Eufy 2K Video Doorbell Review: A Simple Video Doorbell

Our Verdict

The Eufy Video Doorbell is inexpensive, delivers all the basics and doesn't crave a subscription, though anyone who wants wider smart domicile consideration should await at more-expensive options from Ring or Nest.

For

Good video quality
Easy-to-use app
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Doorbell chime included
Built-in storage

Against

Deject video storage requires subscription
Requires wired connexion
Doesn't support multiple users

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Eufy Video Doorbell is cheap, delivers all the basics and doesn't crave a subscription, though anyone who wants wider smart domicile consideration should look at more-expensive options from Ring or Nest.

Pros

+
Skilful video quality
+
Easy-to-utilize app
+
Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
+
Doorbell chime included
+
Born storage

Cons

-
Cloud video storage requires subscription
-
Requires wired connexion
-
Doesn't support multiple users

Want a video doorbell only don't want to spend a fortune? The Eufy Security 2K Video Doorbell (wired) by Anker provides a low-toll fashion to install a video doorbell in place of your existing, wired doorbell. Priced at $117.99, it costs less than some of the all-time video doorbells, such every bit the Ring Video Doorbell iii and the Nest Howdy, but offers many of the aforementioned features. And you tin can utilize Eufy'due south doorbell without signing up for a subscription.

Design: Simple and straightforward

The Eufy Video Doorbell is a sleek-looking black rectangle. A big, friendly-looking push button on the bottom glows a dull yellow when the doorbell is ready to use. It's a wired doorbell, which means that Eufy'southward offering requires a nineteen-volt AC wired power source. If y'all accept a traditional doorbell, you probably already have one of these powering it, and the Eufy can commonly use this with a little unproblematic rewiring.

The Eufy Video Doorbell also includes a chime, a minor white box that plugs into a wall power socket. That's an optional add-on with most video doorbells, a prissy touch for a low-cost device similar the Eufy that ways you can still hear when someone is at the door without your cellphone.

Eufy Video Doorbell review: Uncomplicated installation

The Eufy Video Doorbell is simple to install. If you have an existing wired doorbell, Eufy's product can work as a direct replacement, relying on the same wired power supply. First, y'all bypass the existing chinkle with an included jumper wire, which removes the chime and feeds power to the doorbell. Next, you remove the old doorbell, connect the ability source to the new i and attach the Eufy to your door frame. It'south a simple process that'southward not beyond the skills of anyone who knows one end of a screwdriver from the other.

If yous want to change the angle of view for the camera, y'all tin use the included wedge, which tin fit backside the doorbell to tilt it left or correct. Templates are also included for drilling mounting holes and routing the cables through the door frame.

MORE: The Best DIY Home Security Systems

If you don't have an existing wired doorbell, you'll accept to buy a power supply and wire it in. These aren't expensive; y'all can option 1 upwardly from Amazon for less than $xv.

Eufy Video Doorbell review: App

You answer the doorbell and see who is calling through the Eufy Security app, which is available for iOS and Android. This app is simple to use and shows you the view from the video doorbell within a couple of seconds of launching the app. The process takes a little longer if you are out of the business firm and non on your Wi-Fi, but the procedure is the same. We found that the video and sound quality was about the same over a cellular connection that had decent point strength as information technology was over Wi-Fi.

Motility detection is also included; the app tin notify you if the doorbell camera spots motion exterior your front door. You can and so wait at the alive view from the camera and see who is out at that place. With motion detection enabled, the Eufy records and stores video to the 4GB of memory built in to the device, which is plenty for several hours of video.

The Eufy also has a express form of face detection; when the video doorbell detects motion and alerts you through the app, information technology will try and detect a face up in the image and provide a thumbnail in the alarm. Yous can both command the sensitivity and set the zones that volition trigger detection. This is useful if you want to avoid having the motion detection triggered every time a car drives by your front door.

This video is stored on the device itself and tin can be accessed through the Eufy Security app. It is stored in the cloud only if you spring for a subscription, though. It costs $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year to store xxx days of video from a unmarried doorbell, or $nine.99/$99.99 a month/year for the Premier service, which stores video from up to 10 doorbells and cameras. That'southward comparable to services from Ring, which start at $three and ramp up quickly from there.

The Eufy Security app also offers a number of modes for dissimilar situations. Home and Away modes are for, well, when you are at dwelling house or away and desire to be notified when someone is at your door. Disarmed mode turns off the move detection but even so notifies you when someone is at the door. Schedule allows you lot to fix a schedule for enabling and disabling movement detection — useful for offices where y'all don't desire motion detection during the day, because people are coming and going.

Integration with Alexa and Google Dwelling is also included; later on setup, you lot go alerts and can view the doorbell prototype from any screen with Alexa or Google Assistant. In that location is no support for Apple'south Homekit now, although Anker promises that it'south coming. The apps for both Ring and Nest offer deeper integration with other smart home devices, such as the ability to open a smart lock from within the app.

There are a few issues with the Eufy app, though. Only i person can be logged in to the service at a fourth dimension, so but one person gets the remote notification that someone is at the door. If you don't subscribe to the cloud service, the videos are stored on the doorbell itself, and then y'all can view or download them just when connected to the doorbell. In a power outage (or if someone removes the doorbell), you won't be able to download the stored videos.

Eufy Video Doorbell review: Video quality

We found that the video quality of the Eufy Video Doorbell was splendid during both solar day and nighttime. Daylight video is sharp and articulate, making it like shooting fish in a barrel to come across who is at the door or if in that location is someone messing with your machine in the driveway. Sound quality is also expert; the voices of those at the door were articulate and hands understandable when we listened from the app.

The video at nighttime is also splendid, with strong particular captured in the images. Captured video did accept a trend to get washed out when the field of study was close to the photographic camera, thanks to the infrared LEDs below the lens. The camera did a decent job of using ambient low-cal, though; we found that it captured skilful detail exterior of the range of the LED lights.

One thing to note hither: Anker advertises the Eufy Video Doorbell every bit a 2K video camera, and information technology tin capture video at a 2K resolution of 2560 10 1920 pixels. But start, you have to enable this feature in the settings, because the doorbell captures video at 1600 x 1200 resolution by default. The unusual 2K resolution may confuse some apps or services. Either way, the Eufy captures video within a 150-degree field of view, which is comparable to Ring video doorbell cameras.

Eufy Video Doorbell review: Bottom line

The Eufy Wired Video Doorbell is an attractively designed, well-idea-out device that does what you await information technology to do at a low price. The doorbell looks practiced, captures clear, sharp video and doesn't lock you in to a long-term contract to store the video locally.

However, the Eufy doorbell lacks the wider integration of comparable devices from Ring and Nest, though. Yous can't unlock a smart lock from the Eufy app like you lot can with the Band Video Doorbell. And then, if you lot are looking for wider integration with your smart dwelling, give this doorbell a pass. Only if yous desire a cheaper video doorbell that merely does what a video doorbell needs to do, the Eufy is well worth a look.

Richard Baguley has been working as a technology writer and journalist since 1993. As well as contributing to Tom's Guide, he writes for Cnet, T3, Wired and many other publications.