Key Points
- Smart doorbells provide an upgraded sense of home security with motion-sensing warnings and video recording capabilities.
- Video doorbells help monitor package deliveries and deter porch pirates, while also providing evidence in case of theft.
- Two-way audio allows for communication with visitors without opening the door, increasing safety and convenience.
- Smart doorbells easily integrate with other smart home products, creating a seamless and connected experience.
- Popular smart doorbell options include the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell, Eufy Security S330 Video Doorbell, Google Nest Doorbell, and Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2.
As the rise of smart devices continues to draw more people into buying different products for their homes, no smart product has been more than the video doorbell. The days of old-fashioned video doorbells are behind us as more and more people are finding that video doorbells provide a myriad of reasons to own one. Whether it’s serving as a piece of home security or a way to see when an Amazon package was delivered, video doorbells let you see everything.
Let’s take a look at 8 reasons why you should buy a smart doorbell today.
The History of the Smart Doorbell
Better known as a video doorbell, the smart doorbell can be traced back to 2013 when a small company known as Doorbot started to market a video doorbell. Famously appearing on the television show Shark Tank, Doorbot founder Jamie Siminoff would walk away without an investment but things turned out okay.
Today, the world knows Doorbot as Ring, a name that is synonymous with the smart doorbell field of products. After releasing the first smart doorbell in 2013, it wouldn’t be until 2014 that Doorbot would rebrand itself as Ring and launch its second generation of hardware. Fast forward to 2023 and the smart doorbell space has plenty of competition.
Reasons to Buy a Smart Doorbell Today
Home Security
This may be the single biggest reason to own a smart doorbell as it can provide you with an upgraded sense of home security. Having the ability to see who or what is at your doorstep, on your porch, or in a backyard can offer peace of mind. As soon as someone approaches your door, every smart doorbell available today, whether they are from Ring, Nest, or Vivint offers you motion-sensing warnings to immediately know when someone is at your door.
As many bad actors will attempt to enter a home through a front door, having a video doorbell is an added layer of security. Every smart doorbell offers you the ability to record and view content so you can look at the history of motion in case you are unable to see activity in real-time. More importantly, the camera itself might be something of a deterrent to would-be criminals who don’t want to get caught in the act of a crime.
Better yet, having a recording is a great way to provide video evidence to police should a break-in or home invasion occur. This might be the best and only way to help identify who was responsible and get back any items that might have been taken.
Package Delivery
One of the best reasons to install a smart doorbell is to have less anxiety over package delivery. Unfortunately, this is the age of package thieves, and so the installation of a smart doorbell will not only help you know when a package arrives but also serves as a deterrent against would-be porch pirates.
This goes back to the idea of home security but should you ever be in a situation where a package is taken from your doorstep, being able to provide video evidence to law enforcement and the shipper is going to be invaluable. Better yet, knowing when a package is delivered can give you the option of then reaching out to a neighbor to take the package into their home to help further secure a delivery.
Two-Way Audio
No matter which smart doorbell you buy today, two-way audio is a default feature at every price point and from every manufacturer. Whether you want to have a conversation with a delivery person or a solicitor knocking on your door, it’s an incredible tool to have two-way audio available.
Instead of having the discomfort and concern of opening the door to speak to someone, stranger or otherwise, you can do so through a smart doorbell. More importantly, you don’t even have to be home as you just need to have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection from your smartphone to be able to communicate through your smart doorbell.
Being able to answer someone and tell them you are not interested or thank a delivery person is a wonderful reason to own a smart doorbell. It’s especially helpful because there is no way someone can know if you are home or in another country so it’s yet another way to feel like you have an extra layer of home security.
Easy Installation
It’s totally normal to be fearful of installing anything in a home, especially when some smart doorbells require rewiring in order to use power. The good news is that whether you go with the wired or wireless option, video doorbells are very easy to install.
For many people, installing a smart doorbell can be done in under 10 minutes with the helpful instructions provided by the manufacturer or simply by looking up installation videos on YouTube.
Once the hardware is installed, downloading a manufacturer smartphone app on any Android or iOS device will have you connected and up and running in no time. From there you can set up an account, establish different motion zones, create different alerts for various times of day, and more options.
©RightFramePhotoVideo/Shutterstock.com
Smart Display Integration
Many video doorbells, like those from Ring, easily integrate into a variety of products like the Amazon Echo Show. Once these two products are connected, you can easily set up live footage from the camera display, which is great for a kitchen counter or in a bedroom. Offering a similar feature set to your smartphone app, you can use Alexa to set up alerts to let someone know you will be right there or thank a delivery driver for the safe delivery of your package. There is also a side benefit of having a larger view on a smart display than that of your phone so if you are trying to identify someone or something, you have more real estate with which to do so.
Connect From Anywhere
As hinted at earlier in the article, one of the biggest benefits of having a video doorbell is the ability to check in from anywhere. This means you get the exact same view and feature set whether you are down the block picking up some groceries or on vacation on the other side of the world. As long as you have an internet connection, cellular or Wi-Fi, you can connect to your video doorbell and check-in.
This also goes back to knowing when a package arrives when you are out of town so you can notify a neighbor or family member to grab the package for you. Having this flexibility to see your entryway with a video doorbell from anywhere in the world also goes back to the idea of home security. If you get a notification while you are out of town, you can quickly check in to see if something is wrong and, if necessary, notify the proper authorities.
