When it comes to keeping an eye on your front door, today's smart video doorbells offer impressive capabilities that go well beyond a simple chime. I've spent time testing both the $149 Google Nest Doorbell (Wired, 2nd Gen) and the $79 Roku Smart Home Video Doorbell to help you understand which one best fits your needs.
Video doorbells have come a long way since the first Ring device hit the market. Today's models combine high-definition video, artificial intelligence, and smart home integration to create a comprehensive front door security solution. The key is finding the right balance of features, performance, and value for your specific situation.
Google released their 2nd Gen Nest Doorbell in 2022, improving on their original Nest Hello with better processing and a redesigned aspect ratio. Roku entered the market more recently with their Smart Home Doorbell in 2023, bringing their streaming expertise to home security.
The most noticeable difference between these doorbells is video quality. The Nest Doorbell delivers crisp 960p resolution with HDR (High Dynamic Range, which helps balance bright and dark areas in the same scene). Its 3:4 aspect ratio, which is taller than it is wide, proves particularly useful for seeing packages on your doorstep and visitors from head to toe.
The Roku doorbell, while adequate for basic monitoring, shows its budget nature in video quality. Still images especially suffer, making it difficult to identify visitors unless they're standing very close to the camera. This becomes particularly apparent when viewing footage on larger screens like TVs.
From my testing, the Nest's superior video processing makes a real difference in challenging lighting conditions, like bright backlighting or at dusk. The HDR capability isn't just a spec sheet feature - it noticeably improves real-world usefulness.
Here's where the Nest Doorbell really pulls ahead. Its built-in AI can distinguish between people, packages, animals, and vehicles without requiring a subscription. When someone leaves a package, you'll get a specific notification. These intelligent alerts help cut down on unnecessary notifications while ensuring you don't miss important events.
The Roku offers basic motion detection but lacks the sophisticated AI features of the Nest. While it can detect movement, it can't tell you what caused it. This means more false alerts from things like swaying trees or passing cars.
Both doorbells offer cloud storage through subscription services, but handle free features differently:
Nest's Aware subscription ($6/month) adds 30 days of event history and familiar face detection, while Aware Plus ($12/month) enables 24/7 continuous recording. The Roku subscription feels more essential to basic functionality, while Nest's paid features feel more like enhancements to an already capable system.
Both doorbells require existing doorbell wiring (10-24V AC), making them suitable replacements for traditional doorbells. The Nest's installation process is particularly well-documented, with an excellent step-by-step guide in the Google Home app.
One advantage of the Roku is the included chime - the Nest requires you to use your existing chime or smart speakers for notifications.
The Google Nest Doorbell integrates seamlessly with other Google Home devices. You can view your doorbell feed on Nest Hub displays, Chromecast-enabled TVs, or through the Google Home app. The integration extends to using Google Assistant for voice commands and automation.
Roku's doorbell works with their smart home platform but has more limited third-party integration. If you're already invested in the Google ecosystem, the Nest's deeper integration provides significant convenience benefits.
In daily use, the differences become clear:
While the Roku doorbell has an attractive price point at $79, the Nest's superior features at $149 provide better long-term value for most users. The included AI features, better video quality, and more reliable performance justify the higher cost for anyone who plans to actively use their video doorbell.
Consider it this way: the $70 price difference amounts to less than $6 per month over the first year of ownership. Given the security and convenience benefits of the Nest's superior features, this premium is easily justified for most homeowners.
After extensive testing, the Google Nest Doorbell stands out as the clear choice for most users, despite its higher price. The superior video quality, intelligent features, and reliable performance make it a better long-term investment. However, the Roku doorbell serves as a viable budget option for those who need basic video doorbell functionality without advanced features.
