Video doorbells alert you when somebody is at the door and allow you to see who’s ringing the doorbell even without getting up and opening the door. You do not even have to be at home to answer the door.
Two of the best video doorbells are Nest Hello and Ring.
Nest Hello
Dimensions. The Nest Hello video doorbell is a slim device that measures 1.7 inches wide and 4.6 inches high. It is only an inch thick. Suffice it to say that you can put this on your front door where your old doorbell used to be. It weighs only 121.6 grams.
HD video. The camera on the Nest Hello delivers 3 megapixels of full-color images. It gives you 1600 x 1200 pixels of video with up to 30 frames per second and encoded in H.264 format. You can view what your camera is seeing on demand, round the clock.
Night vision. The Nest Hello included an 850 nm infrared LED that gives you bright and crisp footage even at night and in low light conditions.
Wide-angle field of view. The camera has a field of view of 160 degrees diagonal, which means that you can see practically everything in front of the camera.
Two-way communication. The Nest Hello doorbell also has an embedded speaker and microphone, allowing you to say hello and greet your visitors even when you are not home. This also comes in handy when there are deliveries as you can tell the delivery person were to leave the package or what to do even if you are not around to receive it.
Ready for any weather. The Nest Hello has an operating temperature range of –10° to 40°C. This means that it can withstand anywhere from below freezing to a heat wave. It is also IPX4 rated, which means it is safe from splashing water.
Nest Aware
Nest offers the Aware service, which allows you to record your videos continuously. You would also need to get a subscription if you want to get advanced notifications and turn on extra features such as the familiar face alerts, intelligent motion detection, motion inactivity zone, and up to 30 days of video history.
Nest Aware subscriptions range from $5 per month to $30 a month.
Comes with everything you need
The Nest Hello has everything you need included in the package. These include:
- The Nest Hello video doorbell
- Quick Start Guide
- 15° wedge
- Chime connector
- Extension wires
- Masonry drill bit
- Release tool
- Screws
- Wall anchors
- Wall plate
- Window decal
What you would like about the Nest Hello
The Nest Hello uses a 4:3 aspect ratio for its videos, allowing you to see your visitors from head to toe. You would also not worry about changing batteries as the doorbell is wired for power.
Nest Hello uses algorithms to identify a familiar person’s face as opposed to a stranger’s. It can also differentiate between a car or an animal moving. This will lessen the amount of (false) notifications you get as well as give you more meaningful alerts.
Ring
Ring is the most recognizable name when it comes to video doorbells. There are currently four different models available:
- Ring Video Doorbell
- Ring Video Doorbell 2
- Ring Video Doorbell Elite
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro
The original Ring Video Doorbell and the second-generation Ring are the most affordable ones among the four. Both may be powered by batteries or may be hardwired to your existing doorbells. Both have five selectable motion detection zones for which sensitivity can be changed. Both have a 180-degree field of view for motion detection.
Moreover, both Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Video Doorbell 2 work only on the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band and have interchangeable faceplates. The Ring Video Doorbell is smaller and thinner than the 2nd generation Ring, measuring 4.98 high, 2.43 inches wide, and less than an inch thick. The Ring Video Doorbell 2, on the other hand, measures 5.05 inches high, 2.5 inches wide, and 1.08 inches thick dimensions.
The biggest difference between these two is that the original Ring only delivers 720 pixels of images and videos, while the 2nd generation Ring delivers full 1080p HD videos.
Ring also has higher-end models in the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and Ring Video Doorbell Elite respectively. (Read my comparison here)!
Both of these more expensive doorbells have customizable motion detection zones and cannot be powered by batteries. The Elite is powered via power over Ethernet while the Pro is hardwired to your existing doorbell. Both work on dual 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi bands and come with four interchangeable faceplates.
Read more about Ring in my full review of the Ring Alarm Home Security System!
How does Ring compare to other video doorbells? Read here my comparison with the Netgear Arlo Pro or the ZModo Greet.
