It’s equipped with infrared HD night vision so it can record and stream video at night as well. It can also capture 640 x 360 pictures, which don’t look great. That means the picture is wider than it is tall, and isn’t quite enough to give you the same head-to-toe view that higher-end doorbells do.
Blink app review 1080p#
The Blink Video Doorbell’s camera captures 1080p HD video, with a 135-degree horizontal and 80-degree vertical viewing angle. You’ll have no issues seeing who is at your door both during the day and at night. To be clear, the camera’s quality is sufficient but not as sharp as what we’ve seen by the likes of Ring or Arlo. But the key piece of this is how much power it’s saving when sitting idle - which, again, is what Blink’s devices are known for, and why the Sync Module 2 is required. Once the camera wakes up and is streaming or detecting motion, it will connect directly to your Wi-Fi network. Meanwhile, the module is on and in frequent communication with Blink servers and handling any requests from the mobile app, like starting a livestream. When the camera isn’t actively recording or detecting motion, it’s effectively in a low power state. In essence, the Sync Module acts as a pathway for your camera to connect to the internet. It takes a few extra taps within the app, and once you’re done it’ll test your chime to make sure it’s being triggered and that the doorbell is getting enough power to keep it powered.īattery life is the reason Blink requires a Sync Module for any of its cameras. If you are replacing your existing doorbell with the Blink Video Doorbell and using it in a wired fashion, you absolutely can.
After the module was added, we placed the batteries in the video and followed a few additional prompts to get it connected to our home’s Wi-Fi network and added to our Blink account.
Blink app review install#
Initial setup took us about five minutes to install the Blink app and to set up the Sync Module 2, which needs to be plugged in, ideally, as close as possible to the Video Doorbell. Ring’s battery-powered Video Doorbells don’t last nearly as long, topping out at a few months depending on your device settings before they need to be charged. Kangaroo’s Doorbell Camera is powered by AA batteries as well, with stated battery life of up to 18 months. Obviously, we haven’t had the doorbell long enough to test that claim, but this is a staple feature across all of Blink’s lineup. That’s right: This video doorbell is powered by standard AA batteries that should provide enough power for two years of use.
Included along with the doorbell is a mounting plate, mounting hardware and two AA batteries. It’s available in black or white - we tested the black version - and has a single button that’s encircled by a blue light near the bottom of the housing. There’s nothing groundbreaking about the design of the Blink Video Doorbell. It has to be a video doorbell, right? Right. The Blink Video Doorbell certainly bests the Kangaroo in providing an affordable option without too many sacrifices.
Blink app review series#
The $20 Kangaroo Doorbell doesn’t capture any video clips at all, but instead sends animated images stitched together from a series of pictures - and they’re often dark and grainy.
Blink app review pro#
How it compares: At $85 total cost, you’re saving a lot of money with the Blink Video Doorbell compared to something like Ring’s $250 Video Doorbell Pro 2, which has far better video quality and 3D Motion Detection, but that’s expected. The companion app looks and feels very basic, but the more you dig around, the more features and capabilities you’ll find. What you need to know: The Blink Video Doorbell’s overall camera quality is just OK, but it’s good enough to give you a good overall picture of what’s happening. You can forgo complicated installation since AA batteries can power it up to two years. Who this is for: The Blink Video Doorbell is perfect for someone who wants to add security to their home but doesn’t want to spend a lot of money.