The Best Video Doorbells for 2019 - PCMag UK " /> Skip to main content John R. Delaney Pros: Slender design. Sharp 1080p video. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Motion detection with pre-buffering. On-demand streaming. Easy to install.Cons: Pricey. Access to recorded video costs extra. Some barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek smart doorbell that lets you see who is at your door in real time, who came calling while you were away, and uses pre-buffering so you won't miss a thing.Read Review Pros: Feature-rich touch-screen interface. Friendly design with big, bright screen. Powerful audio. Web browser.Cons: Heavily sculpted sound emphasizes extremes and downplays midrange. Screen only supports 720p video.Bottom Line: The 2018 model of the Amazon Alexa-powered Echo Show smart display is a major upgrade over the original, with a larger, more functional touch screen and a much more powerful speaker system.Read Review Pros: Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install.Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.Bottom Line: The August Doorbell Cam Pro delivers sharp, colorful HD video and offers motion detection with Hindsight recording so you won't miss a thing.Read Review Pros: Compact design. Comes with preprogrammed quick responses. HDR imaging and night vision. 24/7 livestreaming. Vertical 4:3 aspect ratio. Two-way audio. Light ring doubles as a nightlight.Cons: Facial recognition requires an extra subscription.Bottom Line: The Nest Hello is a sleek, smart video doorbell that's designed to help safeguard your home.Read Review Pros: Affordable. Sharp HD video. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Free cloud storage. Works with Alexa and Google voice commands. Supports IFTTT. Easy to install.Cons: Requires wiring. Video is recorded in fisheye mode.Bottom Line: The RemoBell S is an affordable video doorbell that's loaded with features including motion detection, free cloud storage, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT. Pros: Easy to install. Battery or wired power operation. 1080p video. Alexa and IFTTT support. Motion detection with triggered recording.Cons: Bulky. Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffered recording.Bottom Line: The feature-rich battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal if you want a smart doorbell but don't want to mess with wiring.Read Review Pros: Sharp 1080p video quality. Crisp night vision. Free and paid cloud storage.Cons: Doesn't work with other smart home devices. Minor barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Zmodo Greet Pro With Beam is a smart video doorbell with a Wi-Fi extender that lets you see and speak with visitors without opening your door. Pros: Outstanding HDR video quality. Works with SimpliSafe security devices. Easy to install.Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. Doesn't support IFTTT or voice commands. Uses existing doorbell wiring and offers no battery-operated equivalent.Bottom Line: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek, functional smart doorbell that can be incorporated into a SimpliSafe home security system or used on its own. Pros: Sharp video quality. Face recognition. Accurate motion and sound detection in testing. Amazon Alexa support.Cons: Requires cloud subscription to view recorded video. Some barrel distortion. Doesn't work with other smart home devices.Bottom Line: The Wisenet SmartCam D1 is a smart video doorbell that offers face recognition, sound detection, and sharp image detail.Answer the Door From Anywhere One easy way to safeguard your against property theft, home invasion, porch pirates, and even unwanted solicitors is to identify who is at your doorstep before opening the door. Enter the video doorbell, a first line of defense for homeowners that not only lets you see and speak with the person outside, but also records footage of visitors that approach your door while you're away or unable to answer. These devices typically use Wi-Fi to stream live video to your phone and offer a variety of features, including cloud video storage, motion detection, sirens, and interoperability with smart locks and other smart home devices. Read on to find out what to look for when choosing a video doorbell for your home. Do You Need a Wired or Wireless Video Doorbell? When choosing a smart doorbell you have to decide if you want a wireless device that runs on batteries or one that gets its power from low-voltage doorbell wiring. Naturally, a wireless doorbell is the easiest type to install, as it draws power from batteries rather than from your home's electric and doesn't require that you turn off power or mess with any wiring whatsoever. The downside to wireless doorbells is that their batteries tend to deplete batteries quickly depending on usage, lasting anywhere from two to six months. If you live in an area where the winters are cold you can expect to recharge or replace your batteries every couple of months, and run the risk of your doorbell shutting down at an inopportune time. Wired doorbells are not quite as easy to install as their wireless counterparts, but they are far from difficult and you don't have to worry about losing power unless your whole house loses power. Since most homes already have doorbell wiring, installing a video doorbell is as easy as removing your old doorbell, disconnecting the two wires, connecting your new doorbell to the wires, and attaching it to the outside of your house. In most cases you can connect the doorbell to an existing chime box as well. Wired doorbells draw power from two wires that are connected to a transformer that steps down your household power to between 16 to 24 volts. If your home is not equipped with doorbell wiring you can wire it yourself using a plug-in transformer, or have an electrician do the work for you. Either way, some drilling will be required to run wires from the inside of your home to an exterior location. Video Doorbell Design and Features Video doorbells come in all shapes and sizes. The least expensive models tend to be bulky devices with limited color choices, while many of the more expensive models are slim and inconspicuous and come in a variety of finishes to complement your home. Chances are, if the doorbell runs on batteries it is going to be bulkier and more obvious than a wired model. Any smart doorbell worth its salt is equipped with a video camera that sends an alert to your phone along with a live video