What Is a Video Doorbell?
A video doorbell, sometimes called a doorbell camera, is a half-camera and half-doorbell designed for outdoor use. It is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that offers a lot of features and is either wired or battery-powered. This often comes with a built-in microphone and speaker allowing two-way communication. Some models would also have a motion detector as well as night vision, which can help keep you and your family safe. It can notify you through your phone or give you access to a live video feed when someone’s ringing the doorbell.
Best Video Doorbell Models
There are more features that each video doorbell offers, and it varies from one model to another. To help you decide which video doorbell is perfect for you, here are the models you should check out.
Why Should You Buy a Video Doorbell?
With all the outstanding features that each video doorbell on this list offers, it becomes easier to add at least one model to your cart. If you are still not convinced about what these can bring you, here are some benefits of having a video doorbell. What makes this model an excellent choice is its Pre-Roll buffering technology, which its predecessors lack. With this, you can record a four-second video clip before any detected motion or activity. You should note, however, that the Pre-Roll video would come in monochrome and wouldn’t have any audio. You cannot also access the recorded videos unless you avail the paid subscription. The RemoBell S is a weather-resistant video doorbell that captures an HD video and has a 180-degree viewing angle. It can help you watch over your front door when the sun is down, thanks to its two infrared LEDs for night vision. You can talk to whoever’s outside your home as it also offers a two-way audio feature. It also allows you to customize motion alert zones and sends you notifications when it detects motion. Aside from alerting you, it also records video when it detects motion or when someone presses the doorbell button. This video doorbell records in 1600 x 1200 video resolution and has a 160-degree field of view. It uses infrared LEDs for night vision and can do 8X digital zoom so you can see more details. If you can’t come to the door, you can play pre-recorded responses or use the built-in microphone and speaker for two-way talk. It also offers a motion detection feature and lets you set areas of interest so you can only receive notification in that part. What makes the Nest Hello an excellent option is its facial recognition feature that lets you identify who’s at your front door. You can even have it announced via a Google Assistant-compatible device, which is cool. While this may be true, you would have to avail a Nest Aware subscription to use it and other several features. With all the advantages you could enjoy once you subscribe, this is worth it. It records HD video with HDR so you can see more vivid details on your footage. It also has high-powered infrared LEDs with IR Cut Filter, helping you watch your front door even at night. Thanks to its front door-optimized 180-degree viewing angle, you can see whoever’s in front of your door from head to toe. You can also speak and listen to your visitor as it has a built-in speaker and microphone, allowing two-way talk. There is also a smart motion detection feature that can distinguish people from cars or animals. With this, you can lessen the possibility of receiving false alerts, which is a problem with other models. You can customize motion activity zones, too, allowing you to be notified only in the area you set. There is also rolling video storage of up to 30 days, but you can only enjoy it and some other features if you sign up for a subscription. This video doorbell produces a sharp 1080p video and has infrared night vision and a 160-degree viewing angle. It also lets you speak and listen to your guest, thanks to its two-way audio feature. It has an advanced motion detection feature that allows you to customize which part of the view you want to include. You can also decide whether to receive motion alerts from “people only” or “all motion” so you get smarter notifications. You can schedule to disable the motion alerts, too, through the app, allowing you to save data usage. It has a two-way audio feature that lets you speak and listen to whoever’s in front of your door. You can also play pre-recorded messages and you can add up to three responses of your own. There is also a motion detection feature that lets you record up to five minutes as long as it detects motion. If the motion goes beyond five minutes, it will continue recording so you miss nothing. You can adjust the sensitivity of motion detection and customize activity zones so you would only receive alerts on the area you set. This video doorbell has a wide 180-degree viewing angle and comes with infrared LEDs for night vision. It also has a two-way talk feature so you can speak to whoever’s at your front door. You can also play pre-recorded responses and create one, too, if you don’t feel like talking. It also offers motion and people detection, which allows you to set Action Zones. With this, you can customize a specific part of the view that can trigger recording. You should note, however, that you can only enable some features if you avail of a Kuna subscription. With the paid subscription, you can also store the recorded videos for a longer time instead of only two hours. The EZVIZ DB1C captures Ultra HD videos at 15 FPS and has a vertical field of view of 170 degrees. It uses three infrared LEDs to support black-and-white night vision and can view a range up to 16 feet. It also has a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing you to talk to someone at your front door. There is also a smart motion detection feature that can differentiate a motion from a person and other objects. Once the video doorbell