-
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery)
Our top choice
$120 $180 Save $60
The Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) offers easier installation with the same person and package alerts as the wired version. It requires another Google Nest device for an audible chime, however, and is not compatible with 24/7 recording.
Pros- Easy installation
- Person, animal, and package detection
- Good video quality
Cons- Have to remove to recharge
- No 24/7 recording option
- Audible chime requires a Nest speaker
-
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
A great wired option
$150 $180 Save $30
The Google Nest Doorbell (wired) has the same camera features as the battery version, including both person and package detection. It’s more convenient without requiring recharging but requires more patience to install.
Pros- No recharging required
- Person, animal and package detection
- Compatible with 24/7 recording (Plus subscription required)
Cons- Harder to install
- Lower resolution than Nest Hello (wired)
-
Google Nest Hello (wired)
Great wired option for UK
$95 $229 Save $134
The Nest Hello Doorbell is a few years old, but it’s often more affordable and has a higher resolution. It lacks features like package and vehicle detection, however, and is no longer sold by Google.
Pros- Higher resolution
- More affordable
- No recharging required
Cons- No package or vehicle detection
- No recording during internet or power outage
Google is one of the few smart home companies offering video history without a monthly subscription, though this free access expires after three hours. That, coupled with the wide range of Nest devices, means for some homes, it’s not a matter of Nest vs Ring, but rather a question of which Google Nest doorbell to buy. Comparing the Google Nest Doorbell (battery) with the Google Nest Doorbell (wired) is fairly straightforward, but with the older Nest Hello still available at a lower price, the decision isn’t as simple.
Best video doorbells: Rating and ranking the top smart doorbell cameras we’ve tested
Our guide to the best video doorbells to buy, based on features, video quality, cost and more. Which one is right for you?
If you’re wondering which Google Nest doorbell is best for you, you’re in the right place. Here is how the Nest Doorbell (battery), Nest Hello Doorbell (wired), and Nest Doorbell (wired) compare to help you figure out which you should buy and what the differences are between them.
Price, availability, and specs
The Google Nest Doorbell (battery) costs $179.99. It launched in 2021 and is available globally. For those in the US, there are four color options, but in the UK and Europe, it only comes in white, or Snow.
The Google Nest Hello Doorbell (wired) retails for $229.99 in the US when it first launched in 2022. Unlike the battery-powered version, the wired version has more limited availability — due to wiring differences, Google hasn’t yet launched the wired version in the UK. As we mentioned, the Hello was replaced by the Nest Doorbell (wired) in the US in 2022, and that model costs the same as the battery-powered option at $179.99, so it’s cheaper than the Hello was. It also comes in the same four color options as the battery model in the US.
The Nest Hello wired doorbell is Google’s outdated wired model that launched in 2018. To make things lovely and confusing, the Nest Hello is still available through some retailers in the US, and it’s quite a bit cheaper too.
Keep in mind that with the wired options, whether Nest Hello in the US, UK, and Europe, or Nest Doorbell (wired) in the US, you need to factor in installation costs if you don’t have an existing wired doorbell.
-
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) Google Nest Doorbell (Wired) Google Nest Hello (wired) Field of View 145-degree 145-degree 160-degree Power Source Battery or hardwired Wired Wired Voice Compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa App Compatibility Android and iOS iOS and Android iOS and Android Operating limits –20°C to 40°C (–4°F to 104°F) −20°C to 40°C (–4°F TO 104°F) –20°C to 40°C (–4°F to 104°F)
Design
With a similar design, the three Nest Doorbell models differ largely in size and color options
The Google Nest doorbells share similar design traits — especially in the case of the Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired). The two doorbells with the same name share an oblong design with a camera at the top and a doorbell button at the bottom. Where the wired and battery versions differ is in size — the option that needs to house a larger built-in battery is about an inch taller than the wired variation. The battery version is also made with more sustainable materials compared to the wired.
The Google Nest Doorbell (battery) uses a built-in battery that cannot be easily replaced — it needs to be removed from the wall in order to charge. The Google Nest Doorbell (wired) doesn’t need that regular maintenance but is more difficult to install and requires an existing wired system — or a professional to add the wiring.
Google Nest Hello tips and tricks: Get the most out of your Nest video doorbell
The best tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Nest Hello video doorbell.
The original Nest Hello only comes in black and features a button at the bottom with an LED ring around it, a camera at the top, and a slim design with a rounded top and bottom. It’s even smaller than the Google Nest Hello (wired) at just 4.6 inches tall. The only other notable design feature that’s worth considering is that the camera lens is more obvious on the Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired) compared to the Nest Hello. The former two have a black sensor and housing on a white or colored background, depending on your region, while the Nest Hello is black on black. The button on the Hello, however, is smaller than the newer models.
Weather-proofing is a consideration for any outdoor camera, doorbells included. The Nest Hello Doorbell (wired) option has an IPX4 rating, while the battery option and the newer Doorbell (wired) both have an IP54 rating. The X in the IPX4 rating means the level of dust protection is unknown on the Nest Hello, but the final digit 4 indicates all three models have a similar level of protection from water.
Both the Nest Doorbells (wired and battery) come in four colors in the US: Snow, Linen, Ivy, and Ash. The Google Nest Hello is exclusively available in black.
