More and more households are replacing their dumb doorbell with a smart one to never miss a package and to notice uninvited guests in time. This year we again tested six doorbells, with prices between 59 and 199 euros. What is the best smart doorbell of the moment?
A year ago we wrote that at least half a million Dutch households use a smart video doorbell. This year there are already more than 640,000, according to new research from the same analyst firm (Multiscope), and the growth does not seem to be over yet. Enough reason to publish another test of six smart video doorbells.
Over the past few months, we’ve tested the six newest bubbles from a variety of brands. One in three of the Multiscope test panel (5200 participants) has a Ring bell hanging on it – for us this was a reason to test two Ring models. In this test you will also find calls from Google Nest, Arlo, Foscam and the Dutch Hombli.
Points of attention
When you think about purchasing a smart video doorbell, there are several things to consider. Because do you want a bell that works wirelessly or do you want one that you can connect to your existing bell wiring? And do you think it is important that your new bell is compatible with your existing gong? A wireless bell can be mounted more flexibly, but the battery has to be charged for a few hours on average once a quarter. A wired bell always receives power, but then your wiring must provide sufficient power.
Also keep in mind how the bell stores its video clips. Some bubbles do this locally on a microSD card or a special base station, where other bubbles can only store images in the cloud. Cloud storage usually requires a monthly subscription, which results in a cost of tens of euros per year for those who want to get the maximum possibilities from their smart bell.
Many smart video doorbells can also be used as security camera function, so send you a notification if the camera detects someone without the person ringing the doorbell. A handy function that drains the battery of a wireless bell a lot faster. Some manufacturers sell security cameras in addition to smart doorbells and make these products work well together; that’s how the manufacturers hope to get and keep you in their ecosystem.
In this test we compare six smart doorbells on criteria such as ease of installation, image and audio quality, smart functions and possible subscriptions.
Ring Video Doorbell 4
The Ring Video Doorbell 4 ranks among the more expensive bells in this test. The installation is done in no time and the video doorbell works on a battery that lasts a few months. Unfortunately, charging does not take place via a modern USB-C port, but via a micro-USB port. You can also connect the bell to your existing bell wiring for continuous power. Whether your gong also works depends on the model.
The video quality of the bell is very good and our voice is clear from the speaker. It is worth noting that the field of view of the Video Doorbell 4 is slightly smaller than that of competing bells such as the Google Nest Doorbell. Not a problem for most homes, but something to keep in mind if you also want to use the bell as a security camera.
It is nice that the Ring bell works well with other Ring devices, for example the alarm system or cameras. Keep in mind that the bell will only be fully functional if you pay three euros per month for the Ring Protect subscription; only then can you, for example, view recorded images of the bell.
Ring Video Doorbell 4
Price
€ 199,-
Website
www.ring.com/products/video-doorbell-4
9 Score 90 
- Pros
- Picture and audio quality
- Easy to install
- Works well with Ring equipment
- Negatives
- Only works fully with subscription
- Sees less than some competitors
Arlo Video Doorbell Wire-Free
Arlo sells its smart video doorbell in two versions, which work wired and wireless and wired respectively. We have tested the wireless variant, which lasts a few months on a rechargeable battery. The bell is easy to install. The box contains a gong for the socket. Wired, the bell also works with your existing gong.
Thanks to the large field of view of the bell, you can clearly see who is at the door. The image quality is excellent, even in the dark. The audio quality also meets expectations. It is very nice that the Arlo app makes your smartphone ring when someone rings the doorbell and that you record as if you were having a telephone conversation on the speaker. This works faster than the regular notifications that competing doorbells show on your phone screen. Also interesting is that the Arlo bell has a built-in siren that sounds automatically or at your request in case of danger. The siren is loud enough to startle unsavory types.
Please note that you have to take out an Arlo subscription of three euros per month to be able to use all functions of the bell.
Arlo Video Doorbell Wire-Free
Price
€ 149,-
Website
http://kwikr.nl/arlobel
9 Score 90
- Pros
- Can be used wirelessly and wired
- App works super fast
- Built-in siren
- Negatives
- Subscription required for all features
- Thickest bell in the test
Foscam VD1
The Foscam VD1 is a lesser-known doorbell, but with its price of 169 euros, it is certainly not a budget model. This is reflected in the sharp video images that the bell makes, thanks to the high camera resolution. The dual-band WiFi support makes the wifi connection of the bell is also fast and stable. Also nice is that the bell has a card slot, so you can store images locally and offline, where many competing bells only do that online and require a subscription. You can also connect the bell to your existing gong.
