How To Buy A Video Doorbell?

Video doorbells are one of the biggest smart home purchases, so it's important to ask questions before deciding which to buy. But what are the factors you should consider? 

Doorbell cameras are a relative newcomer to the home security industry; however, they have quickly gained popularity and are now a common "must-have" among home security features. But with so many new doorbell camera options hitting the market at what seems daily, it's getting harder and harder to research and compare which ones perform optimally and which ones are a bit lacking.

What Are Smart Doorbells And What Do They Do?

Smart doorbells are internet-connected devices that work as a video intercom – but are much smarter and can do so much more. 

You can be notified when someone rings your front doorbell and monitor it using your smartphone. Some models even have a motion sensor to let you see who's hanging around your front door, even if they don't press the button.

A smart doorbell can either be activated when a button is pressed on the doorbell located at your front door, or it can constantly monitor activity around the device and send a notification to your smartphone showing a live video scene.

Home Security FAQs

How Do Smart Doorbells Work?

A smart doorbell is a small device with a video camera, a microphone, and a button that's connected to the internet through your home network. You'd generally put it in the same spot you'd put a traditional doorbell, but it can deliver a range of additional features through internet connectivity. 

This ability to connect to your home network and the internet means you can use your smartphone to monitor who is around your front door, have a conversation with the person standing next to the smart doorbell, and possibly even record video.

As with a traditional doorbell, pressing the button on a smart doorbell lets you know someone is at your front door – but where a traditional doorbell might chime or ring somewhere in the home (via a wired or wireless connection from the doorbell to the ringer or chime), a smart doorbell provides additional options.

Firstly, a smart doorbell can send a notification to a registered smartphone so you can check who's there, even if you're not home. You can even talk to the visitor if you like. 

Alternatively, pressing a button could start a chime somewhere in the home connected via the wireless network. You can also set up the smart doorbell to play a recording on a network speaker (via Google or Alexa) to call out to someone in the family, such as "Hey Jane, get out of bed and answer the door!".

Some smart doorbells can sense someone is in the area before they even press the bell, and others support a chain of events happening in the home once the button is pressed. All these actions are possible because it's smart device and can be connected to all the other smart devices in your home.

Do Smart Doorbells Need Wi-Fi?

All smart doorbells operate over your wireless (Wi-Fi) network when sending you notifications while at home and to your smartphone when you're away from home. You could use a model such as the Arlo Video Doorbell that can connect to your existing doorbell wiring, although it still uses Wi-Fi to show video and send notifications to your smartphone. While our tester had no trouble installing the device, it does require a voltage between 16 and 24VAC to work (extra-low voltage). The company does advise hiring a certified electrician to install the transformer included in the box to deliver the correct power.

What Makes a Good Smart Doorbell?

A good smart doorbell has video and sound quality that's clear and recognisable. It should be easy to use and be secure against hacking attacks. A good response time means there's no delay between the time the person takes when pressing the main button and when you get notified on your mobile.

What Makes a Bad Smart Doorbell?

Poor, smart doorbells deliver sound that's grating and unintelligible and video quality that doesn't show who is actually at your door. The installation and setup for some of the worst models will likely lead you to put the device in the 'too hard basket and return to a simple $30 doorbell.

Do I Need a Smart Doorbell With a Camera?

All the smart doorbells we've tested come with a camera, and one of the best things about the device is being able to see the person at your door. Unlike security cameras, there's no real need to record the footage, but some of the models can capture video to view later. 

The angle of view can be an important part of the camera performance. For example, the models in our smart doorbell review ranged from around 100 degrees, which is fairly narrow, right up to 180 degrees, which means you can see who's at your door even if they're standing off to the side.

Choosing The Right Doorbell Camera For Your Particular Situation

The best thing to do is start with learning the basics. Once you understand the basics and know how a doorbell camera is supposed to work, you will be able to decide which one is right for you and how to buy the best one that will fit within your budget.

Home Ownership

Part of the responsibility of owning a home is caring for and protecting that home and the surrounding property, not to mention your family and your pets. There are several ways to do that, and the obvious one is a security system. However, there are many home security systems available, including those that include a doorbell camera as part of their equipment package. There are stand-alone video doorbell cameras as well. Where you live, and the type of home you live in will determine which doorbell camera system will best suit your needs.

