I Tried All The Best (and Worst) Doorbells

Linus Tech Tips

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Video Summary

The search for the perfect doorbell camera reveals a surprising truth: cheaper options often become more expensive over time due to mandatory subscriptions. Despite a $2,000 budget and testing 13 models, the analysis highlights significant drawbacks in many, from mandatory fees to poor image quality and even security concerns. The Havion D1 emerges as a budget champion at $79 with no subscription, while Wyze, Eufy, and Tapo offer viable mid-tier alternatives, though all face scrutiny for past security issues. The flagship models, despite higher upfront costs, fail to impress with image quality and long-term value, with Ubiquiti standing out for its subscription-free, high-quality but expensive ecosystem.

Short Highlights

The Havion D1 is the top budget pick at $79, offering no subscription fees.
Wyze, Eufy, and Tapo are strong mid-tier contenders, but past security issues linger.
Flagship models often fail to justify their high cost with superior performance.
Subscription costs can dramatically increase the five-year ownership expense.
Image quality varies, with some budget cameras outperforming premium ones.
Ubiquiti offers a high-quality, subscription-free ecosystem but at a significant price.

Key Details

Budget Doorbell Camera Analysis [00:00:00]

The "search for the perfect doorbell" involved purchasing 13 models to test.
Models were ranked by features, image quality, and five-year cost of ownership.
Some budget options become more expensive long-term due to subscriptions.

"Spoiler alert, some of the cheapest options end up being a lot more expensive in the longer term."

Orbitel M52: The Budget Entry [00:01:10]

Priced at a low $10, it requires a subscription for features beyond push notifications.
Live video and cloud storage necessitate a paid subscription.
Image quality is deemed "okay," and the subscription is "reasonably affordable."

"If you want live video, though, that's gonna cost you."

Arlo Video Doorbell: Costly Features [00:01:45]

Features a mandatory subscription for live video, with no push notifications.
Does not include a wall plug for an indoor chime.
AI detection is strong, correctly identifying people and environments.

"Over $500? Have you gone mad, Arlo?"

Dual-Camera Doorbell: Storage and UI Issues [00:02:30]

Offers two cameras, 32GB onboard storage, recording, live view, and two-way audio without a subscription.
Includes a screen for canned messages and decent image quality.
Rated a B due to the lack of cloud storage and a poor user interface.

"As crazy as it sounds, it's partly because of the lack of a subscription."

Blink Doorbell 2K+: Subscription Paywall [00:03:10]

Requires a sync module ($20 extra) for functionality; battery life is up to two years.
Offers two-way voice and live video but paywalls recordings.
Image quality is slightly better than Havion, earning a C-minus.

"Recordings are paywalled, and with image quality that's only slightly better than the Havion, let's go with C-minus."

Mid-Tier and Flagship Doorbell Comparisons [00:04:00]

Ring Doorbell: Easy setup, but the app is ad-filled and includes a store; rated C-tier initially.
Eufy C31: No subscription for core features, but a past security scandal creates "sketchy baggage."
Tapo 2K Plus: Offers significant internal storage (up to 512GB) but has lower build quality; rated B-tier.

"Amazon acquired Ring back in 2018, and come on guys, they gotta get their billion dollars back somehow."

Premium Doorbell Image Quality and Value [00:12:00]

Flagship models from Eufy, Google, Ring, and Ubiquiti are reviewed.
Google's doorbell has the lowest resolution and struggles with detail.
Ring's premium model offers a slight resolution bump but similar issues.

"I think the takeaway here is that I would not pay the extra for a more premium doorbell camera because all the cameras are just some flavor of suck."

Final Rankings and Recommendations [00:14:00]

Budget Winner: Havion D1 ($79) for its price and no subscription.
Mainstream Winner: Wyze for its five-year cost of ownership ($270), though security concerns exist.
Flagship Recommendation: Ubiquiti for its fully featured, subscription-free product, despite the high cost and ecosystem requirements.

"And if I'm spending more, then I want it to be in order to own my data and not have it used without my permission by Big Brother or by anyone else."