It’s 11:00pm at night and you hear some bumping and rustling outside of your front door. You get up and peek out one of the door windows, but you can’t see anything because it’s so dark outside. You stand there frozen for what seems like eternity, afraid to move. The bumping and rustling continues for another few minutes, then stops. Maybe it was simply the wind brushing against your front door, or maybe it was a hungry animal looking for food.
But, what if it was something more sinister like someone trying to get in?
You’ll never know, though, because you can’t see what’s happening outside your front door. In the past, some homes came equipped with peepholes or chain-links that allowed you to peep out without fully opening your door. But, nowadays, most these safety mechanisms are not included with your home.
But, imagine if you could actually see what was happening in front of your home. Imagine if the same bell chime that audibly lets you know that someone is at your front door could also let you see who or what is at your door. And, imagine if you could record that person or thing and have it stored in a database. Just imagine the reassurance you’d feel knowing you were prepared for anything – from wind and rain noises to animals and potential burglars.
Well, if you’ve ever had this scenario happen to you, or if you’ve ever heard a weird or frightening noise in the middle of the night, but could not clearly see who or what it was, then it may be worth investing in the NEST Hello Video Doorbell, one of the many all-inclusive luxury features included standard in brand new GW Homes. This nifty video surveillance doorbell is considered a home security camera and bell chime all rolled into one.
And, guess what? Consumer Reports has rated it as one of the best on the market. According to Consumer Reports, a non-biased, not-for-profit product-testing organization, this smart home video doorbell delivers high-quality and clear high-definition (HD) video recordings – both day and night. One of the great things about this smart security gadget is that you are able to see everything, big and small, that happens on your front porch.
Another plus? You have the option of “checking-up” on home while you are away – all with the use of your smartphone (via the NEST app). Moreover, you can even talk to visitors who ring your doorbell through a built-in speakerphone attached to your NEST Hello Video Doorbell. Not too bad, huh? But, what does that mean for you? It means 24/7 streaming from anywhere in the world – as long as you have Internet or a reliable Wi-Fi connection.
This doorbell is so small it actually resembles a traditional doorbell (the one that originally came with your home), so it’s not as noticeable as some of the other video doorbells on the market. This little gadget is narrow, which means it can easily fit on most door frames. With the NEST Hello Video Doorbell, you never have to live in fear or “the dark” again!
How Good is the Video Quality?
One of the best benefits of the NEST Hello Video Doorbell is its amazing video quality. This smart video doorbell comes with a 1600 x 1200 resolution. What does that mean for you? It means that video footage is super clear. More specifically, it means that the footage is shot in both “normal” and low lights. Another benefit? This smart video doorbell also comes equipped with a high audio quality and “close-up” capability.
As if that wasn’t enough, the NEST camera supports high-dynamic resolution (HDR), which helps you see who or what is standing in front of your door on cloudy and dark days. And, to top it off, this video doorbell not only displays a 160-degree view of your home, but also has some pretty awesome infrared night vision.
Facial Recognition and Other Features
One of the biggest benefits of the NEST Video Doorbell is that it comes with facial recognition, which many current video doorbells do not come with. Not only does it “recognize” certain people, it also sends you an alert when one of these individuals rings your doorbell. Then, there are the continuous recordings (24/7), so you can “check-up” on your home, whenever you feel like it.
Other NEST Hello Video Doorbell features include: geo-fencing, a stored video history, pre-recorded messages, customizable “activity zones,” and the ability to upload clips and create an online time-lapse. This video doorbell also has a super quick response time. What does that mean for you? It means there is a really short time between when the activity occurs and when it displayed on your NEST Hello Video Doorbell app.
In other words, you are practically able to respond to visitors and activity in real-time. This app that will help you keep up with what is happening at your home. You’ll also be able to use this app to control and change your settings and review “Crime Reports” for your neighborhood and surrounding areas.
Smart Home Capabilities
One of the advantages of this smart video doorbell is that you can link it to other smart home devices. For example, you could have the area lights – i.e. front-porch and the lights on the sides of your home come on, when someone steps onto your porch at night. The NEST Hello Video Doorbell is also compatible with some Google Assistant and Alexa editions. You can also use voice commands to greet visitors – all without leaving the comfort of your home or being there at all.
Lastly, if you have an Alexa-enabled smart device (i.e. Amazon Echo Dot Smart Speaker or Amazon Echo Sport Smart Alarm Clock), a Fire Stick or Chromecast device, you can live stream your NEST video doorbell. This is a good amenity, if you’re in another room and can’t get to your front door in time.
Are There Any Subscription Fees?
There is a minimal subscription fee of $5-per-month. You’ll need to sign up for a monthly plan, however that $5-per-month will give you access to continuous recordings and “smart alerts” letting you know who or what is at your front door. And, for a little bit more, you can have access to NEST Aware, the company’s cloud-based recording storage functionality. However, the basic NEST plan comes with 5 days of recordings and storage.
The next level is a $10 monthly plan that includes 10 days of recordings and storage. There is an additional $5 charge for each NEST camera. So, while there is a subscription plan for NEST Hello Video Doorbell services, it’s well-worth the peace-of-mind you get with knowing who is outside of your door.
The Bottom Line
The Nest Hello Video Doorbell is one of the smartest video doorbells on the market today. And, truthfully, it’s a good choice for anyone wanting to add extra protection to their most valuable asset – their home. It also a fantastic option if your ultimate goal is to have a “smart home” or if you plan to add other Google/NEST smart devices to your home.
However, one of the best things about the NEST smart doorbell is its ability to recognize your friends and family and tell you when they are outside of your home. All you need to do is set up in ID for each person on your NEST app and voila. It’s as easy as that! So, what are you waiting for? Keep your family safe and sound with the NEST Hello Video Doorbell!
References
- Wroclawski, D. (2018). Beyond thermostats: How will Nest’s New Video Doorbell and Smart Lock stack up? Consumer Reports. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/smart-home/nest-hello-video-doorbell-and-x-yale-smart-lock-preview/
- Consumer Reports. (2019). Nest Hello Video Doorbell home security camera. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org/products/video-doorbells/nest-hello-video-doorbell-395433/overview/
