The In-Depth Guide to Doorbell Cameras, Have you ever had your doorbell ring when you’re too busy to answer it? Or had a package mysteriously disappear from your front porch? In situations like that, it would be nice to know who came to your door. With a doorbell camera, you can. Half security camera, half doorbell, a doorbell camera lets you answer the door no matter where you are while keeping a recorded log of anyone who comes to your door.
Whether you’re in the market for a doorbell camera or you just want to learn more about them, this guide will give you an in-depth look at everything you need to know.
What is a doorbell camera?
A doorbell camera (also called a video doorbell or camera doorbell) is a type of security camera that attaches to your front door, often replacing an existing doorbell, and allows you to see and communicate with people who come to your door. Doorbell cameras send notifications to your phone, allowing you to answer your door via an app on your smartphone.
How do doorbell cameras work?
While all doorbell cameras differ somewhat based on brand and features, they all serve the same purpose and work in a similar way. The camera, which is either hard-wired or battery-powered, is mounted near your front door and typically replaces a current doorbell. Unlike a regular doorbell, it connects to the home’s WiFi. It has a motion sensor that detects movement, and then (depending on your settings) notifies you on your smartphone whenever someone comes to your door.
Footage from the doorbell camera can either be viewed live via your device, or can be recorded and stored in the cloud so you can view it on-demand at a later time.
Doorbell camera benefits
An estimated 20 million people in the U.S. have doorbell cameras, making them one of the most popular smart home devices in the country. And it’s easy to see why. Take a look at some of the benefits a doorbell camera provides.
These are just a few of the many benefits a doorbell camera offers.
What to look for in doorbell cameras
If you want to get the most out of your doorbell camera, there are basic functions your camera should have. Things to keep in mind as you shop include:
This is a basic overview of things to consider as you shop for your doorbell camera. There are also a wide range of additional features available for those who want a more advanced camera.
Important doorbell camera features
While all doorbell cameras provide the same basic function, the features typically vary with price. A doorbell camera on the lower end of the price spectrum may offer bare-bones functionality, while a higher-end camera will likely include more features and sleeker designs.
Some of the most popular features in doorbell cameras include the following.
Package theft deterrent
The number of people who shop online has increased dramatically; in the past year alone, the number of online sales shot up by 18%. With that, however, comes a major increase in package theft—one US city saw package theft increase by over 70% in just one year.
With that in mind, doorbell cameras that offer package theft deterrent, like the Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro, are a hot commodity. This feature not only alerts you when a package has been delivered, but also helps deter theft by playing a warning tone when a potential porch pirate comes into view, letting them know they’ve been spotted.
One of the most popular reasons to get a doorbell camera? Protecting your package deliveries.
Picture capabilities
Like all security cameras, a doorbell camera is only as good as the picture it provides. Doorbell camera picture quality ranges from lower resolution or black and white picture to HD-quality, color video that allows you to easily identify features. Night vision is also an important component to a doorbell camera.
Motion sensing technology
All doorbell cameras worth buying are equipped with motion sensors to let you know when someone comes to your door. But depending on your settings and the sensitivity of your camera, you might get notifications with each passing car, cat, or even tree branch.
Cameras that feature face recognition technology to differentiate between objects and people are a feature you’ll definitely want to look for.
Recording
Doorbell cameras provide a live feed view of your front door, and most also offer the ability to record footage that you can view later. For most people, recording is an important feature because it allows you to save footage to review when it’s convenient. It’s also necessary if you want to replay footage or share it.
When it comes to recording, there are several different ways footage is recorded. Your camera might offer continuous recording, meaning it saves all doorbell camera footage, or it may only start recording when it picks up motion. This depends on your camera’s settings and available cloud storage for footage.
Cloud storage
Video doorbells do not store recorded video. Instead, the recorded footage is saved in the cloud for you to access within a specified period of time. You’ll have to pay a nominal fee each month for this storage (similar to the fee you’d pay to increase the storage size on your phone or email account’s cloud provider).
Two-way audio
This is a must-have feature for many people, as it allows you to actually answer your door remotely. With two-way audio, you can speak to the person at your door (via the camera’s app or your smart home’s hub) and they can respond.
Up-to-date application
All doorbell camera footage is accessed via an app, so this is an important feature. You’ll want to find a camera that offers an app that has a user-friendly interface, regular updates for bug fixes and app improvements, and security features.
Your doorbell camera app should also feature mobile alerts and notifications. This feature will let you know whenever someone approaches your door, so it’s important to find a camera that offers reliable mobile notifications that can also be customized. For example, you may only want to be notified if your camera senses a person at the door. Or, you may want notifications whenever any motion is detected.
Doorbell sound
Some doorbell cameras have the ability to customize the doorbell chime, so you can change up the sound that plays when someone rings your doorbell. Depending on the camera, you can download new doorbell sounds online or change them right from the camera’s app.
Doorbell camera installation
One of the first questions people have when looking for the perfect video doorbell is, “Is it easy to install a doorbell camera?” The answer to that is, “It depends.”
DIY vs. professional installation
It’s true that one of the reasons doorbell cameras are so popular is because most of them are fairly simple to install. However, there are a few things that could complicate the matter, making professional installation a better option than DIY.
There are a number of things you’ll need to take into consideration as you decide whether to do it yourself or whether to have the camera professionally installed, including:
Home automation & home security integration
Most people get a doorbell camera for security purposes—they want to be able to see who comes to their front door, even if they’re not home.
With that in mind, it only makes sense to integrate a doorbell camera with a smart home security system.
Doorbell cameras and home automation
If you have a smart home system or are considering installing smart devices to your home in the future, you’ll want to make sure your doorbell camera is compatible with any existing devices you have or would like to add.
Doorbell cameras are well-suited to home automation and integrate with various components around your home. For example, if a delivery driver comes to your door and you’re not home, you could unlock the smart lock on your front door via your smart home app, and then use your doorbell camera’s two-way talk feature to ask them to place your package inside.
Doorbell cameras and home security
Considering 34% of burglars enter through the front door, doorbell cameras are an essential part of a home security system. While outdoor surveillance cameras may miss an intruder, a doorbell camera provides an up-close look at a package thief or intruder’s face, providing important evidence for law enforcement.
What’s more, doorbell cameras also act as deterrents to would-be intruders or thieves looking to make a quick getaway with your package. Vivint’s Doorbell Camera Pro in particular is an effective deterrent thanks to its Smart Deter feature which lets lurkers on your porch know they’ve been spotted and are being recorded.
Doorbell cameras: the bottom line
Whether you want to increase the security around your front door or you just want increased visibility into who’s coming and going, a doorbell camera is one of the smartest choices you can make.
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