Google Nest Doorbell Battery Review

The Google Nest Doorbell may be a feature-packed doorbell-style security camera, but its lackluster video quality prevents it from standing out amongst the other cameras I tested.

Video Quality

The Google Nest Doorbell offers 960p video resolution, which our tests found to be adequate during the daytime but not exceptional. Most cameras in the home security camera space have upgraded sensors over the years to a minimum of 1080p resolution, while the top cameras I tested boast 2K, 2.5K, and even 3K resolution.

Day Quality Night Quality

That said, the video quality is good considering the 960p resolution limitations, but it still falls short of the crispness offered by higher-resolution competitors. During our color accuracy assessments, I noticed that colors appear flat and undersaturated, which can make it difficult to distinguish finer details or accurately identify objects.

Our video analysis also revealed lots of pixelation in the video quality overall. This pixelation becomes more apparent with moving objects, typical of a lower resolution camera with standard frame rates up to 30 frames per second.

I found the night vision to be lacking. Video is dark, and our side-by-side comparisons demonstrated that the video isn't nearly as sharp as the footage captured by other products in the Nest camera lineup or any other top-performing cameras.

One distinctive feature is the large vertical field of view (FOV), which captures a wider area surrounding your front door, including packages left on the ground. However, our testing revealed that this expanded view causes significant distortion, particularly at the edges of the frame, due to the shape of the camera lens. While this distortion doesn't completely undermine the camera's effectiveness, it's noticeable enough to mention as a potential drawback. I don't think it's out of the ordinary for a doorbell camera, but I've tested better doorbell cameras that hide the graininess and distortion by using higher-resolution camera sensors.

Monitoring Performance

Our rigorous testing procedures found that the Google Nest Doorbell is capable of person detection at the maximum distance I tested, 20 feet, and facial recognition at a very impressive distance of 15 feet. This is the farthest distance any camera in our lineup was able to effectively perform facial recognition.

Without a subscription, users have access to only a limited amount of video history. The doorbell stores a limited amount of local video with a short 3-hour history, which I found insufficient for comprehensive security monitoring.

The Nest app interface features an intuitive 8-point drag-and-drop system for detection zones that I found easy to use. You can create up to four motion detection zones and receive custom notifications for each zone.

When using a subscription service, which you are essentially pigeon-holed into using, the Google Nest Doorbell does all the standard motion detection you would expect from a doorbell camera, including package detection. However, it does not offer Package Theft Detection, Sound Detection, Subject Tracking, or Out Of View Detection features that a lot of competing security cameras offer.

Ease of Use

I found the Nest app to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Those already using other Google Home devices and the Nest app will feel right at home, and those who aren't particularly tech-savvy will quickly pick up how to navigate and manage their devices.

The interface is logical and straightforward to master, with a minimal learning curve. I particularly like that the app includes live views, which not only have a clean look but also allow a preview of recent events directly from the live view page. Since the Google Nest Doorbell is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa voice assistants, the Nest Doorbell integrates easily into smart home ecosystems. It can also connect to either 2.4GHz or 5GHz WiFi networks, offering flexibility for different home network configurations.

One significant advantage is the Nest Doorbell's power flexibility — it can either be hardwired to a traditional doorbell or operate off a battery. Another small but appreciated feature is that the Nest app does not have annoying advertisements that plague some competitor apps, making the daily user experience much more pleasant.

Should You Buy The Google Nest Doorbell Battery?

The Google Nest Doorbell is best suited for homeowners already invested in the Google ecosystem who prioritize reliable monitoring capabilities over top-tier video quality. For a consumer with no commitments to a specific brand or smart home ecosystem, more capable options exist, including equally performant options at a much lower price. For those reasons, I don't recommend this camera over one of the many other options that provide greater dollar-for-dollar performance.

What Other Security Cameras Should You Consider?

Outside of an impressive vertical field of view, the Google Nest Doorbell feels like a dated model when it comes to video resolution. By spending a little more than you might on the Nest Doorbell, you can have the best doorbell cam offering on the market today, the Eufy Video Doorbell E340, and experience exceptional 2K video quality, as well as impressive monitoring performance, and an easy-to-use management app. For those on a budget, the Wyze Duo Cam Doorbell is a compelling option. It provides nearly as good video quality, greater ease of use, strong monitoring performance, and does all of that for only half the price of the Nest.