detects motion, it will send you instant alerts and will record a video of the event. You can create notification schedules and adjust the sensitivity levels to lessen false alerts. The recorded video can either go to your local storage or on the cloud if you availed of a subscription. Compatibility-wise, this device supports voice commands and other smart devices using IFTTT applets. Compared with its predecessor, this Pro version has a more powerful HDR camera, providing a 1080p video resolution. It has a 180-degree field of view and a 1:1 aspect ratio, allowing you to see the visitor from head to toe. This would also allow you to see if someone delivered a package and left it on your doorstep. You can receive push alerts, too, as it can detect packages, thanks to its Smart Sentry analytics technology. This Smart Sentry can also sound an alarm when someone tries to steal your packages. This video doorbell will also let you see in low light conditions, as it has a pair of infrared LEDs that can go up to 10 feet of night vision. There’s also a sharp zoom that can do 3x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. Despite the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro’s expensive price, it is still a great option considering its excellent features. This video doorbell records 1080p HD videos and has a 155-degree field of view, bringing sharp footage of a wide view. You wouldn’t worry about not having a clear view at night as it offers three infrared LEDs to illuminate the scene. The Ring Peephole Cam can also send you alerts when someone presses the doorbell and lets you view the live video. You can speak to someone at your front door, too, thanks to its built-in microphone and speaker for two-way talk. There is also a motion detection feature that alerts you when it detects motion. You can adjust the motion sensitivity through the Ring app so you would get fewer false alerts. You should note, however, that you can only keep the recorded videos if you subscribe to a Ring Protect plan. For added security, this video doorbell also offers a two-factor authentication feature that you can enable from the Ring app. This video doorbell captures excellent HD video quality and offers a 120-degree field of view. It has a motion sensor and a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing you to talk to whoever’s in front of the door. Compared to its predecessor, the August Doorbell Cam Pro can do video recording and offers a motion detection feature. It also added a Hindsight pre-buffering feature that records 10 seconds of activity before a detected motion event occurs. You can download footage or share them via email, text message, or even Facebook. Even at night, you can still see clear footage and in full color, thanks to an embedded floodlight. What’s also great about this video doorbell is it comes with a 30-day trial of video recording. For the succeeding months, however, you’d have to avail a subscription to get access. The Ring Video Doorbell 2nd Generation captures videos in 1080p resolution and has a 155-degree viewing angle. It also offers a night vision feature so you could still have a clear view even when the sun is down. There is also a motion detection feature that lets you set areas of interest to cut down false alerts. You can adjust the motion sensitivity to humans only, too, so it won’t alert you when it detects motion from your car or pet. This video doorbell records HDR videos at 1080p resolution and has a super-wide 162-degree field of view. You can still view your front door in the dark, thanks to its two infrared LEDs that give you black-and-white night vision. It also sends you alert messages if someone presses the doorbell button or if the device detects motion. It records video clips, too, when either of the mentioned situations happens, but you cannot view them unless you avail of a subscription. If you can’t come to the door, you can use the built-in speaker and microphone for two-way talk. Another thing that makes this video doorbell a great option is its two different sensors for detecting humans. One sensor is responsible for the heat signature of people while the other is for human form detection. This video doorbell delivers sharp HDR video at 2K resolution and has a 164-degree viewing angle. It also offers a night vision that lets you view your front door in full color even when the sun is down. There is also a built-in deterrent light and siren that you can use to scare off unwanted visitors, enhancing your home’s security. You can talk to whoever’s in front of your door using the two-way audio feature or you can play pre-recorded responses. There’s a ring LED surrounding the doorbell button that glows in different colors that indicate certain functions. One of these colors is green, which would appear when someone presses the doorbell button. There is also a white embedded night light at the bottom of this video doorbell that will glow when it detects motion. When either of these two happens, the device will send you alerts and start recording. You can store the recorded videos locally as this video doorbell comes with a 32 GB SD card. This wireless video doorbell captures Full HD video and offers an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view. It also has a night vision feature that lets you see clearly even when the sun is down. You can get instant notifications when its PIR sensor detects motion or someone presses your doorbell. You can also talk to the person remotely, thanks to the two-way audio feature. If you don’t feel like speaking, there are pre-recorded greetings you can play, but you can pre-record your responses, too. You can review what happened the entire day as this video doorbell offers free 24-hour video history. This comes with free cloud storage, too, but you should note that you can only download up to five videos per month.
