Google Nest Doorbell Cam (2025) Review: I'm So Tired of Subscriptions

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Google's Latest Attempt to Justify Expensive Smart Home Security Camera Subscriptions: A Review of the Google Nest Doorbell Cam

As AI becomes increasingly prominent in smart home security cameras, Google is betting that its sophisticated technology will justify the hefty price tags associated with its subscription-based cloud storage services. The idea is simple: with AI-powered notifications and daily summaries, homeowners can effortlessly stay on top of their security without constantly sifting through hours of footage.

Unfortunately, this promise rings hollow for many users. In our review of the Google Nest Doorbell Cam (wired, 3rd gen), we found that AI-generated descriptions are often riddled with inaccuracies, misidentifying pets and animals as well as providing vague summaries of events triggered by motion detection.

For instance, in one test scenario, the AI described my cat as a dog - no matter how many times I corrected it. Similarly, daily summaries often made it sound like my house was experiencing an influx of visitors or that there were multiple people at my door when, in reality, it was just my family members going about their day.

Given these limitations, it's hard to see why the Nest Doorbell would be a worthwhile purchase for those not deeply invested in the Google Home ecosystem. The camera offers solid specs, including a wide-angle view and fast Wi-Fi connectivity, but its AI-powered features are underwhelming at best.

That being said, if you're already entrenched in the Google Home world and plan to use your Nest Doorbell as part of a comprehensive smart home setup, this device might still be a good choice. The integration with other Google products is seamless, making it easy to connect the doorbell to your Google Home app or smart speakers.

Ultimately, however, the $20/month Google Home Premium subscription fee for AI-powered features like daily summaries and notifications feels excessive, especially when compared to cheaper alternative video doorbells that offer local storage. In our review of the Reolink Elite, we found that similar AI search capabilities were available without a subscription.

For those not deeply invested in Google's ecosystem or looking to save money on their smart home setup, there are better options available. The Nest Doorbell is good enough if you're all-in on Google Home, but its limitations and high price make it hard to recommend for anyone else.
 
OMG, I'm so frustrated with the prices of those smart security cameras 🤯! Like, I get that AI-powered features are cool and all, but $20/month is way too much for me 🤑. I already have enough on my plate trying to balance schoolwork and a part-time job, I don't need another expense tacked onto it 😩. And the fact that the Nest Doorbell Cam's AI-generated descriptions were so inaccurate? Ridiculous! 🤦‍♀️ My cat got mistaken for a dog like, what even is that?! 🐈😹. If I want to try out a new security camera, I'd rather look into cheaper options with local storage instead of shelling out extra cash for fancy AI features 💸.
 
awww man... $20/month feels like a lot for cloud storage 🤑😒 especially when u can get similar features from other brands without the subscription fee 💸 u gotta wonder what's driving google's pricing strategy here? is it just cuz they know ppl will pay it? 🤔 either way, it's def not worth it if u're just lookin' for a smart doorbell that actually works outta the box 👍
 
I'm so frustrated with this... I mean, the tech industry always pushing us to subscribe to more services we don't need 🤯. It's like they know we'll just get sucked in because of all the bells and whistles they promise. And honestly, who pays $20/month for AI-generated descriptions that are often wrong? 🤑 Like, come on! Can't we have a camera that actually works as promised without having to break the bank? I swear, it's like Google is just trying to make more money off our backs 💸. Anyway, if you're already using Google Home and want to splurge, go for it... but for everyone else, there are better options out there 🤷‍♀️.
 
I've had this camera for a bit now 🤔 and I gotta say, the AI notifications can be pretty useless sometimes 😒. Like when my cat tries to "visit" at 6am, the app still thinks it's a dog 🐕. Not to mention how often they get stuff wrong, like what happened with my doorbell ringers - they'd show two people even if it was just me walking in 🚪.

The only reason I stuck with it is because I already had the Nest app and some of the features just worked...I guess? 🤷‍♂️ But if you're not part of that whole Google Home crew, there are cheaper alternatives out there that do more for your buck 💸.
 
