REVIEW – Several sources report that porch pirates stole at least 58 million packages last year, with a value of $12 billion, and one in four Americans has been a victim. I’m sad to say that even in my relatively docile neighborhood, I’ve been among them. If you’re just as concerned, SwitchBot’s Smart Video Doorbell and Monitor can help.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $149.99
Where to buy: SwitchBot, Amazon
What is it?
The SwitchBot video doorbell is a combination of a wireless, rechargeable device that transmits live images, audio, and door announcements to a monitor and smartphone app.
What’s included?
- Monitor
- Monitor wall bracket
- Monitor hole mounting template
- Monitor wall screws and anchors
- Doorbell
- Doorbell flat mounting bracket
- Doorbell 15° “corner” bracket
- Doorbell flat bracket 3M mounting tape
- Doorbell 15° “corner” bracket 3M mounting tape
- Doorbell hole mounting template
- Doorbell mounting screws and wall anchors
- Ejection pin tool
- Charging cable
- User manuals and documentation
Tech specs
- Monitor:
- Material: ABS with UV-resistant coating
- Dimensions: 125 x 129 x 29mm (4.92 x 5.08 x 1.14 in.)
- Weight: 325g (11.5 oz.)
- Power: 100 to 220V/Operating temperature: -15 to 45°C (5 to 113°F)
- Operating humidity: ≤95% relative
- LCD size: 4.3 in.
- Screen Resolution: 480 x 242
- Storage: Supports FAT32 formatted microSD cards up to 512GB (4GB included)
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth low energy 5.0
- 100dB doorbell chime
- Doorbell:
- Material: ABS with UV-resistant coating
- Dimensions: 131 x 65 x 30mm (5.16 x 2.56 x 1.18 in.)
- Weight: 202g (7.2 oz.)
- Power: 5V, 2A
- Up to 570 days of battery life
- Hard-wire capable
- Resolution: 2K
- Audio: Two-way with quick reply
- Operating temperature: -20 to 45°C (-4 to 113°F)
- Operating humidity: ≤95% relative
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n, 2.4 GHz, and Bluetooth low energy 5.0
- PIR detection distance: 7.5m (24.6 ft.)
- PIR detection angle: 130°
- Field of view: 160° diagonal
- Night vision: 10m (32.8 ft.), Color
- IP rating: IP65
- No subscription needed
- Compatible with Alexa, Matter, Google Home Assistant, Smart Things,
Design and features
I’m a strong advocate for home security and have more than a dozen cameras in operation. I love being able to check on my surroundings from anywhere, particularly when I’m not at home. As an added benefit, doorbell cams provide package notifications, allow you to see who is at the door, and offer real-time two-way communication whenever needed, so I was looking forward to getting my hands on SwitchBot’s Smart Video Doorbell.
It arrived in a full-color box with plenty of packaging.
The system is primarily composed of two parts – the doorbell camera and the video monitor.
There is a USB-C charging port under a rubber cover on the bottom of the doorbell. It takes approximately six hours to charge fully, and the specs indicate up to 570 days of battery life under ideal conditions.
The on/off switch is on the back under another rubber cover.
If you plan to replace an existing doorbell, the Smart Doorbell has hard-wired connections.
On the front, you’ll find the 2K camera, flanked by the microphone, LED indicator, light sensor, and infrared emitter. Above the lens is the PIR motion detector.
The camera has integrated lights! Cool!
The amply-sized doorbell has a backlit bell icon. Pressing the button triggers a pleasant “ding-dong” sound from the camera’s speaker and starts video on the monitor.
The kit includes straight and 15° mounting plates to give the camera the best angle. Both are compatible with placement on the left or right of the door. Templates ensure screws proper screw positioning the first time, just be sure you’re not in danger of hitting any wires that might be in the wall. If there’s any doubt, please check with a professional.
To release the camera from the mounting plate, use the ejection tool.
With other doorbell cameras I’ve used, there’s a delay between pushing the button, opening the app, establishing a connection, and receiving the video. Those few seconds can mean the difference between “May I help you?” and a call to 911 or your insurance company to report a theft. SwitchBot has addressed a significant deficiency in doorbell cameras with the addition of a wireless monitor.
The monitor receives power through an AC cord. Other than that, it’s wireless and easily moved from room to room.
A door on the back opens as a stand for table placement.
If you prefer, a sturdy metal plate allows wall mounting.
SwitchBot has refined its process of adding components to the app to a razor-sharp science. Photos and videos walk you through the progression, and as always, it’s beautifully executed.
Settings for the camera and monitor are abundant.
The front of the monitor has four buttons below the screen. From left to right, live view, replay videos, lock, and “quick reply.” Two larger buttons (with phone icons) start and stop real-time (live) video calls with full two-way audio. Before you ask, no, the person standing in front of the camera can’t see the person at the monitor (video is not two-way, only audio). 🙂
“Quick Replies” are preprogrammed, synthesized verbal responses to everyday situations that often arise when answering the doorbell. Pretty cool.
I was surprised at the size of the screen. It’s big and bright. The time and local weather conditions appear by default and time out after a configurable one to five minutes. Icons on the upper right indicate the status of the doorbell ring, SD card, Wi-Fi, and doorbell battery.
The app enhances the Smart Video Doorbell with powerful functionality. While it is active, it consumes the doorbell’s battery power. There is a log of rings with the ability to review the video and audio.
SwitchBot offers cloud storage at reasonable rates. For my needs, the 4GB microSD card included with the package is sufficient.
The Smart Doorbell has a built-in NFC tag. If you use it with one of their locks, tapping your phone will unlock your doors. Nice! The locks work well. You can read the reviews for the Lock Ultra here and Lock Pro here.
Under “Features,” you can configure snooze, trigger an alarm, turn on the doorbell’s lights, toggle night vision and motion settings, or play a “Quick Reply.”
“Playback” accesses video recordings and screenshots that are downloadable to the smartphone.
As usual, SwitchBot does a great job with the number of settings. I love the flexibility.
Final thoughts
Video doorbells are fantastic for security, providing notifications, monitoring guests, watching for packages, and keeping an eye on various activities. I’ve even been able to see which critters are having their fill of the greenery in my garden at 4:00 am! With excellent resolution, a stand-alone monitor, long battery life, and local storage, the SwitchBot Smart Video doorbell is an ideal and cost-effective way to add substantial peace of mind to your home. Way to go, SwitchBot! Thank you!
What I like about the SwitchBot Smart Video Doorbell
- The stand-alone monitor is ideal for keeping an eye on my porch without tying up the phone.
- Super-long battery life
- Easy setup
- Tons of configuration options
- No-subscription local storage with optional paid cloud service
What needs to be improved?
Price: $149.99
Where to buy: SwitchBot, Amazon
Source: SwitchBot provided a free sample for this review, but did not provide input, guidance, or editing before publication.
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