Smart Video Doorbell
A smart video doorbell hooks up to a smartphone app and is an invaluable addition to your home security setup. They typically feature two-way audio, a live feed of your visitors and motion sensors to alert you as soon as someone rings the bell.
If you get a lot of deliveries or are prone to porch piracy, look for a video doorbell with a wide, tall field of view that covers the whole area of your front door and lets you see if packages are on your doorstep.
Features
Smart Video Doorbells are a great way to make sure that your home is safe. They connect to your home Wi-Fi network and send a notification to your smartphone when motion is detected at your door. This allows you to view footage of visitors in real time or later review it from the comfort of your own home.
Most Smart Video Doorbells work with a cloud storage service, although some also allow you to store your footage on a micro-SD card. This is helpful for when the Smart Video Doorbell’s cloud service goes down or if you want to keep a backup of your footage.
The best Smart Video Doorbells offer high-definition video quality, which helps you identify people as they approach your door. They may also have two-way audio, which means that you can talk to the person at your door even if you’re not home. Some models also have night vision, which makes it easier to see the person at your door in low-light conditions.
Some advanced Smart Video Doorbells also include person, package, and pet detection features. This makes it easier to determine who’s at your door and who’s there to deliver packages.
These extra features help you keep your home safe, and they can also alert first responders to emergencies. These options are usually available with a subscription.
Another great feature is the ability to answer your door from anywhere in the world. This lets you answer your door remotely if you’re away from home and don’t want to leave the house unattended.
Many Smart Video Doorbells are compatible with voice assistants, including Alexa and Google Assistant. Some models even integrate with Apple HomeKit, which lets you set a Smart Video Doorbell custom alert to let your doorbell know when someone is coming to your house.
Despite their popularity, Smart Video Doorbells can be an investment and need to meet certain standards. These include data protection and security, compatibility with your devices and Wi-Fi network, and a reasonable price tag. Ultimately, you need to do your research and choose the model that best meets your needs.
Design
Smart home security devices like smart video doorbells are a great addition to any home. These smart gadgets can help you see who is at the door, and keep an eye on your kids when you’re not there. They also let you speak to couriers and posties, giving you peace of mind that your package has arrived safely.
The best smart video doorbells are a bit pricier than some of their counterparts, but the features they offer are well worth it. For instance, the SimpliSafe model boasts an impressive 162-degree field of view, 1080p HDR video, and motion sensored alerts directly to your phone – plus it’s a great looking device.
It’s also worth mentioning that some of these models support Apple’s HomeKit technology, allowing you to interact with the device remotely via your Apple TV or HomePod Mini. This is a big deal for Apple fans, as it allows you to set up automated tasks like waking the house up if someone rings the bell or turning on your lights if it’s a dark night.
Another thing to look for in a smart video doorbell is the quality of its cameras. We’ve found that most smart video doorbells tend to be a bit grainy, but if you’re willing to shell out for a premium model with a higher resolution camera, you should be rewarded with crisp, clear images in low-light conditions.
One of the most impressive features in a smart video doorbell is the ability to perform a lot of functions from one device, which Xailient’s Edge AI platform delivers through an integrated software suite. The aptly named ‘Edge Stack’ platform combines the best of edge computing, artificial intelligence, and cloud storage into an all-in-one solution that saves you time and money by reducing bandwidth, data storage costs, and power consumption.
Installation
Smart Video Doorbells can make your home safer by alerting you to visitors at the door and letting you see what’s going on around the house. They’re also convenient for keeping track of packages delivered to your doorstep, so you can check in on them and make sure they made it safely to their destination.
Choosing the right Smart Video Doorbell can be difficult because there are so many models on the market that offer different features. Before you choose a model, be sure to consider what you want from your smart doorbell, including its motion detection capabilities, cloud storage and local storage options (if available), and whether you’d like to pay for a subscription service.
Some doorbell cameras have intelligent motion detection that filters out swaying tree branches, lawn decorations and pedestrians in your driveway or on your sidewalk. This feature can help you keep your notifications low when it’s a windy day and prevent constant alerts, but it may not be ideal if you have a busy street or a lot of traffic in front of your house.
The best doorbells have a high-quality camera that has excellent night vision, allowing you to see who’s at the door even when it’s dark. Most models also feature a motion sensor that wakes the camera up when it detects movement.
You can also set the camera to record when someone rings your doorbell, and most come with a range of video lengths so you can customize your settings as you like. This is especially useful if you have small children who often run out the door without you being there, or if you want to make sure you’re aware of deliveries and other important events when they happen.
Once you’ve found a model that suits your needs, you can begin the installation process. The first thing Smart Video Doorbell you’ll need to do is turn off the circuit breaker that powers your current doorbell and remove the faceplate. Next, you’ll need to unscrew the old doorbell and pull it from the wall. Several Ring doorbells use batteries, so hardwiring is optional.
Pricing
If you’re looking for a reliable, hassle-free way to keep an eye on your home and loved ones, a smart video doorbell is worth considering. They’re easy to install and offer a variety of features, such as two-way voice chat, night vision, person and package detection, and more.
There are many options in the market, so it’s important to understand what you want from your smart doorbell before buying one. For example, do you need it to connect to a home security system?
Another consideration is whether you prefer a battery-powered or wired video doorbell. A battery-powered option is ideal for renters and people who live in apartments, as it doesn’t require electrical work to set up.
If you prefer a wired model, you’ll need an electrician to run the wiring, which will add to your costs. There are a few high-quality, wired models available from companies like Ring and Eufy.
Cost is a key factor when choosing a smart video doorbell. While it’s usually possible to find models at a reasonable price, you’ll need to consider the cost of installation and monthly subscription fees.
Some smart video doorbells require a monthly subscription to access certain features, such as cloud storage for recorded videos or advanced motion detection. This can add up to a significant amount of money, so it’s important to check the total cost before making a purchase.
Other video doorbells do not require a subscription and store footage on a microSD card or the camera’s internal memory, which gives you more control over your videos. However, they won’t provide the same level of functionality as a subscription-based video doorbell, so they may not be right for you.
Nest’s video doorbell (wired) is still our top pick for an all-around smart video doorbell, combining image quality and excellent performance with features like 24/7 coverage and facial recognition. It’s a bit more expensive than the rest of the options on this list, but it’s well worth the cost.