🤔 I mean, $20 a month for AI-powered features that are barely reliable? That's just not worth it for me 🤑. And don't even get me started on the inaccuracies in the AI-generated descriptions - who wants their pet misidentified as a dog?! 😹 It's like they're expecting us to be okay with some level of error when we're paying top dollar for this thing. I mean, I've seen better results from my old smart home system that didn't require a premium subscription 🙄.
 
idk why google thinks they can just slap a fancy AI-powered camera on the market and expect ppl to shell out $20/month for it 🤑 their ai isn't that accurate anyway lol, my cat got mistaken for a dog like 5 times already 🐈😂 but if u r all about google home then i guess its cool 👍 still dont get why they cant just offer local storage tho, seems like overkill 🤔
 
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." 🚪💡 It's not about the features or specs of a product, but whether it meets your specific needs and makes sense in your daily life. The Google Nest Doorbell Cam may be solid tech-wise, but if its AI-powered features don't address the real security concerns for most people, then it's hard to justify the hefty price tag 🤑.
 
I'm just not convinced about this whole AI-powered security thing 🤔. I mean, I get the idea of having a smart doorbell that can detect motion and send you notifications, but is it really worth $20/month? That's like paying for a fancy coffee every day ☕️. And don't even get me started on the accuracy of those AI-generated descriptions - my cat being described as a dog? Come on! 🐈😂

I've been using this Reolink Elite thing and it's been working just fine without any subscription fees 💸. It may not have all the bells and whistles, but at least I'm saving some cash 🤑. And if you're already invested in Google Home like the review says is a good idea, then maybe it's worth the splurge for you... but for everyone else? Eh, no thanks 😐.
 
I don't think the haters on the internet are being too harsh on the Nest Doorbell Cam 🙄. I mean, sure, the AI-powered features aren't perfect, but what's a few minor inaccuracies between your cat and dog? 🐈🐕 It's not like it's going to make or break your smart home experience.

Plus, think about it - $20/month is a pretty standard price point for premium services these days. And let's be real, the whole "local storage" thing just doesn't have the same appeal as cloud-based storage with AI-powered features 🤖💻. I mean, who wants to spend hours sifting through footage when you can get daily summaries and notifications? 📺

And hey, if you're already invested in Google Home, this is a solid choice. The integration is seamless, and it's easy to connect it to other devices. But for the rest of us? Maybe not so much 💸.

It's all about perspective, right? I think the Nest Doorbell Cam gets a bad rap because people are just expecting too much from tech 🤔. It's a solid product, and if you're looking for a cheap alternative, there are better options out there 😐. But if you're all-in on Google Home, this is still worth considering 👍
 
I think the idea of AI-powered security cameras is cool, but I gotta say, the execution by Google just doesn't quite hit the mark 🤔. I mean, who wants to pay $20/month for a feature that's gonna tell them their cat is a dog? 😂 It seems like more money than most people are willing to shell out for a security camera that's not even 100% accurate.

And you're right, if they can't get the AI right, then what's the point of the premium subscription in the first place? 🤷‍♂️ I mean, if there are cheaper alternatives like Reolink Elite that offer similar features without the hassle of a monthly fee, then why bother with Google Home?

I think the biggest issue is that it feels like Google is trying to nickel and dime their users instead of giving them a solid product that's worth the price tag. And for someone who's not already invested in the Google ecosystem, I'd say keep looking elsewhere 📺.
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around these new-fangled smart doorbells 🤯. I mean, I get the appeal of having a camera that can detect motion and send you notifications, but $20/month? That's just crazy 💸. And don't even get me started on the AI-powered summaries - my cat was mistaken for a dog like 3 times already 🐈😂. It's like they're still figuring out how to make this tech work seamlessly. But hey, if you're already invested in Google Home and want that seamless integration, I guess it's worth considering 🤔. For the rest of us, there are cheaper alternatives out there that can do the same thing without breaking the bank 💸💪.
 