Features
The newer Nest Doorbells deliver smarter notifications
All Nest Doorbells offer a Talk and Listen feature, which allows you to communicate with someone at your door. For the Nest Hello, this can be done through the Nest App. For the Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired), it is done through the Google Home app. They also all offer Quick Responses, which are preset messages you can send quickly if you can’t get to your door. Unfortunately, you can’t personalize the Quick Responses, but the three options available do cover the majority of what you would need them for.
They also all have HD video with HDR and Night Vision, 24/7 live streaming, and offer up to 60 days of event video history with Nest Aware. You can also set activity zones and pair either up with a Nest Hub or Nest speaker for visitor announcements, which include Familiar Face and package alerts if you have the Nest Aware subscription.
Should you subscribe to Nest Aware? Everything Google’s service includes
Here’s everything you need to know about Nest Aware, including what it offers and how much it costs.
There are a couple of differences in the rest of the features offered by the doorbells. The Nest Hello Doorbell (wired) offers a chime, 10 days of 24/7 video history with Nest Aware Plus, and motion and person alerts without a Nest Aware subscription. It requires a subscription for package alerts, however.
The Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired) meanwhile, have person, motion, parcel, animal, and vehicle alerts without a subscription. So, the newer models have smarter notifications beyond just detecting a person or package. Both Nest Doorbell models offer three-hour video clip event history.
The Nest Doorbell (wired) offers always-on video recording if you opt for the pricier Nest Aware Plus subscription. The battery-powered variation doesn’t offer 24/7 recording because the feature would drain the battery too quickly. Both the Doorbell (wired) and the Nest Doorbell (battery), however, will continue to record during a Wi-Fi or power cut, uploading the footage once the connection has been restored.
The Nest Doorbell (battery) doesn’t offer a traditional chime without the wiring; however, you can pair it with other smart home products like the Nest Mini to get an audible chime from the battery version rather than just a phone notification.
Hardware and specs
Surprisingly, the older model has the highest resolution
The Nest Doorbell (battery) and Nest Doorbell (wired) both have a 3:4 aspect ratio and a 145-degree diagonal field of view. They have a taller view than the Hello wired doorbell, which lets you see better things on the ground in front of your doorbell, as well as people. They both have a 1/3-inch, 1.3-megapixel color sensor that offers 6x digital zoom and 1280 x 960 video at 30fps.
The older Nest Hello Doorbell (wired) offers a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 160-degree diagonal field of view. It’s a wider field of view than the battery-powered Nest doorbell and the Nest Doorbell (wired), which could fit a group of people, for example, though you will still be able to see packages on the ground. It has a 1/3-inch, 3-megapixel color sensor that offers 8x digital zoom, and it offers 1600 x 1200 video at 30fps.
Ring Protect vs Arlo Secure vs Nest Aware: Security subscription face-off
Subscriptions expand the abilities of smart security cameras, but which company offers the best option?
Despite the resolution being lower than the Nest Hello, Google claims the Doorbell (battery) and Doorbell (wired) have hybrid lenses made of glass and plastic, which are designed to provide more clarity. The camera pixels are also 125 percent larger than the Nest Hello to capture more light. When we reviewed the Nest Doorbell (battery), we thought the image quality wasn’t as clear as the Nest Hello — the colors weren’t as true to life, and there was more image noise. That said, the video and image quality on the battery-powered doorbell is more than sufficient. You can see faces clearly, as well as what is going on day or night, thanks to the high dynamic range (HDR) and night mode. The Hello does have a better night mode in our experience, though.
All three models have a speaker and microphone on board, though the battery-operated doorbell and newer wired model offer noise cancelation.
Of course, the biggest difference between the Nest doorbells is the Nest Hello Doorbell and Nest Doorbell (wired) are both wired and therefore need to be professionally installed unless you already have a wired doorbell. Meanwhile, the Nest Doorbell (battery) can be battery powered or wired.
You will need to charge the battery if you opt for battery-powered.
Verdict: Which is the best Google doorbell?
The newer Google Nest doorbells are more feature-rich, while the older Nest Hello is more affordable
The first decision between the Nest Doorbells will come down to your home and which is more suitable in terms of installation, as well as what region you live in. For some, the wired doorbell options won’t be practical and therefore, the battery model is your only option.
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery)
Our top choice
For those looking for no-charging wired convenience, the Nest Doorbell (wired), brings in the design and features of the battery model but in a more compact format. It also offers 24/7 recording with Nest Aware Plus, a feature missing from the battery version.
The Hello is your only wired option in the UK and Europe, and it’s a great one still, despite being several years old now. Both wired options offer a chime and continuous video recording, which the battery model misses out on. But, the older Hello doesn’t use vertical video, which means you can’t see the floor where packages are often placed, and may miss out on some of the smarter alerts.
Google Nest Doorbell (Wired)
Best wired
The battery-powered Nest Doorbell and Nest Doorbell (wired) have a couple of extra features on the Nest Hello wired doorbell though, such as more alerts being included without a subscription and the ability to continue recording even in a power cut or Wi-Fi cut. The Nest Hello, meanwhile, offers better video quality despite its age and uses the Nest app over Google Home app. Whatever option you choose, it’s likely you will be happy with any of them though.
Google Nest Hello (wired)
Great wired option for UK
$95 $229 Save $134
The Nest Hello offers great video and image quality, as well as a design that’s clean and modern.
Trending Products
