Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) - Ash

We’ve had this doorbell for a few months now, and I’m really happy with how it’s been performing. The dark ash color fits seamlessly with the modern aesthetic of our house. I appreciate the sleek, understated look that doesn't scream "Look at me! I'm a Smart Doorbell". It fits in with the look of my home without obnoxiously standing out and it compliments the black accents on our exterior.Here’s what’s been great about it:Tall Aspect Ratio: This is a game-changer. Although I miss out on the wide left to right field of view of a traditional camera - for a doorbell I have found this to be a preferred and optimal choice. With its vertical design, I can see more than just someone standing at the door. I’m able to spot packages on the ground, which has been a lifesaver with the number of deliveries I get, and it’s easier to catch visitors' (head to toe) as they approach.Custom Alerts: I really appreciate how specific the alerts are. The algorithms baked in to the detection software are able to discern between a person, vehicle, animal, or package crossing the field of view, and I get a notification for exactly what I need to know. Beyond just identifying a person, the Nest Aware software goes a step further to recognize familiar faces and tells me if it is someone I know, or an unrecognized person. This makes a huge difference in cutting down on unnecessary alerts, like when a passing car triggers a motion warning. It also makes sure I take notice when its an unknown person at the door and not just one of my kids running around. Although the advanced Nest Aware package costs 15 dollars a month, I find the 24x7 coverage and advanced detection features to be worth the piece of mind it provides.Video History: The 3-hour free video history is perfect for those that just want to check in on missed events. Personally I chose to step up to the 10 days of 24x7 coverage to provide full access to events and surrounding video coverage. Its always better to have it and not need it, then to need it and it not be there. The video quality is crisp enough to clearly identify people or events, which is reassuring when something’s off at the door or front yard. I also love that I can check and manage all of this through the Google Home app anytime.Easy Setup: It replaced our old wired doorbell without any issues. It simply requires two wires for the power, and two screws to attach it to the wall in front of my door. My transformer was already compatible and provided the right amount of power to run the doorbell. Just like a regular doorbell, a press of the button activates my doorbell chime. This doorbell goes even further though by also announcing the event and playing a chime through my google home speakers and sending a push notification (with video) to my phone. I like this because I can clearly know when someone is at the door no matter where I am at in the house.Some notes:Disappointingly it doesn't support the Nest app which is where I have typically managed my other Nest cameras I have installed around the house (so if used to that interface, it’s a bit of an adjustment), but the Google Home app has been easy to use, and I was able to transition all of my legacy Nest devices over.If Homekit is the preferred smart home over Google - there is a way to integrate the doorbell and camera feed through either a custom homebridge server or through an additional device called Starling Home hub. I personally have the Starling device and it allows the doorbell to integrate perfectly into my existing Homekit Smart Home setup - including alerts, notifications, and live video feed.For anyone looking for a simple, reliable doorbell camera with great video quality and custom alerts, this has been a solid pick. I would definitely recommend it if you're into a more modern, functional design that works out of the box with Google or Alexa devices.

If you're thinking of buying this to install in Ireland (or the UK), I can confirm that it works. The only thing is that if you're coming from the 1st generation wired Nest Hello doorbell, as I was, you may need to upgrade your transformer. The 1st gen required 12V whereas this one needs 16V. I bought this one from Amazon UK and it works perfectly.https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XQ2TXVQAs for the doorbell itself, the image quality is slightly better, but bear in mind that the aspect ratio is now 3:4 instead of 4:3. The main advantage is that the notification time is much faster. Installation was pretty easy. The screw holes for the base plate are the same as the 1st gen, which is handy. My only tip is that the wires need to fit within the hole in the base plate. If they don't, you won't be able to attach the doorbell.

Perfect! Easy installation, works seamlessly with Google home and no subscription needed. Love the white, pops big time. Easy to get a quick peak at the the front door from anywhere in the world.

I purchased the Gen 2 Nest Doorbell (wired) to replace the original Nest Hello Doorbell (also wired) for a few key reasons. The Nest Hello developed some serious lag over the years...when someone was at the door and rang the doorbell, the video would fail to load through the Nest app. This was really annoying. Secondly, you needed the Nest Aware subscription ($6 per month) for most the features...video recording, face recognition, package recognition, etc. Without the Nest Aware subscription, the Nest Hello was severely limited. Despite that, the Nest App was decent, no complaints. I had the Nest Hello for over 5 years just outside my front door, and it never failed on any given day, even in subzero temps during mid-Winter.The Gen 2 doorbell installation was nearly identical to the Nest Hello installation. The only difference was the chime module was slightly easier to install (somewhat less wiring on the Gen 2 model), otherwise it was an easy swap. If you're replacing the Nest Hello, as I did, you WILL need to swap out your doorbell chime module for the new one. The rest of the wiring is the same. Video quality on the Gen 2 is slightly better than the Hello, but not substantially better. The most significant benefit of the Gen 2 is you get many of the Nest Aware features without the need for the subscription...face/package recognition and the ability to record and review "events." Video history is fairly short however...events such as package deliveries and people only remain available to view for a few hours before being removed. Also note that the wired model does not have a battery, so it will not function during a power outage. Unlike the Nest Hello, however, the Nest Gen 2 will function and record video during an Internet outage.What you lose with the Gen 2 Nest doorbell is the Nest app is gone, and so is email notification. The only way to access/configure the doorbell is through the Google Home app. The Google Home app seems more limited than the Nest app, and the video frame is quite small within the Google Home app. If you have Google Home displays (including Google Home compatible smart clocks) within your household, video from the Nest doorbell will pop up on those screens whenever someone rings the doorbell. The Nest Hello did the same...however, as I mentioned previously, the Nest Hello was so laggy that video would fail to load when the doorbell was rung. The Gen 2 is much more responsive and snappier than the Hello, as it should be considering it's the latest and greatest. It would've been nice if the Gen 2 had a wider viewing angle, and a 16:9 frame vs a 4:3. Some may be disappointed with the video quality, considering there are $25 plug-in cameras that provide higher res video in addition to many more features for motion detection, etc. compared to the Nest doorbell which costs over $150.Overall Nest Doorbell Gen 2 (wired) is a good product...great for knowing who's at your door before you answer it, and a fairly effective theft-deterrent. Installation is not difficult and clearly explained on the website provided within the product documentation. Loses a star because the Google Home app lacks features and seems immature but it does provide great person/package recognition and the basic functions you'd expect from a fairly pricey doorbell camera.

Upgraded to the latest version which made this an easy installation. Better picture and more features. Know exactly when people are at your door and when packages come and go. Still adjusting to the migration from Nest app to Google Home. Battery went out in previous model. Repurposed the old doorbell in the basement to use as a camera to spy on the cat after adding a powercord to power the camera..