stream when the doorbell button is pressed. Video is accessed via a mobile app that is also used to install the device, configure wireless settings, and set up alerts. You'll pay more for doorbells that offer features like 1080p video, motion detection, two-way audio that lets you speak with whoever is out there, and on-demand video streaming. To avoid false alerts from passing cars, high winds, and any critters you may have roaming around your property, look for a doorbell cam that offers customizable motion zones. Other features to look for include face recognition technology that identifies visitors by name, motion sensing technology that knows the difference between people, cars, and animals, color night vision video (most doorbell cameras use infrared LEDs to provide up to 30 feet of black-and-white video), and a choice of chimes that will help you differentiate between a doorbell press and a motion trigger. Some of latest doorbell cameras offer a pre-buffer feature that records several seconds of activity prior to when a motion sensor is triggered or the doorbell button has been pressed so you can see what happened just before an event. Video doorbells don't offer local storage for recorded video, so you'll have to subscribe to a cloud service in order to view your motion- and doorbell-triggered video clips. Expect to pay anywhere from $3 per month and up for a plan that gives you access to 30 or more days of video that you can download and share. If you want to view older footage, make sure you save your clips as they will be deleted after the allotted time is up. Interoperability With Other Smart Home Tech Many home security systems offer video doorbells as add-on components, but these devices typically do not work on their own and must be connected to a system hub. However, they usually interact with other system components such as door locks, sirens, and lighting. If you want a standalone smart doorbell that will work with other smart devices in your home, look for one that supports the IFTTT (If This Then That) internet service. With IFTTT you can easily create mini programs, called applets, that let IFTTT-enabled devices interact with each other. For example, you can create an applet that tells a Wemo Smart Switch to turn on when a Ring Doorbell is pressed, or have a D-Link siren sound when an August Doorbell Cam senses motion. Another handy feature to look for is support for Alexa voice commands that let you view a doorbell's live stream on an Amazon-enabled display. Once you've enabled the skill, simply say "Alexa, show the front door" to launch a live stream on your Echo Show or Fire TV-enabled TV or monitor. Similar voice commands are also available using Google Assistant. Video Doorbells vs. Smart Home Security Cameras Video doorbells and home security cameras offer many of the same benefits. Both will show you what is going on outside of your home, both offer motion detection and motion-triggered recording, and in most cases, both let you speak to whoever is out there. That said, the simple fact is that security cameras lack the doorbell component. If you're downstairs doing the laundry and your phone is upstairs, a security camera won't tell you that someone is at the door, but the doorbell will (when pressed). Moreover, unless they are battery operated, outdoor security cameras require a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet for power, which may limit potential mounting locations. Wired smart doorbells use existing low-voltage wiring and are relatively easy to install (they don't require a ladder, for instance). With that in mind, these are best video doorbells we've tested so far. The category is evolving quickly, and we'll be adding to this list regularly as we test new devices, so check back soon. August Doorbell Cam Pro Review MSRP: $199.00 at Pros: Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.Bottom Line: The August Doorbell Cam Pro delivers sharp, colorful HD video and offers motion detection with Hindsight recording so you won't miss a thing.Read Review RemoBell S Review MSRP: $99.00 at Pros: Affordable. Sharp HD video. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Free cloud storage. Works with Alexa and Google voice commands. Supports IFTTT. Easy to install. Cons: Requires wiring. Video is recorded in fisheye mode. Bottom Line: The RemoBell S is an affordable video doorbell that's loaded with features including motion detection, free cloud storage, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT.Read Review Ring Video Doorbell Pro Review MSRP: $249.00 at Pros: Slender design. Sharp 1080p video. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Motion detection with pre-buffering. On-demand streaming. Easy to install. Cons: Pricey. Access to recorded video costs extra. Some barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek smart doorbell that lets you see who is at your door in real time, who came calling while you were away, and uses pre-buffering so you won't miss a thing.Read Review Pros: Sleek design. Face recognition. Motion and sound detection. Sharp HD video. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Cons: Setup requires working with electrical wiring. Must have existing chime box. Need Nest Aware subscription for many features.Bottom Line: The Nest Hello video doorbell not only lets you know when somebody is at your door, it uses face recognition to tell you exactly who it is.Read Review Pros: Easy to install. Battery or wired power operation. 1080p video. Alexa and IFTTT support. Motion detection with triggered recording.Cons: Bulky. Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffered recording.Bottom Line: The feature-rich battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal if you want a smart doorbell but don't want to mess with wiring.Read Review Pros: Sharp 1080p video quality. Crisp night vision. Free and paid cloud storage.Cons: Doesn't work with other smart home devices. Minor barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Zmodo Greet Pro With Beam is a smart video doorbell with a Wi-Fi extender that lets you see and speak with visitors without opening your door.Read Review Pros: Easy to install. HD video. Cloud recording. Motion detection notifications.Cons: Pricey. No on-demand video. Audio could be better. Short battery life.