Video doorbells start at around £80 and go up to several hundred pounds. Technically there's a Nest skill for Alexa (but not a matching one of Ring for Google Home), but if you want maximum compatibility and support, it makes sense to ensure your systems match. That means that they tie in with the smart displays of both companies: Ring works brilliantly with Echo Shows and Echo Spots, while Nest Hello plays nicely with Google Home Hub. On a simpler level, it's worth remembering that the two main players in the world of video doorbells – Nest and Ring – are owned by Google and Amazon respectively. What about smart home features?ĭo you want your doorbell to be part of a bigger home-security system – for instance, by adding on security cameras that can connect with a central system hub? With certain video doorbells, there's even smart lock integration so your doorbell can effectively let someone into your home once you give them the green light from your smartphone.
With some video doorbells, these come in the box with others, it costs extra. Will you be able to hear the doorbell? To hear it in the house (not just on your smartphone), you’ll need a chime unit. Be aware this comes at an extra price, sometimes more than £25 a year. You may want to access previously recorded motion and rings – perhaps because you missed a call or because someone on your street has told you about attempted break-ins. What other features are worth paying for? Infrared lighting makes it easier to see people at night.
Check there’s a motion sensor and think about whether you want alerts to cover the full 180˚ to 185˚ view, or whether you want only a certain zone within the field of vision to be covered. With some video doorbells, you see people head to toe, while with others you only get a partial view. Your doorbell should have two-way talk with a decent microphone and speaker and a good-quality video image.
However, if you don’t have existing wiring, you may need to fork out for professional installation (and most video doorbell manufacturers recommend their own, which can be pricey). This saves the hassle of changing batteries and the doorbell is usually more discreet.
Wired: This means the doorbell must be connected to the wiring for your existing doorbell. They last anywhere from two months to a year. Luckily, you don’t have to do this too often. While this has obvious benefits, it makes the unit bulkier and the batteries will need charging. Your first consideration is how the video doorbell is connected, which really comes down to two options:īest smart speaker 2021: The top smart speakers you can buy in the UKīattery-powered: Battery-powered doorbells get their charge from a rechargeable battery, meaning you don’t need any wiring in place just a working Wi-Fi signal.
How to choose the best video doorbell for you What should I look out for in a video doorbell?
In other words, you can see them, but they can’t see you, and you can both talk to and hear each other. Also known as smart or connected doorbells, you hook them up to your smartphone and when someone rings the bell, you get an alert on your phone, followed by a live video feed of your visitor and the option for two-way audio. Video doorbells have been all the rage in the US for some time.