This category brings together smart video doorbells and intercom devices that let you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone. It suits houses, townhouses and flats where you want to keep an eye on the front door. Brands in our range include EZVIZ, Aqara, Reolink, eufy and Hikvision.
How to choose a video doorbell
Power and installation. Battery models mount with screws or adhesive and need no wiring, but the battery has to be recharged from time to time. Wired models take power from a low-voltage doorbell cable or from Ethernet with PoE, so they never need recharging. Check what is already behind your door before you order.
Video quality and field of view. A resolution of at least 2 MP (1080p) is a sensible minimum, and higher resolutions show faces and delivery labels more clearly. A tall field of view helps you see parcels left on the ground. Night vision matters too, because many visitors arrive after dark.
Storage and subscriptions. Some doorbells record to a microSD card or a base station in your home, while others rely on cloud storage that may carry a monthly fee. Find out which applies before buying, especially if you want to keep clips for several weeks.
Smart home compatibility. Check whether the doorbell works with Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home, and whether it needs its own hub or bridge. If you already run a Zigbee or similar system, a doorbell from the same ecosystem is usually simpler to set up. Also confirm that it supports your Wi-Fi band, as many connect only on 2.4 GHz.
Weather resistance. The unit sits outside all year, so look for a stated IP rating and an operating temperature range. Doorbells in our range list ranges such as -20 to 50 °C and -10 to 55 °C. A wall in direct afternoon sun can get much hotter than the air around it, so allow some margin.
Doorbell and intercom brands we carry
- EZVIZ and Hikvision: Hikvision is a major video surveillance manufacturer, and EZVIZ is its consumer smart home brand, known for app-controlled cameras and video doorbells.
- Dahua and Imou: Imou is the consumer brand of Dahua Technology, so its doorbells draw on the same surveillance experience.
- Aqara: known for Zigbee-based sensors and hubs, so its doorbells fit into wider home automation routines.
- Reolink: best known for security cameras that record locally, including PoE models, which suits wired installations.
- eufy (Anker eufy): the smart home brand of Anker, known for local video storage on its cameras and doorbells.
- eQ-3: the German company behind the Homematic IP smart home system, relevant if you want a doorbell inside that system.
Also in our range: MOES and Xiaomi.
Doorbells and intercoms: frequently asked questions
Do smart video doorbells need Wi-Fi?
Most do, because Wi-Fi carries the alerts and live video to your phone. Wired models that use PoE connect through an Ethernet cable instead. Check the supported Wi-Fi band, as some doorbells work only on 2.4 GHz.
Can I install a video doorbell without wiring?
Yes, battery-powered models need no electrical wiring and can be fixed with screws or adhesive. You will need to recharge or replace the battery periodically, and how often depends on how many visitors trigger the camera. Wired models avoid this but need a power cable or PoE connection.
Will a video doorbell work during load shedding?
It works only as long as it has power and a connection. A battery doorbell keeps running on its battery, but remote viewing still needs your router, so a small UPS or battery backup for the router helps. A wired doorbell fed from mains power will go off when the power does, unless that supply is backed up as well.
Do video doorbells need a monthly subscription?
Not always. Some models store clips on a microSD card or a home base station at no extra cost, while others use cloud storage that may require a paid plan for longer history. Check the storage method on the product page before you buy.