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell lets you use your smartphone to see who is at your door before you open it. It offers motion detection, push notifications, and video recording, but audio quality is inconsistent and battery life could be better.Read Review Pros: Outstanding HDR video quality. Works with SimpliSafe security devices. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. Doesn't support IFTTT or voice commands. Uses existing doorbell wiring and offers no battery-operated equivalent.Bottom Line: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek, functional smart doorbell that can be incorporated into a SimpliSafe home security system or used on its own.Read Review Pros: Sharp video quality. Face recognition. Accurate motion and sound detection in testing. Amazon Alexa support.Cons: Requires cloud subscription to view recorded video. Some barrel distortion. Doesn't work with other smart home devices.Bottom Line: The Wisenet SmartCam D1 is a smart video doorbell that offers face recognition, sound detection, and sharp image detail.Read Review More Inside PCMag.com About the Author As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, HDTVs, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for more than 14 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures. Prior to joining Ziff Davis Publishing, John spent six years in retail operations for Federated Stores, Inc. before accepting a purchasing position with Morris Decision Systems, one of New York's first value-added resellers of the original IBM PC. For ... See Full Bio More From John R. Delaney Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Ad When choosing a smart doorbell you have to decide if you want a wireless device that runs on batteries or one that gets its power from low-voltage doorbell wiring. Naturally, a wireless doorbell is the easiest type to install, as it draws power from batteries rather than from your home's electric and doesn't require that you turn off power or mess with any wiring whatsoever. The downside to wireless doorbells is that their batteries tend to deplete batteries quickly depending on usage, lasting anywhere from two to six months. If you live in an area where the winters are cold you can expect to recharge or replace your batteries every couple of months, and run the risk of your doorbell shutting down at an inopportune time.\n \nWired doorbells are not quite as easy to install as their wireless counterparts, but they are far from difficult and you don't have to worry about losing power unless your whole house loses power. Since most homes already have doorbell wiring, installing a video doorbell is as easy as removing your old doorbell, disconnecting the two wires, connecting your new doorbell to the wires, and attaching it to the outside of your house. In most cases you can connect the doorbell to an existing chime box as well.\nWired doorbells draw power from two wires that are connected to a transformer that steps down your household power to between 16 to 24 volts. If your home is not equipped with doorbell wiring you can wire it yourself using a plug-in transformer, or have an electrician do the work for you. Either way, some drilling will be required to run wires from the inside of your home to an exterior location.\nVideo Doorbell Design and Features\nVideo doorbells come in all shapes and sizes. The least expensive models tend to be bulky devices with limited color choices, while many of the more expensive models are slim and inconspicuous and come in a variety of finishes to complement your home. Chances are, if the doorbell runs on batteries it is going to be bulkier and more obvious than a wired model.\nAny smart doorbell worth its salt is equipped with a video camera that sends an alert to your phone along with a live video stream when the doorbell button is pressed. Video is accessed via a mobile app that is also used to install the device, configure wireless settings, and set up alerts. You'll pay more for doorbells that offer features like 1080p video, motion detection, two-way audio that lets you speak with whoever is out there, and on-demand video streaming. To avoid false alerts from passing cars, high winds, and any critters you may have roaming around your property, look for a doorbell cam that offers customizable motion zones.\nOther features to look for include face recognition technology that identifies visitors by name, motion sensing technology that knows the difference between people, cars, and animals, color night vision video (most doorbell cameras use infrared LEDs to provide up to 30 feet of black-and-white video), and a choice of chimes that will help you differentiate between a doorbell press and a motion trigger. Some of latest doorbell cameras offer a pre-buffer feature that records several seconds of activity prior to when a motion sensor is triggered or the doorbell button has been pressed so you can see what happened just before an event.\n \nVideo doorbells don't offer local storage for recorded video, so you'll have to subscribe to a cloud service in order to view your motion- and doorbell-triggered video clips. Expect to pay anywhere from $3 per month and up for a plan that gives you access to 30 or more days of video that you can download and share. If you want to view older footage, make sure you save your clips as they will be deleted after the allotted time is up.\nInteroperability With Other Smart Home Tech\nMany home security systems offer video doorbells as add-on components, but these devices typically do not work on their own and must be connected to a system hub. However, they usually interact with other system components such as door locks, sirens, and lighting. If you want a standalone smart doorbell that will work with other smart devices in your home, look for one that supports the IFTTT (If This Then That) internet service. With IFTTT you can easily create mini programs, called applets, that let IFTTT-enabled devices interact with each other. For example, you can create an applet that tells a Wemo Smart Switch to turn on when a Ring Doorbell is pressed, or have a D-Link siren sound when an August Doorbell Cam senses motion.\nAnother handy feature to look for is support for Alexa voice commands that let you view a doorbell's live stream on an Amazon-enabled display. Once you've enabled the skill, simply say \"Alexa, show the front door\" to launch a live stream on your Echo Show or Fire TV-enabled TV or monitor. Similar voice commands are also available using Google Assistant.