Reviewing The Best Smart Doorbells This Year
In today's community, you no longer have to answer a knock or rely on a fisheye lens to see who's in front of your door. Whether you're concerned about box thieves or you just don't want to open up the door to a stranger, a smart doorbell is an easy way to give yourself some peace of mind. With lots of brands entering the market, it might be hard for you to make the final decision. See the best smart doorbells available today in our handy guide below.
What Are the Best Smart Doorbells?
Ring Video Doorbell
– Best Overall
The Ring Video Doorbell is one of the best models from Ring – the company that started it all. It is super easy to install, has Full HD 1080p recording in both directions, two-way audio, and voice control via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. For extra protection, this smart doorbell has a clever feature that records four seconds of video automatically before the detection of a “motion event.” And you shouldn’t worry about wiring because it features a removable rechargeable battery that lasts for six months before you need to recharge it – which is done quickly through a phone charger.
- It has a sharp 1080p HD video quality, so you will clearly see who is in front of your door
- Two-way audio features so that you can both communicate through the doorbell
- DIY installation with hardwired or battery-pack options
- Subscription needed to be able to review recorded video and access other premium features
eufy Video Doorbell
– Runner Up
Looking for a video doorbell that can withstand any type of weather condition outside? Then the eufy Video Doorbell is the way to go. This is a great battery-powered device with 2K HD video and an easy installation, making it the perfect option for anyone looking for a simple/no-fuss setup. The camera automatically detects body shape and face pattern, and we also liked the fact that it will store all of your recordings locally – so you won’t pay expensive subscriptions.
- This doorbell creates high definition videos
- It uses a 4:3 aspect ratio to cover a bigger viewable area
- It is a lot more affordable when compared to other advanced smart doorbells
- You will need to unmount the camera to recharge the battery (every 6 months)
SimpliSafe Doorbell
– Contender
The Simplisafe Pro gave us total command over the doorbell’s point of view with zooming and panning controls. It offers 1080p HD images with included HDR, which helps decrease glare. The 160 degrees field of vision is wide enough to see anyone or anything around your door. Simplisafe Video Doorbell also comes with person detection that can recognize between people, cars, and animals. Connect it with the SimpliSafe home security system and watch your front house without leaving your seat.
- The camera has crisp and clear 1080p video quality
- The person detection and heat sensor features reduce unwanted false alarms
- It has a simple DIY setup so that most are able to install it in a couple of minutes
- There isn’t any battery-operated option
Arlo Video Doorbell
– Honorable Mention
The Arlo Video Doorbell is the only doorbell on this list to offer a 180-degree field of view. With this doorbell, you will be able to see a person from head to toe or a box on the ground in 1080p HD Resolution. It also includes person detection, night vision, and a motion-triggered recording so that you don’t miss out on anything. Whenever someone is at the door, you will receive a video call to your phone to talk to the visitor through the two-way audio feature. And best of all, you will get seven days of local video storage absolutely for free.
- It has an amazing 180-degree field of view to help you see the whole area in front of your door
- You will be able to connect it directly to your WiFi
- It will be able to detect a person, pet, or package with the use of Arlo Smart
- It has a night mode which makes it easier to see who’s at the door at night
- Requires existing doorbell and chime setup with electrical wiring
Amcrest Video Doorbell
– Also Consider
The Amcrest Smart Doorbell provides a rich 1080p resolution, so you won’t need to strain your eyes or lean in close to see who is in front of the door. It supports WiFi networks with 2.4Ghz only. Amcrest Smart Home Cloud was built to ensure that you won’t miss anything, no matter where you are. Regardless of how far you are from home, through the Amcrest Smart app, you will be able to instantly access the video footage on your smartphone. It can also save all the video recordings to the MicroSD card. And Amcrest also includes a 1-year warranty and lifetime technical support.
- This doorbell camera has a 1-year US warranty and lifetime technical support
- You can access it through the Amcrest Smart Home app
- You will be able to put a MicroSD card and record up to 128GB of video footage
- It does not support 5Ghz WiFi networks
Conico Video Doorbell
– Great Value
The Conico WiFi video doorbell camera adopts the most high-level motion sensor, which will be able to detect moving human activity within 10 meters. It has a removable 6700mAh rechargeable battery, which takes only 8 hours to fully recharge. Whenever someone shows up at your door, you can easily communicate with them through this smart doorbell with the help of the 2-way audio. You could also add your family members to the group sharing on Conico wireless doorbell camera phone app. And the Conico wireless doorbell camera can be used anytime regardless of the weather conditions, thanks to its IP65 Weatherproof design.