We are less enthusiastic about the installation of the VD1. The installation manual is brief, the bell only works wired and many (web) stores recommend hiring a technician instead of doing it yourself. It is also a pity that the app of the bell appears less ‘finished’ and refined than the apps of the well-known brands. The VD1’s motion detection is also not reliable enough to use. As a security camera, this bell is therefore not a good choice. In any case, we had expected a bit more from the Foscam VD1 given the price.
Foscam VD1
Price
€169,-
Website
http://kwikr.nl/foscamvd1
6 Score 60 
- Pros
- Sharp video images
- Fast operation via WiFi
- Can save images locally
- Negatives
- Installation
- Unreliable motion detection
Google Nest Doorbell
The Google Nest Doorbell is one of the most expensive bells in this test, but it does not convince on all fronts. Yes, installing the bell is easy and it’s nice that the bell works both wirelessly and wired. However, the bell’s suspension mechanism looks theft-prone and the film resolution is lower than the competition at 1280 × 960 pixels. The image could simply have been sharper. The camera does have a nice large field of view, also thanks to the 4:3 aspect ratio (we take the limited curvature for granted). The battery life is a few months.
Also useful is the excellent link with Google Nest devices, which you can use as a gong, among other things. You operate the Nest Doorbell via the user-friendly Google Home app. For example, set up that you only want to receive notifications when the bell sees a package or person and not an animal. This works well thanks to smart software in the bell.
A point to note is that you need a Nest Aware subscription of five euros per month to be able to use all functions.
Google Nest Doorbell
Price
€ 199,-
Website
http://kwikr.nl/googlebel
8 Score 80 
- Pros
- Easy to install
- Works well with Google devices
- Works wired and wireless
- Negatives
- Only works fully with subscription
- Lean video resolution
Hombli Smart Doorbell 2
The Hombli Smart Doorbell 2 is especially worth considering if you’re looking for a bell that doesn’t require a subscription. You can put a microSD card in this bell to store the video fragments locally and offline. Another nice certainty is that, as a Dutch company, Hombli has Dutch-language customer service and provides a good explanation of how it complies with the GDPR privacy law. The bell is easy to install wirelessly or wired and can work together with a separately available gong for the socket (25 euros).
The Full HD video quality of the bell is good enough provided the sun is not shining brightly, otherwise images will look overexposed. With about three months of light use, the battery life is average. Charging takes a few hours via the (obsolete) micro-USB port. The bell makes you well understood when you talk via the app. We are missing a separately available signal booster for this WiFi bell. If your WiFi at the front door is less good, the bell sometimes loses its connection with the app and the requesting of live images takes (too) long.
Hombli Smart Doorbell 2
Price
€ 130,-
Website
http://kwikr.nl/homblibel
8 Score 80
- Pros
- Focus on customer service and privacy
- Easy to install
- Works without a subscription
- Negatives
- Image quickly looks overexposed
- No signal booster for sale
Ring Video Doorbell Wired
If the concept of the smart video doorbell appeals to you, but you don’t want to spend a hundred euros or more on such a bell right away, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired is your best option. With a suggested retail price of 59 euros, it is almost an impulse purchase. Keep in mind the Ring Protect subscription of three euros per month that is required to view images and use more functions. The bell is easy to install, works only wired and does not work with your existing chime. A Ring gong of 35 euros offers a solution.
While the bell works as it should, the picture quality is significantly less than that of the more expensive competition. The image looks washed out and not colorfast. Logical given the price and no problem if you only want to see who is ringing, but as a security camera this bell is less suitable. Fortunately – and we think that is more important – the audio quality of the Video Doorbell Wired is fine. It is also nice that the bell works well with any other Ring equipment in your home via the Ring app.
Ring Video Doorbell Wired
Price
€ 59,-
Website
http://kwikr.nl/homblibel
8 Score 80
- Pros
- Competitively priced
- Works well with Ring equipment
- User friendly
- Negatives
- Only works fully with subscription
- Poor image quality
Conclusion
A year ago we concluded that there were already many excellent smart video doorbells. Most of the doorbells tested then have a successor, often with a better price-quality ratio.
For example, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired with its suggested retail price of 59 euros is very affordable and the bell works properly. The competitive price is mainly reflected in the less good image quality. If excellent picture quality is important to you, the Ring Video Doorbell 4 is a better choice; it also has many useful functions and is therefore the best buy in our opinion. Keep in mind that Ring calling only works fully with a subscription.
The Arlo Video Doorbell Wire-Free also leaves a good impression and is therefore labeled Editorial Tip. Google’s Nest Doorbell is also good, but could have made better videos given the price and requires a subscription for all functions. We find the Foscam VD1 less pleasant to use and too expensive for what it offers.
Finally, the Hombli Smart Doorbell 2, a bell from Dutch soil. Not a winner in terms of specifications, but this bell works completely without a subscription and comes with clear privacy legislation. In short, there is something for everyone to choose from.
