Nest Hello Review: Strong Contender for Best Doorbell Camera

Nest recently came out with their answer for the best doorbell camera, The Nest Hello, and it will look to challenge Skybell and Ring doorbell cameras in this exploding market. Thanks to easy installation and positive customer reviews, doorbell cameras are becoming a “must-have” for any smart home. Below is our Nest Hello review.

The Nest Hello is making a strong case for itself as to surpassing Ring and Skybell for best doorbell camera, despite it’s late arrival to the industry. Nest has produced one of the best smart thermostats, and they are taking that success and moving into the camera and doorbell market.

Nest Hello Design

The Nest Hello has a simple and sleek design that looks good without standing out (some doorbell cameras are bulky and have poor curb appeal). From first glance, the Hello looks a lot like many of Nest’s other products, utilizing minimal hard key buttons and a modern look that reminds of the thermostat. The doorbell has a white body and black face, and they keep things simple with just the one doorbell button and a front facing camera. The Nest Hello is one of the best doorbell cameras because it will fit in a small amount of space, and will cover the space your existing doorbell was placed.

Nest Hello Features

Where the Nest Hello sets itself apart is the facial recognition software you can use to identify who is at your door and be notified if your kids are home, or if a stranger is on your porch. The crystal clear HD talk allows for two-way communication. You can also set automatic replies and schedule times to turn your camera on and off if you choose, or leave it on continuously.

The Nest Hello has plenty of fun and functional features, like “Quiet Time” that disables the doorbell function and only send a message through the app that someone is at your door. Another cool feature is pre-programmed responses you can use called “Quick Response.” Quick Response allows you to choose from built in responses to address people you know, or people you don’t know if you aren’t home or don’t want to be disturbed. Another reason Nest is the best doorbell camera is because of “Familiar Faces,” which recognized people who the camera has seen before. Once you mark them as known, the Nest Hello will let you know via text the name of the person when they arrive. You can also set an automatic notification when that person arrives.

Nest Hello Hardware and Software

Hardware

The Nest Hello’s simple design utilizes your existing doorbell wiring, so you won’t have to worry about replacing batteries. The body of the unit is made of plastic and, while the exact dimensions haven’t been released, does look smaller than other products on the market. The Nest Hello has a 160-degree HD camera that has night vision capabilities and HDR imaging. When you open the app, the live view is front and center, and is crystal clear during the day and at night. One issue other products have is the limited range of the camera, but the Nest Hello allows you to see people approaching from head-to-toe, so there won’t be any questions about who came within view of the Hello. The doorbell is secured to your house via a metal base, so you don’t have to worry about anyone stealing your Nest Hello from your home.

Software

As you might expect, the Nest Hello connects to your Nest app along with all of your other Nest products. This can stand alone without any other Nest product, or works tremendously well with their lineup of thermostats, cameras, and home security products. The app allows you to choose what kind of notifications you receive, whether that is any time someone comes to your door or only when the doorbell is pushed. You can also access live video at any time from your smart phone. Nest makes it easy to track how often someone comes to your door, and you can easily scroll within a five day period to see who has come to your door.

Conclusion: Nest Hello vs Ring vs Skybell

The Nest Hello is the product to have when it comes to best doorbell camera. The Ring and Skybell both offer great products, but the combination of “Quiet Time” and the facial recognition make The Nest Hello the leader of the pack. The Hello is easy to set up, with your Nest app giving you step by step instruction for setting up in about 15 minutes. It’s sleek design will add a sophisticated look to your front door, and the product itself works smoothly. The Nest Hello adds a level of security to your home, because it can clearly see and detect motion well beyond your front porch. And if you sign up for video storage, you can access up to five days worth of video to ensure any suspicious activity is captured and saved.

While it took some time to get here, the Nest Hello has exceeded our expectations and moves to the top of the list for best doorbell cameras.