I mean... I think the whole point of AI-powered security cameras is supposed to be that they can automatically detect stuff and send you notifications without you having to sift through hours of footage... but like, if the AI is just gonna mess up and say "doggie" instead of "cat", what's the point? 🤔

And don't even get me started on the price... $20/month for some basic features that other video doorbells can get with local storage? No thanks. I mean, I get it, Google's got a lot of resources and all, but come on... can't they just make it more affordable for us regular people who don't want to shell out hundreds of dollars per year for something that's supposed to be "smart"? 🤑

But at the same time... if you're already using Google Home and stuff, I guess the integration with your other devices might make it kinda worth it? Like, if you can just use it as part of your overall smart home setup without having to worry about it being some isolated thing that's just "there"... yeah, maybe that's a good way to look at it. 🤷‍♀️
 
I'm still hyped about the new Avengers movie, btw 🤩 I mean, have you seen the trailer? It's like, whoa! But seriously, speaking of tech stuff... I'm kinda underwhelmed by this Google Nest Doorbell Cam review. I thought AI-powered features would be a game-changer, but it seems like they're still pretty basic. Like, where's the excitement in getting an AI-generated summary that might not even be accurate? 😒 And $20/month is just too much for me... I'd rather save my cash and get something else that actually delivers. Maybe someone can explain to me how this thing works better than the reviewer did 🤔
 
The AI-powered features just dont seem worth the price tag 🤑. I mean, how often do you really need daily summaries or notifications? It's like they're trying to nickel and dime us with a subscription fee that's more than most people pay for cable TV 📺. And yeah, I've seen those Reolink Elite reviews too... cheaper and similar features is where it's at 💸
 
I feel bad for people who spent like 20 bucks a month just 'cause Google added some fancy AI stuff 🤑🤷‍♂️ I mean, we get it, AI is cool and all, but do we really need a daily summary of who's at the door? Like, my cat was identified as a dog in that test scenario lol 😹 But for real, if you're already using Google Home stuff, I guess this thing might be alright 🤔. The specs are solid and whatnot. Just wish they wouldn't charge so much for it 💸.
 
🤔 I mean, come on $20/month? That's just steep 🤑. I get that Google wants to monetize the AI tech, but do they really need to gouge us like this? 🙄 It seems like a lot of people are getting burned by these 'smart' security cameras and their expensive subscriptions. And what's up with those AI-generated descriptions being so inaccurate? 🤦‍♂️ Like, I know my cat's name is not "dog"! 🐈😹 But seriously, can't they just offer a one-time fee or something? It's just too much of a hassle and an unnecessary expense for most people. And if you're not already on the Google Home bandwagon, why should you shell out even more cash to join the club? 🤷‍♂️
 
[Image of a cat wearing a "dog" tag](https://i.imgur.com/sF8wXtj.jpg) 🐈😹

[Video of a person trying to get their Google Home assistant to understand them, but getting an awkward response instead](https://giphy.com/gifs/assistant-problems-5d7a9a3f45hcM) 😂🤦‍♂️
 
I'm not sure I'd pay $20/month for AI-generated summaries that are basically just a bunch of guesses 🤔. Like, my cat is definitely not a dog, no matter how many times you say it 😂. And don't even get me started on the daily summaries - sounds like Google is trying to sell me a fake story about my house being robbed or something 🚫.

And have you seen the prices of these things? $300 for a doorbell that's just gonna make some half-baked guesses about what's going on? No thanks 💸. If I want local storage, I'll stick with Reolink Elite like they did in their review - at least that one didn't break the bank 🤑.

I guess if you're all-in on Google Home and don't mind shelling out the cash for a bunch of unnecessary features, then the Nest Doorbell might be okay 🤷‍♂️. But for the rest of us, there are better options out there that won't drain our wallets 💸.
 
I'm telling ya, this whole smart home security camera thing is just a reflection of our society's obsession with convenience and data collection 🤖💻. I mean, think about it, we're willing to pay $20 a month just to have some AI-generated summaries of our daily activities? It's like we're trading our privacy for peace of mind 🤔.

And let's be real, this is exactly what our politicians are talking about when they talk about data protection and surveillance. They want us to think that it's okay to collect all this data because it's "convenient" or "helpful". But I say, what's the real motivation here? Is it really about keeping us safe, or is it just about lining the pockets of big corporations like Google? 🤑

And don't even get me started on the Reolink Elite. That thing is a game-changer for those who want to stick it to the man (or in this case, Google). I mean, who needs AI-generated summaries when you can have local storage and more control over your data? It's like we're being forced to choose between convenience and control 🤷‍♂️.
 
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