Pros & Cons
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- Vivid 2K video
- AI-powered video search and event descriptions
- Voice control
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
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- Doesn't support Apple HomeKit or IFTTT
- Some features require a subscription
- No local storage
Nest Doorbell Wired 3rd Gen Specs
| Alarm | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Field of View | 166 |
| Integrations | Amazon Alexa |
| Integrations | Google Assistant |
| Night Vision | |
| Resolution | 2K |
| Storage | Cloud |
| Two-Way Audio |
The third-generation wired Nest Doorbell brings 2K HDR video and Gemini AI-powered event description and search features to Google's video doorbell line. In testing, we found image quality to be excellent, and AI search is a genuinely useful addition. That said, you need to pay an additional fee to take advantage of the Gemini AI and to unlock recorded event videos. The Nest Doorbell is easy to recommend to existing Google Home users, but if you're on a budget and can do without AI features, the TP-Link Tapo D225 ($99.99) is a more affordable 2K model that doesn't require a subscription, earning it our Editors' Choice award.
Design and Specs: Smaller and Sharper Than the Battery Doorbell
The third-gen wired Nest Doorbell maintains the same shape and style as the older battery-powered model. However, at 5.1 by 1.6 by 1.0 inches (HWD), it’s slightly smaller than the battery version (6.3 by 1.8 by 1.0 inches). Available in Hazel (gray), Linen (tan), or Snow (white), the top half of the IP65-rated enclosure features a black lens assembly that also contains a microphone and a status LED, which shines solid green when everything is working correctly and blinks blue during setup. The bottom portion of the faceplate features a doorbell button with an LED ring that glows white when the button is pressed or when motion is detected. Additionally, a speaker is embedded in the bottom edge of the enclosure.
(Credit: John R. Delaney)The rear of the doorbell contains two wiring terminals. This is a wired doorbell that requires a 16-24VAC, 10-40VA, 50/60Hz doorbell transformer. When connected to a wired doorbell chime, the doorbell must be used with the chime connector, which Nest includes in the box. Also included are a mounting plate, a wedge mount, mounting hardware, a quick-start guide, and wire connectors.
The doorbell captures 2K HDR (2,048 by 2,048) video with a 166-degree diagonal field of view and features a 1:1 aspect ratio, providing a full head-to-toe view of your doorstep. By comparison, the TP-Link Tapo D225, which supports both battery and hardwired operation, captures 2K video at 20fps and features an even wider 180-degree field of view. For even sharper clarity, the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro records 4K video, but it's pricier at $249.99.
The Nest Doorbell captures color video in low-light conditions and uses six IR LEDs for black and white night vision when ambient light is inadequate. For connectivity, it has a dual-band Wi-Fi radio and a Bluetooth radio. It works with the Google Home app (available for Android and iOS), and supports Google and Alexa voice commands, but it doesn't work with Apple HomeKit or IFTTT applets.
(Credit: John R. Delaney)The doorbell offers the same Gemini AI features as Nest's latest Indoor and Outdoor cameras, including descriptive event notifications that indicate what triggered recordings. Google’s Ask Home feature enables you to search for videos that contain specific events (such as package deliveries), and you get a summary of daily events captured by the camera.
Subscription Fees: Cloud Storage Starts at $10 Per Month
The camera records video when it detects motion or the doorbell button is pressed, and stores the footage in the cloud. However, unless you subscribe to a Google Home Premium plan, you can only view 10-second previews. The Standard plan goes for $10 per month or $100 per year and gives you 30 days of event-based video history, intelligent alerts (familiar faces, garage door detection, package detection), access to Gemini for Home AI, alerts with zoomed-in previews (that zero in on the action that caused the trigger), and history reports for all of your Nest cameras.
(Credit: John R. Delaney)The Advanced plan costs $20 per month or $200 per year and includes 60 days of video history, 10 days of 24/7 video history, and Gemini AI-powered features, such as daily summaries of recorded events, descriptive event notifications, event descriptions, and video search, plus all the features in the Standard plan. As with other Nest cameras, there is no option for local video storage.
If you'd rather avoid a subscription, the TP-Link Tapo D225 includes local storage via microSD and supports cards up to 512GB. If, however, you prefer to have video stored in the cloud, a Tapo Care Premium plan is relatively affordable at $3.49 per month or $34.99 per year for 30 days of video history for a single camera, rich notifications, and Smart Sort photo tagging. Tapo's two-camera plan costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year; the three-camera plan costs $10.49 per month or $104.99 per year; and the 10-camera plan costs $11.99 per month or $119.99 per year.
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App Experience: Intuitive, With Smart Notifications
The Nest Doorbell appears in its own panel in the devices section of the Google Home app. The panel displays a live view and has a button to turn the camera on or off. When you tap the panel, it opens the live feed along with a list of event thumbnails and a brief animated clip of each. Tap a thumbnail to view the entire clip, or use the “i” button in the lower left corner to read a detailed description of what happened in the video.
(Credit: Google/PCMag)At the bottom of the screen are buttons for initiating two-way talk or playing a smart response. There's also a three-bar button here that lets you turn the camera on and off and enable quiet time, which mutes the chime.
Tapping the three dots in the upper right corner opens the doorbell’s settings screen, where you can enable/disable notifications, choose which events will appear in your history report (animals, packages, people, and/or vehicles), create activity zones, adjust audio settings, select a doorbell chime, and configure night vision.
Setup and Performance: Easy to Install, Useful AI Summaries
Installing the Nest Doorbell is just as easy as installing any wired doorbell. However, if working with low-voltage electricity isn’t your thing, consider hiring a professional. If this is your first Google or Nest device, you’ll have to download the Google Home app and create an account. I turned off the power to the correct circuit at the breaker box, removed the old doorbell, and attached the Nest mounting plate to the doorframe. I connected the Nest Doorbell to the two wires, attached it to the plate, and tapped the plus icon in the upper-right corner of the app’s home screen.
Thereafter, I tapped Device, scanned the QR Code on the back of the doorbell, and it was immediately recognized. I tapped Already Installed, confirmed that the LED was blinking blue, and selected my Wi-Fi SSID. Once the doorbell was added to my Google Home device list, I gave it a name, enabled Video History, the microphone, and audio recording to complete the installation.
The Nest Doorbell delivered sharp 2K video in my tests. Daytime colors popped and appeared well-saturated, and the black-and-white night video showed good contrast and was more than adequately illuminated. The low-light color was decent, but not nearly as vibrant as daytime color.
(Credit: John R. Delaney)The doorbell provided a wide view of my doorstep and beyond, and motion detection alerts were swift and accurate. Voice commands to stream video from the doorbell to a Nest Hub smart display worked perfectly, as did my Google automation to have a U-tec Smart Dimmer Switch turn on when the camera detected motion.
Gemini AI features also worked as intended. The Daily Home Brief provided detailed recaps of daily activities, and event descriptions were spot-on. The camera always recognized me as a familiar face, and AI-generated searches for videos that contained my face were quickly found and accompanied by thumbnails.