Amazon Launches a Powerful New Affordable Blink Video Doorbell, but There's a Catch

CNET

4 days ago

Amazon has released a new version of its Blink video doorbell with new features and improvements over the previous generation. Best of all, it's still incredibly affordable, at only $60, especially when you pit it against something like Google's Nest doorbell.
However, before you place your order, know that it comes with a catch. It might not be a big deal for everyone, but it could be for some. Below, we'll fill you in on what's new with the updated Blink Doorbell and what you should know before purchasing one.
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What's new in the latest Blink doorbell?
While there are some meaningful upgrades, it would be a stretch to say there's a ton of differences to the latest version of the Blink doorbell. Then again, there's only so much one should expect for a video doorbell at this price point.
From up top, there's a new "head-to-toe" HD live view with a 1:1 aspect ratio that will allow you to get a fuller view of what appears in front of your door. This was something we felt was a missed opportunity with the last Blink doorbell, so this is very much a welcomed upgrade. Additional updates for video include an expanded 150 degree field of view (up from 135 degrees) and a resolution bump from 1080p to 1440p for better viewing across the board.
There's also better ingress protection this time around, coming in with an IP65 rating so it can weather the elements better.
Finally, person detection is available for those who have a Blink subscription plan, allowing you to get alerts when an actual person is at your door instead of an animal or object.
Up to two years of life with the included batteries
The Blink should also last up to two years using the included AA batteries, which is a promise made with the previous doorbell as well, though we were unable to test it out for that full length of time.
However, CNET's home security editor, Tyler Lacoma, has been testing the Blink Outdoor 4 camera with a similar two-year battery life promise. After more than a year, he says the camera is definitely on track to meet that two-year rating before the batteries need to be replaced.
The Sync Module and storage catch
We'd call this a catch more than a feature, but also new with this Blink doorbell model is that the Sync Module is now required for use and isn't included. You can buy a bundle with both the doorbell and the Sync Module for only $70. That price point still feels like a good deal, but if you're looking to store your video feeds locally, well, you can't do that with this $10 Sync Module.
If you don't mind using the cloud, the basic Blink subscription allows you to store up to 60 days of video feed that you can access from the app. If you want more control of your storage, you'll need to opt for a more expensive add on, like the Sync Module 2 or Sync Module XR.
The Sync Module 2 will cost you $50 and allows for a 256GB USB flash drive to be attached for local storage where the XR version runs for $70 and comes with a microSD card slot. So if local storage is important to you, expect to pay near or over double the cost of the doorbell itself for that convenience. And don't forget you'll need to purchase your storage drive, too.
A catch like that may have some people pausing on their purchase but for those who don't mind using the cloud for storage, it shouldn't be a problem.
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