The Blink Video Doorbell is one of the least expensive video doorbells out there. However, the same is not true of the Google Nest product. Hence, this brings us to the question—should you stick to the expensive Google Nest video doorbell? Or does the Blink Video Doorbell work equally well? Well, that’s what we will find in this post today as we compare the Blink Video Doorbell against the Google Nest Doorbell and see which product will suit your needs better. But before diving further, let us tell you that the Nest Doorbell and the Blink Video Doorbell play nice with only their respective smart assistants. With these, you do not get the flexibility of choosing the assistants of your choice. Since it’s going to be a long post, let’s get going, shall we? But first,
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Design
The Google Nest Doorbell has a long cylindrical look with the camera at the top and the button at the bottom. Interestingly, the button has an LED circle that lights up when you press the button or the motion sensor triggers.
It’s wireless, and it gives you the flexibility to place it anywhere near your front door. You simply need to ensure that it’s within the Wi-Fi range. However, this sleek video doorbell doesn’t have a dedicated chime device, and you will have to rely on your phone’s alerts. Since it integrates well with Google Home devices, you can also pull up the feed on your Nest Hub to see the video or to initiate a 2-way conversation with the visitor. The Nest Doorbell is available in various colors, including a cool Linen color and an Ash shade. So if your door is a tad different color, you can get the Nest device in the closet shade to match it. As opposed to the round look of the Nest, the Blink Video Doorbell boasts a squarish look. The rest of the details are the same, with the camera lens at the top and the button at the bottom. However, this video doorbell also comes in white. However, it appears a bit clunky, when compared.
Like its counterpart, this Blink device also has a circle of LED around the button that lights up when pressed or when someone passes in front of it. As you may have expected, this security device is weatherproof and comes with an IP54 rating. So even if your front door has the occasional splash of water, your video doorbell will continue to function normally.
Features
The feature set defines a product and the Nest Doorbell packs a decent bunch, including a nifty tracking feature. It can track persons, pets, and packages and alert you accordingly. It is one of the distinguishing factors of this Google doorbell. Apart from the above, it has a native resolution of 960 x 1280p and can record during the day and in low light. The IR lights kick into action whenever the light dips below the threshold limit. The best part is that the IR lights do not light up like floodlights. In short, they are low-key. The Nest Doorbell records videos with an aspect ratio of 4:3, allowing you to see the whole frame of the person. However, it restricts the FoV of the camera. But considering it is a smart doorbell, this isn’t a dealbreaker. The feature that sets the Nest Doorbell apart from the rest is its Familiar Face Recognition tech. You can tag familiar faces on the app, and when the person rings the bell, you will receive a notification. So yeah, next time Aunt Mel rings the bell, you will know who exactly is at the door by just looking at the notification. However, there’s no option to go into DND mode. So if your front door sees high traffic (kids going in/out, delivery folks leaving packages), you may be annoyed at the sheer number of notifications. On the other hand, the Blink Video Doorbell comes with an aspect ratio of 16:9. So if you have a wide porch, you will get a wider perspective. It has a native resolution of 1080p resolution. However, it doesn’t have smart features like familiar face recognition or pet recognition. Instead, it brings nifty features like Activity Zones and Privacy Zones. Using the app, you can mark the areas you want to monitor and exempt. This comes to use if you have a huge porch with plenty of objects. But if you live in an apartment with a closed space in front, this may not be as useful. Like any other video doorbell, you will be alerted on your phone or a connected Alexa Echo speaker or Echo Show device if someone is at your door. There’s no external chime device. The night-vision mechanism is the same, and the IR light helps to illuminate the object in front. But at the end of the day, the Blink Video Doorbell is not an independent device and needs a Sync Module to function. And it’s here that you can enable the device to store the recorded videos and images locally on a USB flash drive. It’s worth noting that a single Sync Module can be used with other Blink devices.
Battery Life
One of the best things about the Blink Video Doorbell and the Google Nest Doorbell is their wireless connectivity. These devices rely on batteries and free you from the hassle of connecting wires. This is a boon, especially if you live in a rented apartment. The internal battery on the Google Nest lasts around 2.5 months on moderate use. Of course, the battery life may vary depending on the device usage. The folks at The Verge found the doorbell battery to last about 6-8 weeks during their test. On the bright side, this rechargeable battery doesn’t take long to juice up. As opposed to the rechargeable battery of the Google Nest Doorbell, the Blink Video Doorbell runs on two AA batteries. And a fully charged set can see you through 2.5 years. The good thing is that you can also connect the doorbell to power.
Video Quality & Alerts
Now comes the elephant in the room—Video Quality and Alerts. The Nest Doorbell record sharp and detailed videos with minimum distortion. It does a brilliant job of balancing the exposure such that a person’s face lights up even when they stand against light. The night videos are also beautifully captured, with the IR lights lighting up the person’s face. However, you won’t be able to zoom in on your visitor’s face, courtesy of the limited resolution. The best part is that the HDR beautifully balances the exposure. So even if it’s very bright, you will see your visitor’s face. Thankfully, the Blink Doorbell also delivers impressive videos with the right shade of colors. The same is true of night videos, which are bright and sharp. But at times, the IR lamps tend to over-expose faces, especially when standing near the doorbell. Plus, the 16:9 aspect ratio gives you a broader perspective of objects. The alerts are instant from the motion sensor and the physical doorbell.
Storage & Subscription
Both the Nest Doorbell and the Blink Video Doorbell come with internal storage. However, with the Nest device, there’s a slight catch. You can only use the internal storage when the doorbell can’t connect to your home Wi-Fi. When it can, it will store all the clippings and recordings in the cloud. As you may have guessed, you will need to subscribe to the Nest Aware service, which starts at $6 a month. Again, Nest Aware has two tiers. While one supports familiar face recognition and lets you access the recordings for 30-days, the other one upgrades the video history period to 60 days. That will set you back by around $12/month. As noted earlier, the Blink Video Doorbell lets you store your videos on a USB drive. That aside, you can also rely on cloud storage if you are often away for work. When you buy the device you get a 30-day free trial. Once the trial is over, you can settle on the Blink Basic for $3 a month. This plan supports a single device. And if you want to upgrade, you can check out the Blink Plus plan for $10 a month.
Which One Should You Buy
On the other hand, the Nest Doorbell is expensive. And the premium pricing means you will get an assortment of premium and smart features. And well, who doesn’t want that, right?