Convenience
One of the many advantages of installing a video doorbell is it makes your life easier and saves your time. Having one at home lets you see from your smartphone whoever is in front of your door. With this, you wouldn’t have to get off the couch or pause what you’re doing to find out who’s ringing the doorbell. You can also record the activity of the person in front of your door or snap a photo if you don’t feel comfortable answering. Some video doorbell models also have a feature that lets you play pre-recorded messages when you cannot come to the door. This is also useful when you feel like greeting a neighbor or when you want to ask someone at your door to wait. You can even have a conversation through a video doorbell since some models offer a two-way audio feature.
Security
It is undeniable that one of the functions of a video doorbell is to look out for potential thieves or intruders. With its built-in camera, you would know if someone is waiting at your front door or trying to break into your home. Even if you’re not at home, you can still access the live video feed using the app, allowing you to see what’s happening. You can record the activity, too, so you could use it as material for investigation should there be an intrusion. Most video doorbell models have a motion detector that lets you receive a notification when the device detects motion. It can serve as an alert warning when an unfamiliar person is in front of your door, allowing you to prevent a possible theft from happening. Some models also have a siren that you can use to scare off intruders and to let your neighbors know something’s up. If you’re afraid of a possible intrusion happening at night, there are also video doorbell models that offer a night vision. Some would have a black-and-white recording while some would have it in full color, so you’ll have a perfect picture even at dark.
Smarter Home
Some companies would allow you to integrate your video doorbell with other smart home devices under the same brand. For example, you can link it with a smart light bulb that can be triggered once the video doorbell detects motion. This is helpful in a lot of situations and can even prevent bad guys from breaking into your home.
What to Consider When Buying a Video Doorbell
If you have never had a video doorbell at home, there are things you should know more about before buying. Identifying and understanding them would help you decide on what to look for in a video doorbell. To help you come up with the right decision, here are the things you should consider when choosing.
Power Source
The manner of how a video doorbell connects to power varies depending on the device and its setup requirements. There are only two ways to start running your device, which is either from a battery or from your power outlet. Battery-powered models are wireless so they don’t have any requirement, while the hardwired models have at least one. Some battery-powered models would also come with a wire to recharge the video doorbell as you use it. The wireless models are most often the easiest to set up, as there is no wiring plan to think about. You would only need a battery to keep the device running. There are only a few things to worry about, like how long it lasts and how long it takes to recharge. It is also worth noting that not all devices offer a rechargeable one, so some models would require you to buy new batteries. A wired video doorbell, on the other hand, would often need an existing doorbell installed at your home. It would replace your current wired doorbell and chime set up, so you’d have to remove it accordingly. You can also do a new setup, though, but you might have to install a transformer since the voltage requirement may vary. If you’re planning to get a wired video doorbell, you must consider the fact that if the power went out, it would shut down. Now, this falls under the advantages of having a wireless video doorbell since it has a battery to keep it running.
Smart Home Integration
There are also other smart home devices that you can integrate with your video doorbell for more control. This can help you maximize the efficiency of every device, allowing you to have a smarter home. This can also increase the level of security since linking devices could help them communicate with each other. With this, you can trigger other devices, say a smart light bulb on your front door, when the video doorbell detects a motion. All the video doorbell models from the list above are compatible with some virtual assistants, so you don’t have to worry. While that may be true, not everything can integrate with other smart home devices. With this said, you should look for those that have a wide range of integration so you can maximize the features.
Video Quality
When choosing a video doorbell, one thing you should highly consider is the video quality. Part of this aspect is the video resolution, the field of view, as well as the optical zoom the device can do. It is better to have a higher video resolution and a wider field of view so you can have a great picture of what happens on your front door. Most devices would offer a video resolution of 1080p, which is good enough to produce clear footage. Some would only have 720p, which you can also consider, but it wouldn’t hurt to go with the one that offers more if you can. The field of view is also an important factor because the range of what you can see depends on it. Whether you want to have a view covering only a small angle or wide enough to view the entryway, this is your basis. You must aim for models that have 120 degrees or more so you can have a wide view. Another factor under the video quality is the optical zoom, which can come in handy if you want to see more details. This can help you when you want to zoom in on the plate number of a stranger’s car that stopped at your house. This also helps you in identifying people more accurately since it captures more details.
