Video doorbell blinking: Specifications
Video resolution: 1080p
field of view: 135° horizontal, 80° vertical
works with: Alexa
measuring: 5.1 x 1.7 x 1.1 inches
Wired/Battery: Yes Yes
package detection: no
Storage start-up fee: $30/year for 60 days of video
When it comes to Best video doorbellThere are now plenty of options available for under $100, which puts Blink Video Doorbell against increasingly tough competition. The Blink is one of the best outdoor security cameras out there, so I was interested to see how its video doorbell compares to other video doorbells under $100 from Ring and Wyze.
As I found out during my Blink Video Doorbell review, you have to make a lot of compromises when you pay so little. It is worth skipping this form, unless your budget is very limited.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: Price and Availability
The Blink Video Doorbell has been available since October 2021, and costs $49.99. You can order it in white or black.
However, if you want two-way audio, or want to look at a live stream from a video doorbell at any time — not just when it detects movement or someone presses the button — you’ll also need the Blink Sync Module 2. The Sync Module allows you to Also store videos locally if you connect a USB drive. You can purchase the Sync Module separately for $34.99, or purchase it with a video doorbell for $85. No savings if you buy both.
You should also note that Blink does not sell a wireless ring for its video doorbell. If you don’t plan to wire your doorbell, or you don’t have a ringer present in your home, the only notification you’ll receive when someone presses your doorbell is through your phone. An alternative solution is to associate a Blink Video doorbell with a file Amazon Echo Dot. I recommend The third generation of Echo Dotwhich retails for $39.
All in all, you’re looking to spend about $125 – and that’s before you add in the cost of a Blink subscription, which starts at $3 a month, which you’ll need if you really want to save any videos.
While the Blink Video Doorbell is one of the least expensive models, it’s not as cheap as its starting price might suggest.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: Setup
One of the things I love about the Blink video doorbell is that it is designed so that you can connect the wires from your home to the base plate, rather than the video doorbell itself. After installing more than a dozen video doorbells, I found it much easier to connect the wires to the base plate, and then connect the doorbell to the base plate. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) It requires you to connect the wires directly to the doorbell, which can be a pain, because the weight of the doorbell itself will pull on the wires.
The Blink video doorbell can be operated on the same power as a conventional doorbell, or turned off on battery power alone. Similar to the Blink Outdoor Camera, the Video Doorbell uses two AA batteries, which the company says will last up to two years. While this will vary depending on how often you have visitors, after using the external camera, I can say that Blink’s estimate is reasonably accurate. I hope its battery is rechargeable.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: Design
There is nothing interesting about the appearance of the Blink Video Doorbell. Like most others, it’s the size of a Snickers bar, with a camera on top and a button on the bottom. I don’t particularly care if my video doorbell makes a design statement, and I suspect those looking for a doorbell on a low budget don’t mind its simple look either.
The button itself is a very loud click, and it doesn’t feel as good when pressed as other models I’ve tested. Then again, how many of your friends judge your home by the quality of your doorbell button? If they do, you probably shouldn’t let them in.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: Video Quality
Given how much I like the Blink Outdoor, I expected the Blink Video Doorbell to do just fine. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Despite the camera’s 1080p resolution, the video was muddy, with very little resolution. Two large evergreens just outside my door—which are sharp and definite on other video doorbells—are presented as large green dots.
Moreover, the Blink video doorbell’s field of view is not that wide – 135 degrees horizontally and 80 degrees vertically. I couldn’t see any part of the front porch, so unless someone was coming down from the fridge, there was no way I would be able to tell if there was a package on my ramp.
Among other video bells in this price range, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired and Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) have a field of view of 155° horizontal and 90° vertically, and the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro has a field of view of 150 x 150°. While it may not seem like much, it makes a huge difference in what you can see and what you can’t.
When I stood at the front door, the Blink camera was cutting me by the waist. Ring would show everything right down to my knees, and Wyze would let me see all the way to my feet.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: Features and Storage Fee
If you purchase a Blink Sync Module 2 — which Blink recommends, especially if you’re running your video doorbell on battery power — you can plug a USB stick into the unit, and save videos locally. It’s something you don’t get with Wyze or Ring video doorbells, and a nice feature if your Internet connection drops. And since the storage isn’t on the video doorbell itself, you don’t have to worry about losing recordings if someone makes your device.
However, the only feature I wish Blink had was packet detection. Both Wyze Video Doorbell Pro and Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) support this, and it’s invaluable in an age when we’re getting more shipments than ever before.
As mentioned earlier, a Blink subscription costs $3 per month per device, or $10 per month for unlimited Blink devices in the account. This is the same Ring, which is not surprising, given that both companies are owned by Amazon.
Among the budget video doorbells, Wyze Video Doorbell Pro has a lower subscription price of $2 per month (if billed monthly) per device. The company does not offer a plan for an unlimited number of devices in a particular location.
For more details, be sure to check out our guide to security camera storage plans.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: App and Smart Home Compatibility
Blink is easy to use, even for beginners. The main screen displays a recent still image from the video doorbell; Icons in the lower corners of the thumbnail allow you to refresh the image or view a live video from the camera.
Along the bottom of the screen are icons that allow you to view the recorded events and general settings of the app. If you want to customize the doorbell itself, you have to click on the settings icon right above the thumbnail. This offers you an amazingly wide range of customizations, including motion zones, camera sensitivity, clip length, night vision sensitivity, and more.
I especially like the dedicated activity areas. Simply click on individual rectangles to make that area active or inactive. It’s much easier than drawing polygons or polygons, as you should do with other video doorbells.
Since Blink is owned by Amazon (which also owns Ring), the Blink Video Doorbell works seamlessly with Alexa. If you have one of the best smart displays or a Fire TV, you can call up a brief from the video doorbell, and in some cases, you can even talk to the person standing at your door.
Blink cameras also work with IFTTT, but not natively with Google Home or SmartThings.
Blink Video Doorbell Review: Verdict
At $49, the Blink Video Doorbell is one of the least expensive doorbells, especially if you’re looking for a model that can be operated wirelessly. But, like most cheap things, you have to accept many big compromises. My main problem is that the Blink Video Doorbell is lower quality and has a much smaller field of view than other video doorbells that cost under $100.
The only other reputable doorbell camera around this price range is the $59 Ring Video Doorbell Wired. This model can’t run on battery power, and worse, it doesn’t work with your existing resonance. However, it has a wider field of view.
Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) costs $99, but it will work with your existing ring, and it has packet detection. However, if you run it from batteries, it will recharge it much more than flashing. There’s also the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro, which costs $89, comes with a wireless doorbell, and also has packet detection — not to mention a cheaper subscription. My advice? Spend a little more on either of these options, and you’ll be happier in the long run.
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