\nVideo Doorbells vs. Smart Home Security Cameras\nVideo doorbells and home security cameras offer many of the same benefits. Both will show you what is going on outside of your home, both offer motion detection and motion-triggered recording, and in most cases, both let you speak to whoever is out there. That said, the simple fact is that security cameras lack the doorbell component. If you're downstairs doing the laundry and your phone is upstairs, a security camera won't tell you that someone is at the door, but the doorbell will (when pressed).\nMoreover, unless they are battery operated, outdoor security cameras require a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet for power, which may limit potential mounting locations. Wired smart doorbells use existing low-voltage wiring and are relatively easy to install (they don't require a ladder, for instance).\nWith that in mind, these are best video doorbells we've tested so far. The category is evolving quickly, and we'll be adding to this list regularly as we test new devices, so check back soon.\n\n\n \n\nAugust Doorbell Cam Pro Review\n \nMSRP: $199.00\n at \n\n\nPros: Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.Bottom Line: The August Doorbell Cam Pro delivers sharp, colorful HD video and offers motion detection with Hindsight recording so you won't miss a thing.Read Review\n\n\n \n\nRemoBell S Review\n \nMSRP: $99.00\n at \n\n\nPros: Affordable. Sharp HD video. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Free cloud storage. Works with Alexa and Google voice commands. Supports IFTTT. Easy to install. Cons: Requires wiring. Video is recorded in fisheye mode. Bottom Line: The RemoBell S is an affordable video doorbell that's loaded with features including motion detection, free cloud storage, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT.Read Review\n\n\n \n\nRing Video Doorbell Pro Review\n \nMSRP: $249.00\n at \n\n\nPros: Slender design. Sharp 1080p video. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Motion detection with pre-buffering. On-demand streaming. Easy to install. Cons: Pricey. Access to recorded video costs extra. Some barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek smart doorbell that lets you see who is at your door in real time, who came calling while you were away, and uses pre-buffering so you won't miss a thing.Read Review\n\n\n \nPros: Sleek design. Face recognition. Motion and sound detection. Sharp HD video. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Cons: Setup requires working with electrical wiring. Must have existing chime box. Need Nest Aware subscription for many features.Bottom Line: The Nest Hello video doorbell not only lets you know when somebody is at your door, it uses face recognition to tell you exactly who it is.Read Review\n\n\n \nPros: Easy to install. Battery or wired power operation. 1080p video. Alexa and IFTTT support. Motion detection with triggered recording.Cons: Bulky. Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffered recording.Bottom Line: The feature-rich battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal if you want a smart doorbell but don't want to mess with wiring.Read Review\n\n\n \nPros: Sharp 1080p video quality. Crisp night vision. Free and paid cloud storage.Cons: Doesn't work with other smart home devices. Minor barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Zmodo Greet Pro With Beam is a smart video doorbell with a Wi-Fi extender that lets you see and speak with visitors without opening your door.Read Review\n\n\n \nPros: Easy to install. HD video. Cloud recording. Motion detection notifications.Cons: Pricey. No on-demand video. Audio could be better. Short battery life.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell lets you use your smartphone to see who is at your door before you open it. It offers motion detection, push notifications, and video recording, but audio quality is inconsistent and battery life could be better.Read Review\n\n\n \nPros: Outstanding HDR video quality. Works with SimpliSafe security devices. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. Doesn't support IFTTT or voice commands. Uses existing doorbell wiring and offers no battery-operated equivalent.Bottom Line: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek, functional smart doorbell that can be incorporated into a SimpliSafe home security system or used on its own.Read Review\n\n\n \nPros: Sharp video quality. Face recognition. Accurate motion and sound detection in testing. Amazon Alexa support.Cons: Requires cloud subscription to view recorded video. Some barrel distortion. Doesn't work with other smart home devices.Bottom Line: The Wisenet SmartCam D1 is a smart video doorbell that offers face recognition, sound detection, and sharp image detail.Read Review\n\n\n\n", "image": [{"url": "https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_uk/guide/t/the-best-v/the-best-video-doorbells-for-2019_tkgv.jpg", "width": 1920, "caption": "The Best Video Doorbells for 2019", "@type": "ImageObject", "height": 1080}], "datePublished": "2019-08-19 14:30:00+00:00", "publisher": {"url": "https://uk.pcmag.com", "logo": {"url": "('https://uk.pcmag.com/s/',)pcmag/pcmag_logo_micro.png", "width": 245, "@type": "ImageObject", "height": 60}, "@type": "Organization", "name": "PCMag UK"}, "about": {"@type": "Thing", "name": "Home Security Cameras"}, "author": {"jobTitle": "Contributing Editor, Monitors and HDTVs", "description": "As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, HDTVs, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for more than 14 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures.\n\nPrior to joining Ziff Davis Publishing, John spent six years in retail operations for Federated Stores, Inc. before accepting a purchasing position with Morris Decision Systems, one of New York's first value-added resellers of the original IBM PC. For the next five years, he was responsible for buying and configuring IBM PC, XT and AT desktops for many of New York's financial institutions. He then worked for the now defunct ComputerLand chain of PC dealers before joining PC Magazine in 1987.", "@type": "Person", "image": "https://assets.pcmag.com/media/images/260545-john-delaney.gif?thumb=y&width=47&height=47", "name": "John R. Delaney"}, "headline": "The Best Video Doorbells for 2019", "@type": "NewsArticle", "mainEntityOfPage": {"@id": "https://uk.pcmag.com/home-security-cameras/93068/the-best-video-doorbells", "@type": "WebPage"}, "@context": "https://schema.org", "dateModified": "2019-08-19 14:36:51+00:00"} The Best Video Doorbells for 2019 - PCMag UK " /> Skip to main content John R. Delaney Pros: Slender design. Sharp 1080p video. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Motion detection with pre-buffering. On-demand streaming. Easy to install.Cons: Pricey. Access to recorded video costs extra. Some barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek smart doorbell that lets you see who is at your door in real time, who came calling while you were away, and uses pre-buffering so you won't miss a thing.Read ReviewPros: Feature-rich touch-screen interface. Friendly design with big, bright screen. Powerful audio. Web browser.Cons: Heavily sculpted sound emphasizes extremes and downplays midrange. Screen only supports 720p video.Bottom Line: The 2018 model of the Amazon Alexa-powered Echo Show smart display is a major upgrade over the original, with a larger, more functional touch screen and a much more powerful speaker system.Read ReviewPros: Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install.Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.Bottom Line: The August Doorbell Cam Pro delivers sharp, colorful HD video and offers motion detection with Hindsight recording so you won't miss a thing.Read ReviewPros: Compact design. Comes with preprogrammed quick responses. HDR imaging and night vision. 24/7 livestreaming. Vertical 4:3 aspect ratio. Two-way audio. Light ring doubles as a nightlight.Cons: Facial recognition requires an extra subscription.Bottom Line: The Nest Hello is a sleek, smart video doorbell that's designed to help safeguard your home.Read ReviewPros: Affordable. Sharp HD video. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Free cloud storage. Works with Alexa and Google voice commands. Supports IFTTT. Easy to install.Cons: Requires wiring. Video is recorded in fisheye mode.Bottom Line: The RemoBell S is an affordable video doorbell that's loaded with features including motion detection, free cloud storage, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT.Pros: Easy to install. Battery or wired power operation. 1080p video. Alexa and IFTTT support. Motion detection with triggered recording.Cons: Bulky. Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffered recording.Bottom Line: The feature-rich battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal if you want a smart doorbell but don't want to mess with wiring.Read ReviewPros: Sharp 1080p video quality. Crisp night vision. Free and paid cloud storage.Cons: Doesn't work with other smart home devices. Minor barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Zmodo Greet Pro With Beam is a smart video doorbell with a Wi-Fi extender that lets you see and speak with visitors without opening your door.Pros: Outstanding HDR video quality. Works with SimpliSafe security devices. Easy to install.Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. Doesn't support IFTTT or voice commands. Uses existing doorbell wiring and offers no battery-operated equivalent.Bottom Line: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek, functional smart doorbell that can be incorporated into a SimpliSafe home security system or used on its own.Pros: Sharp video quality. Face recognition. Accurate motion and sound detection in testing. Amazon Alexa support.Cons: Requires cloud subscription to view recorded video. Some barrel distortion. Doesn't work with other smart home devices.Bottom Line: The Wisenet SmartCam D1 is a smart video doorbell that offers face recognition, sound detection, and sharp image detail.Answer the Door From Anywhere One easy way to safeguard your against property theft, home invasion, porch pirates, and even unwanted solicitors is to identify who is at your doorstep before opening the door. Enter the video doorbell, a first line of defense for homeowners that not only lets you see and speak with the person outside, but also records footage of visitors that approach your door while you're away or unable to answer. These devices typically use Wi-Fi to stream live video to your phone and offer a variety of features, including cloud video storage, motion detection, sirens, and interoperability with smart locks and other smart home devices. Read on to find out what to look for when choosing a video doorbell for your home. Do You Need a Wired or Wireless Video Doorbell? When choosing a smart doorbell you have to decide if you want a wireless device that runs on batteries or one that gets its power from low-voltage doorbell wiring. Naturally, a wireless doorbell is the easiest type to install, as it draws power from batteries rather than from your home's electric and doesn't require that you turn off power or mess with any wiring whatsoever. The downside to wireless doorbells is that their batteries tend to deplete batteries quickly depending on usage, lasting anywhere from two to six months. If you live in an area where the winters are cold you can expect to recharge or replace your batteries every couple of months, and run the risk of your doorbell shutting down at an inopportune time. Wired doorbells are not quite as easy to install as their wireless counterparts, but they are far from difficult and you don't have to worry about losing power unless your whole house loses power. Since most homes already have doorbell wiring, installing a video doorbell is as easy as removing your old doorbell, disconnecting the two wires, connecting your new doorbell to the wires, and attaching it to the outside of your house. In most cases you can connect the doorbell to an existing chime box as well. Wired doorbells draw power from two wires that are connected to a transformer that steps down your household power to between 16 to 24 volts. If your home is not equipped with doorbell wiring you can wire it yourself using a plug-in transformer, or have an electrician do the work for you. Either way, some drilling will be required to run wires from the inside of your home to an exterior location. Video Doorbell Design and Features Video doorbells come in all shapes and sizes. The least expensive models tend to be bulky devices with limited color choices, while many of the more expensive models are slim and inconspicuous and come in a variety of finishes to complement your home. Chances are, if the doorbell runs on batteries it is going to be bulkier and more obvious than a wired model. Any smart doorbell worth its salt is equipped with a video camera that sends an alert to your phone along with a live video stream when