Side-by-side comparison of all Ring Video Doorbell models
| Model | Ring Video Doorbell | Ring Video Doorbell 2 | Ring Video Doorbell Elite | Ring Video Doorbell Pro |
| Price | (Check out the latest prices here!) | (Check out the latest prices here!) | (Check out the latest prices here!) | (Check out the latest prices here!) |
| Selectable motion detection zones | 5 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| Customizable motion detection zones | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum battery life | 12 months | 12 months | N/A | N/A |
| 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 4.98 x 2.43 x 0.87 in. | 5.05 x 2.5 x 1.08 in. | 4.80 x 2.75 x 2.17 in. | 4.5 x 1.85 x 0.80 in. |
| Field of view (horizontal, degrees)Â | 180Â | 160Â | 160Â | 160Â |
| Finishes | Polished brass, antique brass, Venetian bronze, satin nickel | Venetian and satin nickel | Satin nickel, Venetian, pearl white, and satin black | Satin nickel, satin white, satin black, and dark bronze |
| Live View Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Detection Angle (degrees)Â | 180Â | 180Â | 160Â | 160Â |
| May be powered by batteries? | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| May be hardwired? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Video Resolution | 720p HD | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
When it comes to price, Nest Hello’s price tag puts it right between Ring Video Doorbell 2 and Ring Video Doorbell Pro.
Which one is the better buy?
The Ring Pro and the Ring Video Doorbell 2 both have an edge when it comes to design. Do not get us wrong, the Nest Hello is a beautiful doorbell, but it does not have interchangeable faceplates, which is what makes Ring doorbells a good choice for those who want their doorbells to match the color schemes of their front doors.
| Model | Ring Video Doorbell 2 | Nest Hello | Ring Video Doorbell Pro |
| Price | (Check out the latest prices here!) | (Check out the latest prices here!) | (Check out the latest prices here!) |
| Motion detection  | Basic | Person and facial recognition | Customizable motion detection zones |
| Dimensions (h x w x d, inches)Â | 5.05 x 2.5 x 1.08Â | 4.6 x 1.7 x 1.0Â | 4.5 x 1.85 x 0.80Â |
| Field of view | 160 degrees horizontal, 90 degrees vertical | 160 degrees diagonal | 160 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical |
| Colors | Satin Nickel and Venetian | Black and white | Satin Black, Satin Nickel, Satin White, and Dark Bronze,  |
| Live View Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature (°C) | -20.5 to 48.5 | –10° to 40 | -20.5 to 48.5 |
| May be powered by batteries? | Yes | No | No |
| May be hardwired? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sends an alert triggered by sound or motion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two-way communications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Features. The Nest Hello has better motion detection features as it can recognize if a person comes into view. With a Nest Aware subscription, it will also tell you when it sees a familiar face. Ring Video Doorbell 2 only has basic motion detection, while the Ring Pro improves on that by allowing you to select which areas to monitor for motion.
All three video doorbells can alert you when it detects motion, but the Nest Hello can reduce the number of false alerts that you get.
Nest Hello has a 1200 pixels resolution, while both Ring 2 and Pro have 1080 pixels. Nest Hello also offers you a 4:3 aspect ratio, letting you see the person outside your door from head to toe.
You can have a two-way conversation with all three doorbells.
You should get Ring Video Doorbells if you have Amazon Alexa and if you want to have a video doorbell that you can control with voice commands and view on Amazon Echo Show and other Alexa devices equipped with a screen. On the Other hand, Nest Hello is compatible with Google Home, and the smart assistant can alert you when there is someone ringing your doorbell.
While all three video doorbells may be hardwired, you can only use batteries on the Ring Video Doorbell 2, which makes it the only option if you are buying a new doorbell and you do not want to wire it.
Nest Aware vs. Ring Protect
You should know that neither Ring nor Nest offers you a free option when it comes to video recording and storage. They have recording plans available, though. With Nest, you would have to pay very little per month per camera for video recording, intelligent alerts, customizable activity zones, and clips. Ring Protect is much cheaper per month. It also has the Protect Plus option for unlimited cameras.
With the Nest Aware, however, you get more features such as facial recognition and access to its cloud-based algorithms.
Final say
Nest has a bit more pixels when it comes to videos, and it’s 4:3 aspect ratio is unique. It does offer a few advanced features such as the HDR feature, the algorithms, and face recognition, which is all absent in Ring’s video doorbells.
However, you would need to pay more for Nest Aware compared to Ring’s Protect plans.
Nest also wins with its integrations, and those that have Nest Learning Thermostats might want to get devices coming from the same brand because they tend to integrate better.
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