Google’s new wired Nest Doorbell is nothing new

Google has lastly launched its long-awaited successor to the Nest Hi there video doorbell. The brand new Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen), which was first teased final yr, prices $179.99 and is on the market now at retailers reminiscent of Greatest Purchase and on the Google Retailer.

A wired model of Google’s Nest Doorbell (battery), the brand new Nest Doorbell is supposed for houses with present doorbell wires. A wired doorbell doesn’t must be recharged ceaselessly, though if the facility goes out, it received’t report video, in contrast to its battery-powered counterpart.

The design of the brand new doorbell is sort of similar to the prevailing battery model; it’s simply slimmer and, at 5.2 inches tall, about an inch shorter. It is available in the identical 4 colours because the Nest Doorbell (battery): white, beige, grey, or inexperienced. It additionally prices the identical and has the identical digital camera specs and the identical software program options.

The large distinction is the Nest Doorbell (wired) can report 24/7 video with a Nest Conscious Plus subscription ($12 a month / $120 a yr).

The brand new doorbell’s video decision is 960 x 1280 pixels at 30 frames per second, with a 1.3-megapixel coloration sensor and HDR imaging. The digital camera captures a head-to-toe view with a 3:4 facet ratio and a 145-degree discipline of view.

These specs will disappoint those that love the Nest Hi there, which has the next decision at 1600 x 1200, a wider discipline of view, and stronger digital zoom. That’s nonetheless out there for $149, down from $229, however it doesn’t embody the three hours of occasion recording without cost that Google’s newer buzzers do.

Nonetheless, when The Verge examined the Nest Doorbell (battery), our reviewer Dan Seifert stated he by no means felt the video or picture high quality wasn’t passable. Google spokesperson Julie Zhu advised The Verge in a briefing that the brand new digital camera has “the clearest picture but” of all of Google’s cameras. That is due to software program enhancements, which Zhu says Google plans to carry to all its newer cameras. “Our superior AI and software program experience helps us to extract the perfect out of the {hardware},” she stated.

As with all of Google’s new Nest cameras, the doorbell has on-device processing of video footage to ship faster alerts for individuals, packages, automobiles, and animals. With a Nest Conscious subscription, you additionally get an alert that tells you who’s on the door with Nest’s Acquainted Faces characteristic.

The doorbell can routinely report an hour’s value of occasions if Wi-Fi goes out, however there is no such thing as a battery backup; if the facility is down, so is the doorbell. It could actually work with Google and Alexa audio system and sensible shows as a digital doorbell chime in addition to stream stay video. This allows you to see and speak to individuals at your door — like a video intercom.

Different software program options embody fast responses, exercise zones, and a three-hour occasion historical past without cost. With a Nest Conscious subscription, you may see a 30- to 60-day historical past of event-triggered video recordings. In the event you stage as much as a Nest Conscious Plus subscription, you get 10 days of 24/7 steady video. All of that is accessed within the Google Dwelling app. As with all new Nest cameras, the Nest Doorbell (wired) doesn’t work with the legacy Nest app.

Google additionally introduced a slew of updates to the Google Dwelling app, together with improved digital camera integration. Now you can scroll via recorded footage vertically within the Google Dwelling app — as you possibly can within the Nest app. You too can see snapshots of the motion for simpler reference, and the app opens to point out a stay view out of your cameras, making it sooner to see what’s happening at your entrance door.

Correction, Tuesday, October 4th, 9:32 AM. An earlier model of this text misspelled the identify of Julie Zhu. We remorse the error.