the doorbell button is pressed. Video is accessed via a mobile app that is also used to install the device, configure wireless settings, and set up alerts. You'll pay more for doorbells that offer features like 1080p video, motion detection, two-way audio that lets you speak with whoever is out there, and on-demand video streaming. To avoid false alerts from passing cars, high winds, and any critters you may have roaming around your property, look for a doorbell cam that offers customizable motion zones. Other features to look for include face recognition technology that identifies visitors by name, motion sensing technology that knows the difference between people, cars, and animals, color night vision video (most doorbell cameras use infrared LEDs to provide up to 30 feet of black-and-white video), and a choice of chimes that will help you differentiate between a doorbell press and a motion trigger. Some of latest doorbell cameras offer a pre-buffer feature that records several seconds of activity prior to when a motion sensor is triggered or the doorbell button has been pressed so you can see what happened just before an event. Video doorbells don't offer local storage for recorded video, so you'll have to subscribe to a cloud service in order to view your motion- and doorbell-triggered video clips. Expect to pay anywhere from $3 per month and up for a plan that gives you access to 30 or more days of video that you can download and share. If you want to view older footage, make sure you save your clips as they will be deleted after the allotted time is up. Interoperability With Other Smart Home Tech Many home security systems offer video doorbells as add-on components, but these devices typically do not work on their own and must be connected to a system hub. However, they usually interact with other system components such as door locks, sirens, and lighting. If you want a standalone smart doorbell that will work with other smart devices in your home, look for one that supports the IFTTT (If This Then That) internet service. With IFTTT you can easily create mini programs, called applets, that let IFTTT-enabled devices interact with each other. For example, you can create an applet that tells a Wemo Smart Switch to turn on when a Ring Doorbell is pressed, or have a D-Link siren sound when an August Doorbell Cam senses motion. Another handy feature to look for is support for Alexa voice commands that let you view a doorbell's live stream on an Amazon-enabled display. Once you've enabled the skill, simply say "Alexa, show the front door" to launch a live stream on your Echo Show or Fire TV-enabled TV or monitor. Similar voice commands are also available using Google Assistant. Video Doorbells vs. Smart Home Security Cameras Video doorbells and home security cameras offer many of the same benefits. Both will show you what is going on outside of your home, both offer motion detection and motion-triggered recording, and in most cases, both let you speak to whoever is out there. That said, the simple fact is that security cameras lack the doorbell component. If you're downstairs doing the laundry and your phone is upstairs, a security camera won't tell you that someone is at the door, but the doorbell will (when pressed). Moreover, unless they are battery operated, outdoor security cameras require a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet for power, which may limit potential mounting locations. Wired smart doorbells use existing low-voltage wiring and are relatively easy to install (they don't require a ladder, for instance). With that in mind, these are best video doorbells we've tested so far. The category is evolving quickly, and we'll be adding to this list regularly as we test new devices, so check back soon. August Doorbell Cam Pro Review MSRP: $199.00 at Pros: Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.Bottom Line: The August Doorbell Cam Pro delivers sharp, colorful HD video and offers motion detection with Hindsight recording so you won't miss a thing.Read Review RemoBell S Review MSRP: $99.00 at Pros: Affordable. Sharp HD video. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Free cloud storage. Works with Alexa and Google voice commands. Supports IFTTT. Easy to install. Cons: Requires wiring. Video is recorded in fisheye mode. Bottom Line: The RemoBell S is an affordable video doorbell that's loaded with features including motion detection, free cloud storage, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT.Read Review Ring Video Doorbell Pro Review MSRP: $249.00 at Pros: Slender design. Sharp 1080p video. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Motion detection with pre-buffering. On-demand streaming. Easy to install. Cons: Pricey. Access to recorded video costs extra. Some barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek smart doorbell that lets you see who is at your door in real time, who came calling while you were away, and uses pre-buffering so you won't miss a thing.Read Review Pros: Sleek design. Face recognition. Motion and sound detection. Sharp HD video. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Cons: Setup requires working with electrical wiring. Must have existing chime box. Need Nest Aware subscription for many features.Bottom Line: The Nest Hello video doorbell not only lets you know when somebody is at your door, it uses face recognition to tell you exactly who it is.Read Review Pros: Easy to install. Battery or wired power operation. 1080p video. Alexa and IFTTT support. Motion detection with triggered recording.Cons: Bulky. Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffered recording.Bottom Line: The feature-rich battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal if you want a smart doorbell but don't want to mess with wiring.Read Review Pros: Sharp 1080p video quality. Crisp night vision. Free and paid cloud storage.Cons: Doesn't work with other smart home devices. Minor barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Zmodo Greet Pro With Beam is a smart video doorbell with a Wi-Fi extender that lets you see and speak with visitors without opening your door.Read Review Pros: Easy to install. HD video. Cloud recording. Motion detection notifications.Cons: Pricey. No on-demand video. Audio could be better. Short battery life.