Buying a video doorbell is worth it for several reasons. They’re convenient if you get a lot of deliveries or visitors, as they let you glance at a phone alert to decide whether it’s necessary to drop everything and go to the door. They can provide peace of mind, too, particularly if you’re heading out of town on vacation. Fortunately, Google’s entry-level Nest Doorbell — one of the best models available — is on sale for $139.99 ($40 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target in the run-up to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, which starts on March 25th.
Unlike Ring’s $100 battery-powered Video Doorbell, Google’s Nest Doorbell doesn’t require a paid subscription for smart alerts — you’ll be notified for free via the Google Home app if the doorbell detects a person, package, or animal. You’ll get notifications when a package arrives and another alert if your doorbell detects the package has been picked up. The doorbell also offers up to three hours of event-based recording, though a premium Google Home Premium subscription ($10 a month / $100 a year) provides 30 days of history and access to Google’s Familiar Faces tool, which can tell you who’s at your door.
As for the camera, the Nest Doorbell records video at 960 x 1280 resolution and offers up to 6x digital zoom, making it easy to identify visitors and packages. It uses a 3:4 portrait aspect ratio and a 145-degree field of view, providing both a wide view and a head-to-toe view. It also supports night vision and two-way audio, and integrates seamlessly with the rest of Google’s ecosystem. That means, when someone rings it, you can quickly view a live stream on compatible Google TV devices, as well as Nest and Echo smart displays.