Remember that your specific needs should guide your decision. If you're simply looking for a way to see who's at the door and have basic two-way communication, the Roku might be sufficient. But if you want a more comprehensive front door security solution with superior technology and features, the Nest justifies its premium price.
| Google Nest Doorbell Wired 2nd Gen | Roku Smart Home Video Doorbell & Chime SE |
|---|---|
| Price - Initial investment consideration | |
| $149 (higher upfront cost but more features included) | $79 (budget-friendly but requires subscription for full features) |
| Video Quality - Critical for visitor/package identification | |
| 960p HDR with 1/3-inch 3MP sensor | Standard HD (exact specs not published) |
| Field of View - Determines how much you can see | |
| 160° diagonal with 3:4 aspect ratio (optimized for doorstep view) | Standard view (specs not published) |
| Smart Detection - Reduces false alerts and improves notification relevance | |
| Advanced AI detection for people, packages, animals, vehicles (included free) | Basic motion detection only |
| Storage Options - Affects how you can review past events | |
| 3 hours free event history, subscription for more | Requires subscription for any video history |
| Monthly Subscription Cost - Ongoing expense consideration | |
| Optional: $6/mo Aware or $12/mo Aware Plus | Required: $3.99/mo for basic features |
| Power Requirements - Installation consideration | |
| 12-24V AC, 8VA transformer required | 10-24V AC, 40VA max |
| Operating Temperature - Climate durability | |
| -4°F to 104°F (-20°C to 40°C) | -5°F to 120°F (-20.5°C to 48.5°C) |
| Smart Home Integration - Ecosystem compatibility | |
| Full Google Home ecosystem, works with Assistant | Limited third-party integration |
| Additional Hardware - What's in the box | |
| Doorbell only (uses existing chime) | Includes wireless chime |
| Night Vision - Important for 24/7 monitoring | |
| 850nm infrared LEDs with HDR processing | Standard infrared (specs not published) |
| Two-Way Audio - Communication quality | |
| Advanced noise cancellation and echo reduction | Basic two-way audio with noise cancellation |
| Installation Requirements - Setup complexity | |
| Existing doorbell wiring required, detailed app guidance | Existing doorbell wiring required, basic instructions |
The $149 Google Nest Doorbell offers superior video quality, advanced AI features, and better smart home integration, making it the better choice for most users despite the higher price compared to the $79 Roku Video Doorbell. However, if budget is your primary concern, the Roku offers basic functionality at a lower cost.
Yes, both doorbells can display on TVs, but with different capabilities. The Nest Doorbell works seamlessly with Chromecast-enabled TVs and Google TV devices, while the Roku Doorbell can display on Roku TVs and streaming devices.
The Google Nest Doorbell delivers superior 960p HDR video quality with better dynamic range and clarity, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Roku doorbell offers basic HD video but struggles with image quality, particularly in still images.
The Nest Doorbell includes core features without a subscription, including 3 hours of event history and AI detection. The Roku doorbell requires a $3.99/month subscription for most features beyond live viewing.
The Nest Doorbell provides superior night vision with advanced 850nm infrared LEDs and HDR processing. The Roku doorbell offers basic night vision capabilities but with less clarity and detail.
The Google Nest includes free package detection with AI recognition. The Roku doorbell only offers basic motion detection without specific package recognition.
The Nest Doorbell integrates seamlessly with Google Nest Hub displays and Google Assistant. The Roku doorbell has more limited smart display integration options.
Both require existing doorbell wiring, but the Nest Doorbell offers better installation guidance through its app. The Roku doorbell includes a wireless chime, which some users might find convenient.
Yes, the Nest Doorbell can display on any Chromecast-enabled device, including home theater projectors and AV receivers. The Roku doorbell works with Roku streaming devices connected to your home theater system.
The Google Nest Doorbell offers superior AI-powered motion detection, distinguishing between people, packages, animals, and vehicles. The Roku doorbell provides basic motion detection without smart recognition.
For most users, the Nest Doorbell's superior features and performance justify its higher price compared to the Roku doorbell. The better video quality, included AI features, and reliable performance make it a better long-term investment, especially for home theater integration.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: bestbuy.com - consumerreports.org - youtube.com - the5krunner.com - camelcamelcamel.com - support.google.com - security.org - youtube.com - bestbuy.com - wasserstein-home.com - googlenestcommunity.com - googlenestcommunity.com - support.google.com - consumerreports.org - forums.wyze.com - community.roku.com - discussions.apple.com - consumerreports.org - ring.com - securitysystemsnews.com - community.roku.com - image.roku.com - droneupdelivery.com - lukoilmarine.com - roku.com