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell lets you use your smartphone to see who is at your door before you open it. It offers motion detection, push notifications, and video recording, but audio quality is inconsistent and battery life could be better.Read Review Pros: Outstanding HDR video quality. Works with SimpliSafe security devices. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. Doesn't support IFTTT or voice commands. Uses existing doorbell wiring and offers no battery-operated equivalent.Bottom Line: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek, functional smart doorbell that can be incorporated into a SimpliSafe home security system or used on its own.Read Review Pros: Sharp video quality. Face recognition. Accurate motion and sound detection in testing. Amazon Alexa support.Cons: Requires cloud subscription to view recorded video. Some barrel distortion. Doesn't work with other smart home devices.Bottom Line: The Wisenet SmartCam D1 is a smart video doorbell that offers face recognition, sound detection, and sharp image detail.Read Review More Inside PCMag.com About the Author As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, HDTVs, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for more than 14 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures. Prior to joining Ziff Davis Publishing, John spent six years in retail operations for Federated Stores, Inc. before accepting a purchasing position with Morris Decision Systems, one of New York's first value-added resellers of the original IBM PC. For ... See Full Bio More From John R. Delaney Please enable JavaScript to view the comments. Ad When choosing a smart doorbell you have to decide if you want a wireless device that runs on batteries or one that gets its power from low-voltage doorbell wiring. Naturally, a wireless doorbell is the easiest type to install, as it draws power from batteries rather than from your home's electric and doesn't require that you turn off power or mess with any wiring whatsoever. The downside to wireless doorbells is that their batteries tend to deplete batteries quickly depending on usage, lasting anywhere from two to six months. If you live in an area where the winters are cold you can expect to recharge or replace your batteries every couple of months, and run the risk of your doorbell shutting down at an inopportune time.\n\nWired doorbells are not quite as easy to install as their wireless counterparts, but they are far from difficult and you don't have to worry about losing power unless your whole house loses power. Since most homes already have doorbell wiring, installing a video doorbell is as easy as removing your old doorbell, disconnecting the two wires, connecting your new doorbell to the wires, and attaching it to the outside of your house. In most cases you can connect the doorbell to an existing chime box as well.\nWired doorbells draw power from two wires that are connected to a transformer that steps down your household power to between 16 to 24 volts. If your home is not equipped with doorbell wiring you can wire it yourself using a plug-in transformer, or have an electrician do the work for you. Either way, some drilling will be required to run wires from the inside of your home to an exterior location.\nVideo Doorbell Design and Features\nVideo doorbells come in all shapes and sizes. The least expensive models tend to be bulky devices with limited color choices, while many of the more expensive models are slim and inconspicuous and come in a variety of finishes to complement your home. Chances are, if the doorbell runs on batteries it is going to be bulkier and more obvious than a wired model.\nAny smart doorbell worth its salt is equipped with a video camera that sends an alert to your phone along with a live video stream when the doorbell button is pressed. Video is accessed via a mobile app that is also used to install the device, configure wireless settings, and set up alerts. You'll pay more for doorbells that offer features like 1080p video, motion detection, two-way audio that lets you speak with whoever is out there, and on-demand video streaming. To avoid false alerts from passing cars, high winds, and any critters you may have roaming around your property, look for a doorbell cam that offers customizable motion zones.\nOther features to look for include face recognition technology that identifies visitors by name, motion sensing technology that knows the difference between people, cars, and animals, color night vision video (most doorbell cameras use infrared LEDs to provide up to 30 feet of black-and-white video), and a choice of chimes that will help you differentiate between a doorbell press and a motion trigger. Some of latest doorbell cameras offer a pre-buffer feature that records several seconds of activity prior to when a motion sensor is triggered or the doorbell button has been pressed so you can see what happened just before an event.\n\nVideo doorbells don't offer local storage for recorded video, so you'll have to subscribe to a cloud service in order to view your motion- and doorbell-triggered video clips. Expect to pay anywhere from $3 per month and up for a plan that gives you access to 30 or more days of video that you can download and share. If you want to view older footage, make sure you save your clips as they will be deleted after the allotted time is up.\nInteroperability With Other Smart Home Tech\nMany home security systems offer video doorbells as add-on components, but these devices typically do not work on their own and must be connected to a system hub. However, they usually interact with other system components such as door locks, sirens, and lighting. If you want a standalone smart doorbell that will work with other smart devices in your home, look for one that supports the IFTTT (If This Then That) internet service. With IFTTT you can easily create mini programs, called applets, that let IFTTT-enabled devices interact with each other. For example, you can create an applet that tells a Wemo Smart Switch to turn on when a Ring Doorbell is pressed, or have a D-Link siren sound when an August Doorbell Cam senses motion.\nAnother handy feature to look for is support for Alexa voice commands that let you view a doorbell's live stream on an Amazon-enabled display. Once you've enabled the skill, simply say \"Alexa, show the front door\" to launch a live stream on your Echo Show or Fire TV-enabled TV or monitor. Similar voice commands are also available using Google Assistant.