Night Vision
Having a clear view even at night is a great advantage, especially if you want to keep yourself and everyone at home safe. Most intruders would think of breaking into someone’s home when it’s dark, so you better have a video doorbell with night vision. Some would offer an infrared night vision, while some would offer the night vision feature in full color. It often comes with LED lights, so you would feel less afraid even when the sun is down. Most video doorbell models from the list above, such as the Remobell S and Nest Hello have a night vision feature. Some models like the August Doorbell Cam would include a floodlight feature that can illuminate the view at night. This helps in having a full-color night vision so you can still get a great video quality during nighttime. Some companies would specify the night vision range that their product offers. With this said, you must go with the video doorbell that can see at a greater distance, even in the dark.
Two-Way Audio
A two-way audio feature is something you should also look for when picking a video doorbell for your home. Most models, if not all, have a built-in microphone and speaker that allow you to exchange messages. You wouldn’t only see the person on your front door, but you can also speak with them using the app. It is a handy feature when you want to talk to the delivery man or when you feel like greeting your neighbors. It can also help you scare off some unwanted visitors by letting them know you can see them. Most products mentioned on the list above offer this feature so you may want to look for other features related to audio. Some would allow you to have a pre-recorded response you can use when you can’t come to the door. One example of this is the Eufy Security Video Doorbell 2K, which lets you have up to three pre-recorded messages. The Nest Hello and Toucan Wireless Video Doorbell have this feature, too, so you have a lot of options to consider.
Storage Options
When using a video doorbell, you must store your videos so you can review an event should you need it. For example, when someone stole a package from your door or when there’s an intruder, you can refer to the stored video. Now, you can save your footage locally through an SD card or on the cloud storage, you avail. There is also an option to get both for you to have a backup should any of the two fails. The storage options vary depending on the model you choose, so you should check what the device offers. Some video doorbell models have a built-in microSD card slot that allows you to have expandable storage. Some companies, on the other hand, offer a monthly and annual subscription plan that can give you cloud storage. Most video doorbells come with free trial storage, but you can get more once you avail of their paid plan. There are also models like the Lorex 2K QHD Wired Video Doorbell that come with an SD card, giving you free local storage. You must know which storage option suits your needs best to make the video doorbell worth availing.
Alert Notifications
Getting an alert message when there’s certain activity on your property is one of the features you should consider. This can help you prevent something bad from happening, as you’d know it right away. This is, of course, with the help of the motion detection feature that comes with the video doorbell. When you receive a notification, you can pull up the live video feed, allowing you to scare off unwanted visitors. Some models like Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus and August Doorbell Cam Pro could also capture a few seconds before a motion event. With this, you can see what happened before someone pressed the doorbell or before motion is detected. It is also worth noting that not all notifications are accurate and can use up your storage space, too. With this, you should look for a video doorbell that sends you notifications when it detects motion from humans, not trees. You can also go with those that only trigger motion alerts on the parts of the view you included. The Ring Video Doorbell 2 is one great example of this as it allows you to draw on the part of your view using the app.
Video Doorbell vs. Smart Home Security Camera
The video doorbell and smart home security camera have a lot of things in common, especially with the benefits. Both devices allow you to see what’s happening at your front door and detect the motion of whoever’s out there. Some models of both devices also offer two-way audio, which allows you to communicate from one end to another. They also offer an app designed for you to have more control and customization options. Both these devices can also integrate with other smart home devices, so they surely share several similarities. Now, you might be wondering what the difference is between the video doorbell and the smart home security camera. The former has a doorbell component, but you can only install it outside your home. The latter, on the other hand, can be installed indoors or outdoors depending on the security camera model. If you’re going to ask which one is better, it depends on what you need and your purpose. For those who are looking for a device dedicated to security, you can go with the smart home security camera. You can place it on any part of your home so you can watch over your entire house, making it a safer place. If you’re looking for a device that would keep your visitors from knocking on your door, go with the video doorbell. It would serve its purpose, but it offers the advantage of seeing whoever’s out there.
Wrap-Up
Considering all the benefits and the outstanding features you can get, any video doorbell from this list is worth buying. With one, you can receive alerts when someone presses the button and you can see whoever it is, too, making it a two-in-one device. While it serves its purpose of alerting you about your visitors, it can also scare off unwanted guests. With that said, you will not only have more visibility outside your home, but you will also have a higher level of safety.