Smart Home Connectivity
One of the bigger reasons video doorbells have grown in appeal over the last few years is how well they integrate with other smart home products. For example, having the ability to connect both a video doorbell and a smart door lock can make your life a whole lot easier.
There is something magical about being able to sync your video doorbell so that when someone hits the button you can program your smart home products to also turn on your porch lights and or start recording on any other security cameras.
You can also set things up so your video doorbell immediately appears on a smart display the moment the doorbell button is depressed. All of these products are designed to make your life easier and integrate seamlessly.
Technology is Fun
This might not be a reason for everyone, but if you are someone who enjoys utilizing technology to make your life easier, a smart doorbell can be a joy to have. Not only is it fun, but how well it integrates with other products, increases your level of home security, and keeps porch pirates away can be useful. As you can tinker with different settings, choose from different doorbells, and keep adding new smart home product integrations, a video doorbell is a great starting point for any smart home shopper.
Best Smart Doorbells Available Today
Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell
- Offers a 180-degree field of view
- Hear and speak to visitors through the camera
- Motion triggers occur before anyone can even ring the doorbell
- Night vision helps you see in the dark
Arlo has been a staple name in the smart home industry for many years now, which makes it no surprise the Arlo Essential wired video doorbell comes highly recommended.
Along with easy installation, you receive live video streaming in up to 4K quality, motion detection, and two-way talk with audio. If you add in a $4.99 monthly subscription, you get a host of extra features. As part of the Arlo Secure Plan, you receive cellular and battery backup, 30-day cloud-based video recording, smart activity zones, package detection, 24/7 emergency response, and person or animal detection.
The smart activity zones are a real highlight as you can eliminate unnecessary notifications so you only receive warnings and alerts that let you know someone has arrived or a package has been delivered. The Arlo is also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, and other smart services.
Eufy Security S330 Video Doorbell
- Dual cam technology
- Dual motion detection helps reduce false alarms
- 2K HD video surveillance
- Delivery guard alerts you as soon as package is delivered
While many smart doorbells want to add in a subscription to take advantage of their best features, eufy goes in a different direction. With the eufy Security S300 Video Doorbell, not only do you get 2K video quality with package detection, but you do it without any subscription whatsoever.
The eufy stands out above the competition thanks to its HomeBase, which includes 16GB of local storage. Connecting to the doorbell over a wireless 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection, you can watch hundreds of videos without ever worrying about them being in someone else’s cloud.
The eufy also stands out for its excellent auto-response messages that tell a potential porch pirate to stay away. More importantly, just in case you forget about the day’s Amazon delivery, the eufy will send you a reminder to make sure you grab the package once it has arrived. All of these free features plus installation in just a few minutes make the eufy an easy smart doorbell recommendation.
Google Nest Doorbell
- 24/7 protection with no batteries
- Up to 30 days of event video history
- Compatible with smart devices that work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
- Nest Aware subscription adds 10 days of continuous recording
Looks might not matter as much as functionality with a smart doorbell, but in the case of the Google Nest, you get both in one package.
Best of all, Google offers up to three hours of free event video history within the Google Home app. On top of two-second previews and five-minute clips of important activity, you can choose to opt out of the Nest Aware subscription and still have peace of mind. The Google Nest excels at telling the difference between a person, package, or animal so you can rest assured false notifications won’t be an annoyance.
As a wired option, you can also rest and feel comfortable that you never have to worry about changing batteries. Add in HDR for better video quality along with night vision for seeing clearly at night and it’s easy to see why the Google Nest is such a competitive smart doorbell option. Last but certainly not least is that Google doesn’t restrict the Nest to just its own smart home features as the Nest can also connect with Amazon Alexa products.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
- Premium wired video doorbell with 1536p HD+ video
- Built-in Alexa Greetings
- Advanced motion settings so you know when someone is approaching your door
- Pinpoint motion and distance with 3D Motion Detection
Ring undoubtedly has the most expansive video doorbell collection on the market today but the Video Doorbell Pro 2 stands out.
As one of Ring’s best options, you get up to 1536p (above Full HD) video quality from head-to-toe. Ring also delivers with its 3D motion detection and bird’s eye view to give you the most expansive set of zones around your entryway for outstanding coverage. You can even establish a separate series of alerts for each individual zone within the Ring app so you get the most use out of your doorbell notifications.
Add in Alexa Greetings so the Ring automatically responds to visitors, including delivery drivers so you can acknowledge when someone comes to the door if you are not available. The Ring app is also a best-in-class experience, which adds yet another reason to look at the Pro 2. With the most expansive set of options in the video doorbell market, it’s an excellent option.
Wrapping Up
Across the eight reasons discussed above, it’s easy to see why video doorbells have become such a staple part of homes over the last few years. The days of the dumb doorbell are behind us and the age of the smart doorbell is here to say. As you have so many excellent options to choose from, all of which deliver excellent video quality and a strong sense of security, you can rest assured this technology is only going to provide value in your life.
Summary Table
| Reason | Smart Doorbell Benefit |
|---|---|
| Home Security | Motion-sensing warnings, video recording, and deterrence |
| Package Delivery | Monitor deliveries and deter porch pirates |
| Two-Way Audio | Communicate with visitors without opening the door |
| Easy Installation | Quick setup with wired or wireless options |
| Smart Display Integration | Connect with devices like Amazon Echo Show |
| Connect From Anywhere | Access doorbell features from anywhere with internet |
| Smart Home Connectivity | Integrate with other smart home products |
| Technology Is Fun | Enhance home security and convenience with smart features |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©voronaman/Shutterstock.com.