- You can set up the camera in just a couple of minutes
- Add family members to group sharing on the Conico app
- Pre-recorded 30-second voice message to quickly respond
- It doesn’t have an HDR setting, so the video may appear dimmer
ieGeek Wireless Security Camera
– Also Consider
If you want a reasonably cheap outdoor security camera for your home, the ieGeek Wireless Security Camera outdoor with Rechargeable Battery 1080P could appeal to you. It is surely one of the cheapest options on our list while also providing a tone of features, including motion detection, weatherproof, auto night vision, etc. Powered by 2 built-in batters that will be able to last up to 3 months without recharging. And to get it working, all you need to do is download the app, plug in the doorbell, connect it to your phone, and you will start receiving notifications.
- Receive real-time motion signals to your phone or snapshots by email
- Automatic infrared lights that will allow you to see clearly up to 49 feet in the dark
- This is one of the most affordable options on our list
- The app can sometimes be slow
Buying Guide for Smart Doorbells
Smart doorbells have gained a lot of popularity and are now the must-have accessories among home security. With so many options hitting the market, choosing the ideal one for your home can be a tough experience. In this buying guide, we will cover everything you need to know about smart doorbells and help you narrow down which options and features you need.
What to consider when buying a smart doorbell?
Doorbell installation
Before you even start looking at all the options for smart doorbells, be sure to check out your current doorbell setup. You'll need to know what the voltage is and whether you have a wired doorbell chime or not. If you don't have a doorbell installed yet, you will need to look for a battery-powered model.
Resolution & night vision
The higher the video resolution, the easier it will be to identify people at your door. Smart doorbells can appear from as low as 480p and max out at 1080p resolution. Some of the smart doorbells even have night vision. This means you will be able to see what is happening in front of your door even at night.
Field of view
The field of view refers to how wide the camera can see. The best field of view for a smart doorbell camera is 180 degrees, which means that the camera will be able to capture everything in front of it and to the sides. A 90-degree camera will show only what's in front of the camera and a little bit to the sides.
In general, you should be looking for a smart doorbell that has a wide field of view so you can capture every moment.
How much does a smart doorbell cost?
The cost of a smart doorbell will vary depending on the type of camera you choose and what features and options come with it. Usually, you should expect to pay from as low as $80 and all up to $300 and even more. Be sure to set your budget before you go straight up shopping for a smart doorbell, as this will eliminate options that aren't in the price range.
How did we choose the best smart doorbells?
When choosing the best smart doorbells, we have put a couple of factors, including brand, customer reviews, value, quality, features, and durability. We estimated the design of the doorbell, features of the app, ease of setup, and how well the doorbell and the app kept us notified.
What are the most important features to have in a smart doorbell?
Person detection:
Some of the smart doorbells use AI and computer vision to recognize people by their appearances. This can assist you in determining who is at your door and how to interact with them.
Two-way audio
One of the best benefits of smart doorbells is being able to communicate through them. The two-way audio lets you speak with whoever is at the door. The person at the door speaks into the doorbell's microphone, and you can respond through your doorbell app.
Cloud storage
For security reasons, owning a cloud storage option can be really helpful. You'll be able to store video footage of any motion alerts for up to 30 days, so in the event of someone stealing from your house, you'll have some video evidence available.
Built-in alarm:
A smart doorbell with an alarm can be a great way to prevent unwelcome visitors who you spot on camera or alert you to a potential break-in.
Conclusion
A smart doorbell provides a safe, reliable way to monitor what happens at your front door. There are a lot of uses for smart doorbells, but the right one will fit all your needs. We hope that our guide has helped you in any way!
Smart Doorbell FAQ
A: Most of the smart doorbells have a two-way audio feature that will let you have a conversation with visitors on your doorstep, whether you're home or not.
A: If you are looking for live-stream footage and motion-activated notifications, then those doorbell cameras will require a WiFi connection. However, if you're fine with just viewing locally-stored footage, then you can get a device that doesn't have a WiFi feature.
A: Most doorbell cameras do not record all the time; rather, they either record when the doorbell itself is touched or when the camera detects any motion or a person, depending on its artificial intelligence.
A: The normal field of vision for humans is around 100° laterally. If you are looking for a camera that shows your doorstep the way you see it, look for a field of view with at least 120°. Or, if you want to record everything literally in front of your home, then be sure to get a 180° doorbell camera.