So the first thing you will need to consider before deciding on a doorbell camera is the type of home you live in. Are you a homeowner or a renter?

Compatibility

Before you run out willy-nilly and buy a new video doorbell camera, you will have to research whether or not that doorbell camera is going to be compatible with your home. For example, do you need a wired or wireless doorbell camera, and is the system you consider working with any other home security equipment you might have or plan to get.

So the second thing you will need to consider before buying a doorbell camera is the compatibility of that system with your existing home security and automation equipment and what you are trying to achieve.

Home Automation

Home automation has made our lives infinitely more convenient than in days gone by. Many doorbell cameras also have the capability of being connected and synced with your existing home security and home automation equipment.

So the third thing you will need to consider before buying a doorbell camera is whether or not you want and need it to connect to your existing home automation equipment.

There are plenty of home automation equipment options that are compatible with a variety of doorbell cameras. So you might want to think about buying a home security system that includes a doorbell camera, as well as some home automation features such as remote door locks, lights, garage door functions, thermostat controls, etc. But each brand is different, and each will only work with some or a few different brands of home automation equipment. For example, one doorbell camera might work with an Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, Nest, etc., whereas another might not. Therefore, if you want your new doorbell camera to be compatible with your existing home automation equipment, you will need to confirm the compatibility requirements for both before you buy it.

Costs

The cost of a doorbell camera will depend on the type of camera you choose and what features and options come with it. There will be included features and paid features such as cloud storage.

So the fourth thing you will need to consider before buying a doorbell camera system is the cost.

How much do you want to spend, what features do you want, and how much are you willing to pay for the extras. For example, do you want a wired system or a wireless system? Do you need cloud storage (we will talk about that in a moment)? If so, do you want to pay to store an unlimited amount of video storage or not?

The costs, just like anything else, will vary greatly depending on how extravagant you want to get. However, a doorbell camera system will generally cost somewhere in the $100-$250 range, give or take.

Features

Doorbell cameras come with an abundance of helpful features and options, and knowing which ones are important to you and how they work is the first step in determining which one best suits your needs. A little research will go a long way in making an educated decision about which doorbell camera system best fits your needs and budget.

So the fifth thing you will need to consider when buying a doorbell camera is what features you need and which ones you don't.

Here are the most popular doorbell camera system features included with most doorbell cameras on the market. The differences will be in the range of quality you get for each price point.

Professional Installation

Some video doorbell camera brands include professional installation with your purchase, but most don't. So this is where you will have to decide whether to buy a DIY video doorbell camera or find one that includes professional installation, or at least has a professional installation option available for purchase.

Another option, if the video doorbell camera you chose doesn't include professional installation, is to use a third-party installation service such as Handy.com to install for you. So if you find a video camera that meets all your wants and needs, but doesn't have the installation option you want, don't let that stop you. Instead, find a local professional to install for you or contact Handy.com for assistance.

Just remember to check for any warranty requirements before hiring a third-party professional to do the installation for you. For example, there might be a clause that voids the warranty if you don't use an approved vendor or similar verbiage.

What To Look For In Smart Doorbells

If you don't think you need a video doorbell camera, keep reading! Crimes happen every day. Yes, even in your neighbourhood. So why not take a proactive step to protect your family. There's nothing more important than keeping your family, home, and property safe, whether you are there or not.

Here are a few things to consider that will help you make an educated decision about which video doorbell camera is right for you.

Resolution

Doorbell cameras currently max out at 1080p resolution, with some as low as 480p. The higher the resolution, the sharper the image, generally speaking. However, some cameras may not adjust to varying light levels very well, resolving a moot point.

Night Vision

Night vision is one of the most important features to consider when buying a video doorbell camera. Night vision doesn't just enable you to see what's going on at night, but it also enables you to see clearly when it's cloudy, under the cover of thick trees, and when there is any other type of shade present. And the higher the resolution, the better you will be able to see in any circumstance. Another feature you might consider is whether your doorbell camera with night vision can be easily integrated with your other smart home features such as a timed lighting system, etc.

