launching today don't just compete on price - they're architected from the ground up around Google's Gemini AI platform, creating what could be the most affordable entry point into AI-powered home monitoring.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. While premium security camera makers chase ever-higher resolutions and monthly subscription fees, Walmart is betting consumers want intelligent features at accessible prices. The $22.96 indoor camera and $49.86 video doorbell both integrate natively with Google Home, bypassing the usual third-party compatibility headaches that plague budget devices.
"We don't want to constrain Gemini to just one brand, one OEM, one form factor, one price point," Google Home's Anish Kattukaran told The Verge. The partnership represents Google's first major retail collaboration as it opens its Home APIs to manufacturers, expanding beyond its own Nest hardware ecosystem.
The specs tell a compelling story for the price point. Walmart's indoor camera delivers 1080p HDR video at 30fps with night vision, two-way audio, and a 130-degree field of view - features typically found in cameras costing twice as much. The video doorbell steps up to 1600x1200 HDR with a wider 165-degree diagonal view, matching specifications from Google's own Nest lineup.
But it's the AI integration where these cameras really differentiate. Through Google Home Premium subscriptions starting at $10 monthly, users get access to Gemini-powered features like AI-generated text descriptions of video events and intelligent camera search. Instead of scrubbing through hours of footage, you can ask Google to find "when the delivery truck arrived" or "the last time someone approached the front door."
The partnership runs deeper than simple software integration. Walmart spokesperson Leigh Stidham confirmed to The Verge that the devices offer three hours of free recorded event history without subscription requirements - a significant advantage over competitors that paywall basic recording features.
