Latest news with #videodoorbell
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Eufy E340 Video Doorbell review: smart, sharp and subscription-free
SMART doorbells are everywhere, but Eufy's latest model is one of the best out there. In this Eufy E340 video doorbell review, I've put it to the test so you get the real insight into what it's like to live with. Eufy E340 Video Doorbell, £159.99 £109.99 at Amazon BUY HERE I've tested plenty of smart home devices, and video doorbells have become some of the most popular. But too many lock you into pricey subscriptions or offer poor video quality that feels like a glorified buzzer. Thankfully, the Eufy E340 is one of the best video doorbells I've tried, packed with features that work, and no monthly fees for the pleasure. Eufy launched back in 2016 as part of Chinese tech giant Anker, and has quickly built a solid reputation in home security. The E340 arrived in 2024, adding to Eufy's already impressive lineup of smart doorbells. It features dual cameras, colour night vision, smart motion detection, and built-in local storage; genuinely smart tech that delivers on its promises. While it's not the first doorbell I've tested with these features — the Ezviz EP3x Pro I reviewed comes close and even adds solar power —the E340 still manages to stand out. Read on for my full thoughts on how the E340 performs in real life. How I tested 6 Eufy E340 Video Doorbell, £159.99 £109.99 at Amazon I've tested my fair share of smart doorbells, from Ring and Tapo to budget buys, so I've got a pretty good feel for what's worth your money. For the past couple of months, the Eufy E340 has been stationed on my front porch, which sees a steady stream of parcels and visitors. It's had to brave typical UK weather, deal with delivery drivers, and keep up with the comings and goings of a busy family home. I tried it in all sorts of conditions, day and night, rain and shine, using the Eufy app for alerts to see how well it performs. After having it watch over my front door for a while, I have to say I'm impressed. The Nitty-Gritty First impressions 6 Eufy E340 Video Doorbell, £159.99 £109.99 at Amazon BUY HERE I expected a solid smart doorbell, but the Eufy E340 felt more like a mini security system. It's bigger than most doorbells I've tried, thanks to having two cameras stacked vertically. In the box, you get the E340 unit itself, a mounting kit, a charging cable, and some straightforward setup instructions. The build feels premium and sturdy. It inspires confidence, unlike some others that just come off cheap and plasticky. Setting it up was fairly easy. You start by mounting the bracket, then the doorbell just snaps right into place. It comes with a small security key to remove the unit to charge, which is smart, but you'll want to keep that key safe; it's tiny and easy to lose. Once I downloaded the Eufy app, the rest was a breeze. Just follow the on-screen steps, and you're up and running in no time. If you're going fully wired, there's a bit more faff involved, but with my battery-powered setup, things were a lot simpler. Does it deliver? 6 Eufy E340 Video Doorbell, £159.99 £109.99 at Amazon BUY HERE The Eufy E340 was smarter than I expected right out of the box, thanks to the 8GB of onboard storage built into the doorbell. That's enough to keep about a month's worth of footage, depending on how busy your front door is. You can add a HomeBase later if you want more storage, but I like that it's an optional add-on, so there's no extra gadgets to worry about right away. That said, if you want the HomeBase, be ready to splash out another £159, though it's really aimed at people who already have a wider ecosystem of Eufy gadgets. If you just want the doorbell, it's not a must-have, so you can skip it without missing out. One feature I like having on hand is Delivery Guard. It doesn't just notify you when a parcel arrives, it'll also give you a heads-up if someone's hanging around your doorstep so you can react. Thankfully, I've not had to experience it in action, but it's nice knowing it's got your back. Plus, with that second camera pointing down, I could always take a quick peek at the doorstep whenever I wanted. 6 Eufy E340 Video Doorbell, £159.99 £109.99 at Amazon BUY HERE For night vision, you get two choices: a subtle but effective black-and-white IR mode, and a full-colour spotlight mode that lights up faces near your door. The colour mode does lose a bit of clarity around the edges, but honestly, I'd much rather see who's there in colour than grey shadows. The Eufy app ties everything together nicely, and it's simple to use, quick to pull up live views, and makes it easy to filter clips by date or device. There wasn't the two-way talk lag that I've experienced on other doorbells like this, so speaking through it felt a lot more natural. 6 I also liked the quick-reply messages, perfect for those times when you're busy and can't have a proper chat but still want to get a message across. Battery life is solid too, with its 6,500 mAh battery; Eufy says it can last up to six months. I've been using mine for just under two, and I'm nowhere near needing to recharge yet, with about 70% still in the tank. If you don't want to worry about charging at all, you can wire it up and forget it. Sadly, I don't have existing wiring, so that wasn't an option for me. It's true, the E340 isn't the smallest doorbell around, but it's definitely one of the sleekest. It packs a bunch of smart features and sharp video quality without slapping you with subscription fees, just be ready for the upfront cost. If you want a doorbell that bolsters your home security without any sneaky costs, this one's a strong contender. How much is the Eufy E340? The E340 usually costs £159.99, but right now it's on sale for £109.99, which feels like a bargain for what you get. You're paying mid-to-high-end prices, but with 2K dual cameras, night vision, and local storage included, it's great value. Add the HomeBase S380 for another £160 if you want more storage, and the upfront cost does jump quite a bit. That said, compared to Ring's ongoing subscription fees for cloud storage, the Eufy starts to look like the smarter long-term deal. Where to buy the Eufy E340 You can pick up the Eufy E340 as a standalone unit, and right now it's on sale. It's available