A lot can happen in the cover of night, especially during the winter months when night falls much earlier. Night vision capabilities will allow you to see who is at your door even when it's dark out, giving you a bit more security 24/7.

Field of View

This is how wide the camera can see. 180° means the camera can see everything in front of it and to the sides, while 90° means it can only see to the front and a tiny bit to the sides. A wider field of view is preferred for nearly all scenarios.

Motion Detection

Doorbell cameras can have motion sensors in them that will alert you when someone is approaching or leaving your front door. In addition, some doorbell cameras have advanced features such as setting specific zones to be monitored while ignoring all other areas. Perfect for houses near a busy street, to avoid getting motion alerts every time a neighbour drives by.

Source of Power

Doorbell cameras are either battery-powered or hardwired into the existing wires of your regular doorbell. If you don't have a traditional doorbell on your house or condo, then be sure only to get a battery-powered option.

Audio Features

One of the biggest benefits of doorbell cameras is communicating through them. Two-way audio allows you to speak with whoever is at the door, such as telling delivery men to leave a package somewhere specific.

Cloud Storage

For security purposes, having a cloud storage option can be helpful. For example, you'll be able to store footage of any motion alerts for 30 days, so in the event of someone vandalising or stealing from your property, you'll have some video evidence ready.

App Support

Having app support is the biggest advantage of a video doorbell for most people. You'll want to be sure the video doorbell you're buying has excellent app support so you can connect to it fast to see who is at your door, rather than having a shoddy app that doesn't load till after the person at your door has left.

Other Things You Need To Know

Are You Replacing an Existing Doorbell?

If you're swapping out an existing wired push-button doorbell for a video doorbell, then you have a lot of options, as most of the best video doorbells are designed to use your home's existing wiring. The majority of doorbells, both traditional and video, are powered by a 24-volt transformer, so in most cases, it's simply a matter of connecting your new video doorbell to the existing wires.

If, however, you don't have an existing doorbell, then you'll need to either install wires to where you want your new doorbell to go or purchase a video doorbell that can run on battery power alone. Some fewer models are solely battery-powered; of these, Arlo and Ring make the best models. 

What Do You Want to See?

A video doorbell's aspect ratio is crucial in what you can and can't see out your front door. Originally, most video doorbells used off-the-shelf cameras, which, like traditional cameras, have a nice wide aspect ratio but didn't show a lot vertically. That meant that if someone left a package right by your front door, it would be out of view. That's starting to change; here's a look at some of the leading video doorbell cameras and their aspect ratios. The ones closer to a 1:1 ratio will generally show more of your front door, but no single-camera video doorbell will show you everything.

Do You Want to Know When Packages Arrive?

Many of us receive a lot of packages, so it's important to know when one is left on your doorstep. A few video doorbells have built-in AI that can recognise the shape of boxes and can send you an alert if one is dropped off. Currently, the Nest Hello and Arlo video doorbells have this feature and coming later this year, all video doorbells that use HomeKit Secure Video (such as the Logitech Circle View Doorbell) will gain this ability. 

Do You Want to Know When Specific People Arrive?

Because they're linked to your Google and Apple accounts, respectively, the Nest Hello and Logitech Circle View Doorbell can match up faces in your Google Photos and Apple Photos libraries with those they see approaching your door and then announce their names. It's not a must-have feature, but it is somewhat neat.

Do you have a smart display or smart TV?

One fun feature of many video doorbells is that you can now view what they see on smart displays and even smart TVs. Some even let you interact with the person at your front door. 

Are You Planning to Add Other Security Cameras?

If you're thinking about purchasing additional home security cameras for your property, choosing a video doorbell from the same company makes sense. That way, you're not paying for more than one subscription. Many of the subscriptions offered will cover more than one camera at a given location, so it's good to assess all your potential security needs before deciding on a video doorbell. 

Conclusion

With the help of smart doorbell cameras, you'll always know who is at your door, even when you're not home. Tell the delivery man were to leave a package, see when guests have arrived, and know when your kids have left and returned home. Smart doorbells have been around for nearly a decade, with many brands entering the market offering various features and different price points.