Ottawa homeowners and renters who've been on the fence about a video doorbell finally have a good reason to pull the trigger. Google's second-generation Nest Doorbell (battery-powered) is currently $40 off, sitting at $139.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.
Why a Video Doorbell Makes Sense Right Now
With package theft on the rise across Ottawa neighbourhoods, from Centretown to Barrhaven, a smart doorbell is one of the easiest ways to keep tabs on deliveries without hovering by the front door all day. Whether you're at the office downtown or heading out of town for the long weekend, a quick glance at your phone tells you everything you need to know.
The Nest Doorbell is particularly well-suited for renters and homeowners alike because it runs on a rechargeable battery, no hardwiring required. That makes installation a weekend DIY job, no electrician needed.
What You Get Out of the Box
Google's Nest Doorbell records in 960 x 1280 resolution and sends smart alerts through the Google Home app, for free. That means you'll get notified when the doorbell detects a person, a package, or even an animal, with no mandatory subscription.
The doorbell also tracks package activity specifically: it'll ping you when a delivery arrives and again if it detects the package has been picked up. For those waiting on online orders, and let's be honest, that's most of us. That's a genuinely useful feature.
Out of the box, you also get up to three hours of event-based recording history stored in the cloud at no cost.
The Optional Premium Tier
If you want more, Google offers a Google Home Premium subscription at $10/month or $100/year. That unlocks 30 days of video history and access to the Familiar Faces feature, which learns to recognize the people who regularly come to your door, family, the mail carrier, your neighbour who always returns your recycling bins.
For most Ottawa households, the free tier will be plenty. But if you have a busy household or a home-based business, the premium plan is worth considering.
How It Stacks Up
Ring's battery-powered Video Doorbell goes for around $100, making it cheaper upfront, but Ring requires a paid subscription to unlock smart alerts like person and package detection. With Google's Nest Doorbell, those features are included for free, which closes the price gap considerably, especially at the current sale price.
Where to Buy
The $139.99 deal is available right now at:
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Target
The sale appears to be running in the lead-up to Amazon's Big Spring Sale, which starts March 25th, so availability at this price could be limited.
If you've been eyeing a video doorbell for your Ottawa home, this is a solid window to grab one of the better models on the market without overpaying.
Source: The Verge