\nVideo Doorbells vs. Smart Home Security Cameras\nVideo doorbells and home security cameras offer many of the same benefits. Both will show you what is going on outside of your home, both offer motion detection and motion-triggered recording, and in most cases, both let you speak to whoever is out there. That said, the simple fact is that security cameras lack the doorbell component. If you're downstairs doing the laundry and your phone is upstairs, a security camera won't tell you that someone is at the door, but the doorbell will (when pressed).\nMoreover, unless they are battery operated, outdoor security cameras require a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet for power, which may limit potential mounting locations. Wired smart doorbells use existing low-voltage wiring and are relatively easy to install (they don't require a ladder, for instance).\nWith that in mind, these are best video doorbells we've tested so far. The category is evolving quickly, and we'll be adding to this list regularly as we test new devices, so check back soon.\n\n\n\n\nAugust Doorbell Cam Pro Review\n\nMSRP: $199.00\n at \n\n\nPros: Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.Bottom Line: The August Doorbell Cam Pro delivers sharp, colorful HD video and offers motion detection with Hindsight recording so you won't miss a thing.Read Review\n\n\n\n\nRemoBell S Review\n\nMSRP: $99.00\n at \n\n\nPros: Affordable. Sharp HD video. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Free cloud storage. Works with Alexa and Google voice commands. Supports IFTTT. Easy to install. Cons: Requires wiring. Video is recorded in fisheye mode. Bottom Line: The RemoBell S is an affordable video doorbell that's loaded with features including motion detection, free cloud storage, support for Alexa and Google voice commands, and interoperability with other smart devices via IFTTT.Read Review\n\n\n\n\nRing Video Doorbell Pro Review\n\nMSRP: $249.00\n at \n\n\nPros: Slender design. Sharp 1080p video. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Motion detection with pre-buffering. On-demand streaming. Easy to install. Cons: Pricey. Access to recorded video costs extra. Some barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek smart doorbell that lets you see who is at your door in real time, who came calling while you were away, and uses pre-buffering so you won't miss a thing.Read Review\n\n\n\nPros: Sleek design. Face recognition. Motion and sound detection. Sharp HD video. Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Cons: Setup requires working with electrical wiring. Must have existing chime box. Need Nest Aware subscription for many features.Bottom Line: The Nest Hello video doorbell not only lets you know when somebody is at your door, it uses face recognition to tell you exactly who it is.Read Review\n\n\n\nPros: Easy to install. Battery or wired power operation. 1080p video. Alexa and IFTTT support. Motion detection with triggered recording.Cons: Bulky. Requires subscription to view recorded video. No pre-buffered recording.Bottom Line: The feature-rich battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal if you want a smart doorbell but don't want to mess with wiring.Read Review\n\n\n\nPros: Sharp 1080p video quality. Crisp night vision. Free and paid cloud storage.Cons: Doesn't work with other smart home devices. Minor barrel distortion.Bottom Line: The Zmodo Greet Pro With Beam is a smart video doorbell with a Wi-Fi extender that lets you see and speak with visitors without opening your door.Read Review\n\n\n\nPros: Easy to install. HD video. Cloud recording. Motion detection notifications.Cons: Pricey. No on-demand video. Audio could be better. Short battery life.Bottom Line: The Ring Video Doorbell lets you use your smartphone to see who is at your door before you open it. It offers motion detection, push notifications, and video recording, but audio quality is inconsistent and battery life could be better.Read Review\n\n\n\nPros: Outstanding HDR video quality. Works with SimpliSafe security devices. Easy to install. Cons: Requires subscription to view recorded video. Doesn't support IFTTT or voice commands. Uses existing doorbell wiring and offers no battery-operated equivalent.Bottom Line: The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a sleek, functional smart doorbell that can be incorporated into a SimpliSafe home security system or used on its own.Read Review\n\n\n\nPros: Sharp video quality. Face recognition. Accurate motion and sound detection in testing. Amazon Alexa support.Cons: Requires cloud subscription to view recorded video. Some barrel distortion. Doesn't work with other smart home devices.Bottom Line: The Wisenet SmartCam D1 is a smart video doorbell that offers face recognition, sound detection, and sharp image detail.Read Review\n\n\n\n", "image": [{"url": "https://sm.pcmag.com/pcmag_uk/guide/t/the-best-v/the-best-video-doorbells-for-2019_tkgv.jpg", "width": 1920, "caption": "The Best Video Doorbells for 2019", "@type": "ImageObject", "height": 1080}], "datePublished": "2019-08-19 14:30:00+00:00", "publisher": {"url": "https://uk.pcmag.com", "logo": {"url": "('https://uk.pcmag.com/s/',)pcmag/pcmag_logo_micro.png", "width": 245, "@type": "ImageObject", "height": 60}, "@type": "Organization", "name": "PCMag UK"}, "about": {"@type": "Thing", "name": "Home Security Cameras"}, "author": {"jobTitle": "Contributing Editor, Monitors and HDTVs", "description": "As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, HDTVs, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for more than 14 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures.\n\nPrior to joining Ziff Davis Publishing, John spent six years in retail operations for Federated Stores, Inc. before accepting a purchasing position with Morris Decision Systems, one of New York's first value-added resellers of the original IBM PC. For the next five years, he was responsible for buying and configuring IBM PC, XT and AT desktops for many of New York's financial institutions. He then worked for the now defunct ComputerLand chain of PC dealers before joining PC Magazine in 1987.", "@type": "Person", "image": "https://assets.pcmag.com/media/images/260545-john-delaney.gif?thumb=y&width=47&height=47", "name": "John R. Delaney"}, "headline": "The Best Video Doorbells for 2019", "@type": "NewsArticle", "mainEntityOfPage": {"@id": "https://uk.pcmag.com/home-security-cameras/93068/the-best-video-doorbells", "@type": "WebPage"}, "@context": "https://schema.org", "dateModified": "2019-08-19 14:36:51+00:00"}

weiterlesen: RSS Quelle öffnen