If you were hoping to pick up one of the new Nest Doorbells and wire it in for continuous recording, Google tells us that won't be an option. Even though the new battery-powered Nest Doorbell can be plugged in permanently, so you don't have to recharge it, it still won't support continuous 24/7 video recording, even though the new battery-powered Nest Cam will.

The product listing for the new Nest Doorbell (battery) makes this requirement clear:

"Whether you choose battery or wired installation, the Nest Doorbell (battery) cannot continuously record 24/7 video history. Google Nest offers other cameras and a wired-only doorbell that can record 24/7 video history with a Nest Aware Plus subscription."

According to Google, the restriction isn't arbitrary; it's thermal. While wired in and potentially in direct sunlight or hot environments, the enclosure may not be large enough for the heat generated. That functionality would likely have required a larger doorbell. Google opted for a trade-off of offering event-based detection instead. Customers that prefer 24/7 recording can either augment it with another Nest Cam with that functionality or use the older wired model.

Artem made me make the title joke even though the Nest Hello name is being retired simply because "HELLO" is written around the outside of the new model. This disclosure was my troll toll to allow that. 

The Nest Hello, Google's older doorbell camera, supported continuous video recording, but it required that you wire it in for a continuous supply of power. Google is also renaming the Nest Hello as the Nest Doorbell (wired) to make the distinction clearer.

This difference is a little frustrating and confusing because the new battery-powered Nest Cam does offer continuous recording while plugged in — not all "battery" models are made equal, apparently.

We'll be reviewing the new battery-powered  Nest Doorbell, so keep an eye out for our upcoming review if you're concerned the feature omission could be a deal-breaker. I expect some of our readers and more sophisticated smart home security camera customers may already know if it's a hard requirement, though.