There are 20 chime tones to select from (including a dog barking) and eight sound levels to help you hear across the house. Please confirm your subscription to Verge Deals via the verification email we just sent you. Dual-install methods continue to be one of the most common threads among video doorbell releases in recent memoryincluding the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro. Credit: Reviewed / Rachel Murphy. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro isnt the most attractive doorbell either and is limited to a single color and design. Wyze says each camera has its own secret key and certificate to validate its identity when it connects to the cloud. Wireless: 802.11b/g/n (2.4 and 5GHz) I wasn't able to get any of my Google Nest speakers or displays to do this, but Amazon Echo smart speakers and smart displays double as chimes, extending the reach of your current buzzer sound. Resolution: 1440 x 1440 Below the video panel are auto-zoom, speaker mute, and microphone (two-way talk) buttons. The front of your home looks a bit bare without your favorite camera buzzer in place. This is a great opportunity to see WYZE coming out with a doorbell. If FedEx drops off that laptop and a porch pirate swings by a minute later to nab it, the doorbell will miss the crime. See our ethics statement. Theres also a lack of quality in other areas, including chromatic aberration from the plastic and glass lens that adds a neon green tinge to backlit details. It has excellent video quality for an under-$100 doorbell camera, and it has one of the most obnoxious designs of any doorbell, ever. Your mileage will vary based on the number of events the doorbell detectsthe more events, the quicker the battery will drain. By submitting your email, you agree to our, Wyze Video Doorbell Pro review: a lot to like, except for the look, Sign up for the You have to step it up to $100 for a battery-powered Ring, which can be wired to work with an existing mechanical chime. The doorbell is only available in one color and does not come with interchangeable faceplates. I hope Wyze comes up with battery version too. Battery option for the Wyze doorbell or 2nd version in the future. The chime helps extend the range of your wireless network to the doorbell. This makes it look unfinished (and potentially exposed). Without the paid plan, youre limited to only general motion alerts and there's a five-minute cooldown period between each one. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a freelance writer for publications like Insider and Mashable, and as an associate editorial producer for Good Morning America. Thats the case with the Wyze, too, but if you have to use battery power, be prepared to charge this every couple of months. Without the subscription, videos are limited to 12 seconds in length, and theres a 5-minute waiting period between recordings less than ideal. Ive been waiting for a Wyze doorbell and just figured they would realize most of their customers are probably in rentals and cant make permanent installation of their products. You cant see the cameras live view from these apps respectively, but you can pull up the live view on compatible smart displays like the Amazon Echo Show 10 and second-gen Google Nest Hub. The price includes a plug-in digital chime / Wi-Fi extender (Arlo and Ring charge $50 for their comparable versions), and the buzzer has AI-powered alerts that distinguish between a person, package, pet, or vehicle (for a fee), something no other sub-$100 battery-powered camera Ive tested does. You can usually find her sipping on coffee at any time of the day. Theres a cheeky lack of onboard storage (a feature in all of Wyzes non-doorbell cameras), no option of continuous recording, and a 5-minute cooldown period between free recordings, and then theres that design. Thats a long time. The one area where it had trouble was when the sun was shining directly at the camera; pricier video doorbells, such as the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, have HDR which helps minimize this issue. Challenge Ring in the marketplace, Agree, Now, its really very important to buy wireless products. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, He oversees all evergreen content as well as the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories, but also tests out the latest standing desks, webcams, drones, and electric scooters. Please refresh the page and try again. Recommendations are independently chosen by Revieweds editors. Select the Video Doorbell Pro from the Cameras menu, then press and hold the power button on the back of the doorbell until the LED illuminates and a voice prompt tells you that the device is on. It also brings a few improvements over its older sibling: 1440x1440 video (compared to 1080p HD), the addition of 5 GHz Wi-Fi compatibility on top of 2.4, and a 1:1 square aspect ratio that delivers an impressive 150 degree horizontal and vertical field of view. This is a problem I didnt encounter on any other video doorbell. Overall, theres too little thought given to how the device looks which is a shame, as it will occupy such a prominent spot on your front door. The live view for Wyze doorbell does not automatically appear onscreen for either ecosystem's displays (as it does with Ring and Nest doorbells), so you'll need to call up the view yourself. While the view from the camera looks good, the doorbell itself does not. You need to register for a Wyze account using an email address to use the app (Android or iOS) and agree to Wyzes Terms of Service and Privacy Statements: In total, there are two mandatory agreements. I always recommend hardwiring a doorbell if you can (or using a plug-in workaround). Tap Next twice and plug the chime into an outlet that is no more than 30 feet away from your router. During my testing, Wyzes package detection feature delivered a large number of false positives, notifying me there was a box waiting at my doorstep when in fact, there was only my doormat. The camera provided a wide head-to-toe view of my front steps and a sweeping view of most of my front yard. This is helpful but slightly irritating, and I couldnt see a way to turn it off or snooze notifications (although you can disable notifications and set a notification schedule). She holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida. 10 reasons to purchase a smart home security system, Monitor your home's indoor air quality for these evil gasses. When it comes to home security, flexibility is key, allowing you to put your devices where you need the most protection. Overall, video quality was pretty good for a video doorbell that costs less than $100. For something more stylish, we like the modern look and color options offered on the more expensive Nest Doorbell (battery). It also kept sending a reminder for package detection every minute until I removed the package. PCMag Digital Group. You will receive a verification email shortly. Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week. Mike Prospero Field of view: 150 x 150-degrees Renters, and anyone who doesnt want to make any permanent holes on the front of their home, will appreciate the inclusion of 3M adhesive tape for an extra-sturdy stick. That's not too much of an omission, however; none of our top video doorbell picks support Apple's platform, either. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. To charge the doorbell, plug the included micro USB cable into the back of the doorbell. While this may not seem like a huge deal, I prefer a video doorbell, like the Ring Video Doorbell 4, which has a removable rechargeable battery. Your subscription has been confirmed. The doorbell has an IP65 weather-resistance rating and measures 5.5 by 1.8 by 1.1 inches (HWD). The Video Doorbell Pro kit consists of a doorbell and a plug-in chime box that doubles as a Wi-Fi extender. One feature missing from the Wyze is the ability to create custom motion zones; that way, you wont get alerts every time a car drives by, or someone walks past your house. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Guide. Near the bottom, an LED ring surrounds the doorbell button; it glows solid blue when you press it or when the battery is full and solid white when it's charging. As you can see it was easy to install without having to change anything in my apartment. Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it contracts that no one actually reads. Alexa voice commands to display video on an Amazon Echo Show worked as intended, as did a rule I set up for a Wyze Bulb to turn on when the doorbell detected motion. The good news is that you no longer have to compromise if you want a video doorbell that costs less than $100; the bad news is that you now have a much harder decision to make. Press the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen to configure motion detection and event recording settings, set up notifications, enable Power Saving and Wide Dynamic Range modes,view the remaining battery percentage, and configure chime sounds. The process is even simpler if you go the battery-powered route, as there won't be any wires to fiddle with. Its impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. newsletter, Blink has a $50 wired and battery-powered buzzer, discontinued security updates for its original WyzeCam, Included indoor chime thats also a Wi-Fi extender. Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro has a 1440 x 1440 pixel resolution, and provides an expansive 150-degree view both horizontally and vertically. If you want to hook it into your existing wiring, now is the time to connect the wires to the terminals on the back of the device. The Wyze Video Doorbell, like all of the companys other products, distinguishes itself with one major attribute: Its cheap. I had trouble getting this feature to work properly when I tested the Wyze Doorbell + Chime, but had no issues this time around with the Pro version. The back of the doorbell has two screw contacts if you want to hardwire it, plus a microUSB port covered by a rubber flap for when you need to recharge it. But it has fewer features (no AI-detection) and lower video quality. There was a problem. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro costs $89.99, and comes with a wireless chime. Also like Rings video doorbell, you have to remove the entire unit off your door if you want to recharge its battery which means youll be without a doorbell for a while. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro has a wide view that shows faces clearly at day and night, it works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and it offers multiple installation options, making it an ideal fit for any front door. The white-and-gray chime box measures 2.7 by 2.7 by 1.6 inches; it has a two-prong plug on the back and a grille on the front. He has worked at Tom's Guide for many a year; before that, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro has a fairly plain appearance. The camera has a resolution of 1,440 by 1,440 pixels (up from the original's resolution of 1,080 by 1,440 pixels) and a 150-degree field of view (horizontal and vertical). Furthermore, the camera doesn't require wiring, delivers sharp full HD video and accurate motion detection alerts, and works well with other devices. The camera produces a slight fish-eye effect (this is common with doorbell cameras), but it's only prominent around the edges of the frame and doesn't impact the clarity of visitors or objects in the background. The drill-free installation is enticing to renters who dont want to create holes in their apartments, as well as homeowners who want to place the doorbell in a non-traditional spot, such as a second entrance, like a side door. The device can be hooked up to your existing doorbell wiring or you can use the included rechargeable battery. One thing I quickly discovered is that the included chime is an integral part of the doorbells functionality. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The digital zoom is 8X, allowing you to zoom in on faraway objects. Live stream and playback data are encrypted via AES 128-bit encryption. When the doorbell isnt there for extended periods of time, it can leave your home more vulnerable than it was before. For $1.25 per month ($15 per year), the Cam Plus plan takes away the recording length limitation and delay between events; unlocks access to intelligent motion alerts for people, pets, vehicles, and packages; and enables 2x and 4x Event Fast-Forwarding. You can view the doorbell's live stream on a smart display like the Amazon Echo Show 10 (pictured) or Google's Nest Hub Max. Wyze says its employees do not have the ability to view a users cameras live feed. Here, you can also set up rules for the doorbell to work with other Wyze devices, as well as share access to the doorbell with other users. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The chime box was more than loud enough to hear throughout my one-story house, too. And Wyzes AI capabilities are excellent. For comparisons sake, the Nest Doorbell (battery) comes in several shades and has a modern-look to it, and most of Rings video doorbells, like the Ring 4, are compatible with Rings faceplates, offered in a variety of colors. It also mounts awkwardly to its backplate (either wired or attached using a supplied 3M strip), leaving a noticeable gap around the back of the doorbell. Tap any timeline box to play, delete, or save the video. At the time of publication, the doorbell does not work with Apple HomeKit. A front-mounted LED indicator flashes red during the pairing process, pulses blue when it's connecting to your network, and glows solid blue when a Wi-Fi connection is active. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. While you can view recorded videos without a subscription (motion-activated events up to 12 seconds long are stored in the cloud for free), there is a 5-minute cooldown period before the camera will record again. With this, you get person, package, vehicle, and pet detection, along with unlimited video recordings and no cool-down period between recordings. The Video Doorbell Pro offers three Cam Plus video storage plans. I was also able to link the Wyze to my Echo smart speakers using the Wyze skill and then set them to announce when someone pressed the doorbell. Not to mention, youll have to install it again after its done charging, as opposed to simply popping the battery back into the compartment. Night vision: 6 x 850mm IR The doorbell comes with a slight charge right out of the box, but best to plug it in for a full battery before installing it on your home. Really would be a nice addition to have a wireless doorbell that is not hardwired. Blink has a $50 wired and battery-powered buzzer with a nicer design and the option of free local storage. Plan to spend more time if you go the hardwired route, as sometimes the install can take longer depending on the state of your electrical wires. Another thing to consider when buying any smart home device that requires software and security updates is how long the company will support it. In the Wyze app, you can also turn off audio and video recording for the doorbell. You still have to deal with the five-minute delay between events, however. Wyze does offer two-factor authentication via text message or an authenticator app. After about 30 seconds, the network connection completes, and both the chime and doorbell show up on your Alexa device list. published 23 March 22. Its subscription plan costs the same as Rings, so while youd be saving some money upfront, youd be giving up an important feature. Yet it offers a good amount of features for the price, including an expansive view, battery power and if you pay up for an equally cheap subscription person and package detection. You can use either the included double-sided adhesive strip or screws to secure the mounting plate to a surface. The other advantage and convenience are keeping all product running to one app instead of multi apps. Two terminals (which you can use with your existing wiring to power the doorbell if you prefer), a micro USB charging port, and a power button are all located on the rear panel. Keep an eye on your inbox! Smart home integrations extend to viewing live footage on an Alexa or Google smart display and using a doorbell press as a trigger for an Alexa Routines. To charge the battery, simply remove the doorbell from the mounting plate and plug in the included micro USB cable. It has a 1080p resolution and a 3:4 aspect ratio, and only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks. You can connect the Doorbell Pro to either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band of your Wi-Fi router. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. At $89 which includes a digital chime the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is one of the least expensive video doorbells around from a well-known company. The Ring camera has a wider 160-degree FOV, but thats measured diagonally; you wont see as much of your front stoop. This is what the daytime and nighttime views looks like from the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro records in 1440 HD video, a small but noticeable improvement from the 1080p HD view of the Wyze Video Doorbell + Chime. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Get the best deals and the best advice dropped right in your inbox. Your outdoor security devices should (ideally) complement the rest of your homenot cheapen the look of it. The new Wyze Video Doorbell Pro ($93.99) hits those same high marks and introduces improvements such as a wireless design, a higher-resolution camera, and support for Alexa and Google Assistant voice control. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. With a subscription, videos are analyzed in the cloud for people, pets, packages, and vehicles (all or a selection), helping cut down on unnecessary alerts. I also hope someone else agrees to the lack of some homes without the hardwired doorbell wiring. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro also affords you a much wider look at your front porch, with a 150 x 150-degree field of view. The Ezviz DB1C Wi-Fi Video Doorbell ($99.99) is another top option to consider for around the same price, with a slightly higher-resolution camera and local (rather than cloud) storage. Even I want the wireless door bell which is battery operated and has SD card slot, True I wished the video doorbell was wireless, |The new doorbell looks amazing. Both video doorbells can run off battery power alone, and both have package detection so long as you pay for a subscription, which costs $3/month for Ring and $1.99/month for Wyze (both cost less if you opt for an annual plan). Its also not possible to use an existing mechanical chime. This Wyze Video Doorbell Pro review will look at its various features, and compare it with the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen) to see which deserves a higher spot on our list of the best video doorbells. Email us and we'll compare notes. The doorbell captures motion events like packages, people, and animals when enrolled in Wyzes Cam Plus Plan starting at $1.25 per month.