from most major UK retailers, including: Eufy E340 alternatives 6 If the Eufy E340 isn't quite what you're after, there are a few solid alternatives worth considering. The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus offers a sleeker design and sharp video, but just be ready for those subscription fees if you want full access to storage and extra features. Then there's the Ezviz EP3x Pro, which packs similar smart features and video quality, plus it throws in solar power for easy, hassle-free charging. For those on a budget, the Tapo D235 is a decent option with good video and handy features, though it doesn't have the same level of polish as the Eufy. The Eufy E340 is a smart move for anyone serious about home security, packing in two cameras, crystal-clear video, and zero subscription fees. Its quality feels more like a proper security cam, so you really get that extra peace of mind it brings. It's reliable, sharp, and clever enough not to drive you mad with false alarms. It's not the tiniest or cheapest doorbell out there, but it more than makes up for that with reliable performance and value that lasts. If you're done with flaky smart doorbells, this one's a solid investment that won't let you down.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Up Your Home Security With a Ring Doorbell at a Fraction of the Usual Price
Having a home security system can bring peace of mind when you travel or even when you're at home alone. Of all the smart home devices that make up these systems, a video doorbell is an easy addition. Ring makes some of the best smart doorbells and cameras and right now, you can pick up three different Ring doorbell options at StackSocial for up to 33% off. This includes the Ring Chime for just $27, the Ring Chime Pro, down to $45, and the current gen Ring Wired Doorbell Plus, knocked down to $100 -- which saves you $50. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The Ring Wired Doorbell Plus offers two-way talk, 1080 pixels HD video, dual-band WiFi and motion detection. This gives you real-time alerts when someone comes to your door, allowing you to chat or use Live View to see what's up. This model is wired and can be hardwired into your existing doorbell setup. The retail price for this on Amazon is $150, but you can grab it for $50 less on StackSocial. To enhance your home security setup, you can also consider a Chime or Chime Pro. This device plugs into a standard outlet and can be synced to your Ring cameras and doorbells. When there is motion detected or your doorbell rings, the Chime automatically alerts you. This is especially handy if you don't have or don't hear your phone. You can customize the ring tones or even snooze them through the Ring app. The Chime retails for $35 but you can grab one for $27 on StackSocial right now. If you want an upgrade, the Chime Pro offers everything the chime does with a built-in nightlight and more customizable sounds. This model is priced at $60 but StackSocial has it for $45. No matter what device you choose, because Ring is a subsidiary of Amazon, you can seamlessly integrate the devices with your Amazon Alexa ecosystem. Why this deal matters While Ring is known to be on the more affordable end of home security devices, any time you can save a bit more can make an impact. Saving $50 on the cost of the Ring Video Doorbell Plus is a significant savings, and allows you to add the compatible Chime devices without breaking the bank. We don't know exactly how long this offer will last through StackSocial so we suggest purchasing sooner rather than later.
The Verge
6 days ago
- The Verge
This smart lock lets me see through my door
Eufy's FamiLock S3 Max ($399) is a multitasking workhorse. Launched earlier this year, it combines a smart lock and video doorbell in one, and it's one of the first locks with a digital peephole and a wave-to-unlock function. It also has a keyway, keypad, and Matter support, so it works with all the major smart home platforms (the lock portion at least). It's a beast of a door lock, and it screams high tech sitting on your front door. My favorite feature is the integrated video screen, which shows a live feed of who is on the other side of the door without you having to pull out your phone. If you have a peephole or a window in your door, this might not be much use to you — and you can opt to get the lock without the screen for $50 less. But it's handy as a quick way to confirm who is at the door before opening it, especially if your kids are home alone or with a babysitter or grandparents who don't have your video doorbell app downloaded. 7 Verge Score As the name implies, this lock was designed with multigenerational households in mind. Instead of a fingerprint reader, it uses palm vein technology to unlock, which is supposedly more reliable, especially for individuals with more finicky fingerprints. That's a common issue for children, older adults, and my husband, who is a firefighter and has apparently burned off all his fingerprints. Unlike fingerprint tech, which relies on surface features that can be degraded, palm vein recognition uses infrared light to view vascular patterns underneath the skin. At $400, the FamiLock is expensive, but you are getting two devices in one. In my testing, palm unlocking wasn't any faster or easier than using your fingerprint, and I found it a bit harder to get used to. You have a more obvious target with a fingerprint than with a palm, and I found myself waving awkwardly at the lock a few times before getting the hang of it. I also have a prominent door jamb that sticks out to the right of the lock, limiting my waving motion. But once I got the hang of it, it worked reliably. Both my kids also picked it up quickly, and my husband really liked it. You can't wave to lock the door, however, which would be kind of cool; instead, there's a small button on the keypad that locks it. You can also enable auto-lock in the app. The touchscreen keypad was responsive, easy to see, and easy to use. There's also a keyway hidden under the doorbell button, if you need it. The lock connects to your smart home over built-in Wi-Fi, allowing you to control it remotely via Eufy's app. It also supports Matter, so you can add it to Apple Home and other smart home platforms. It's only the lock that works with Matter, as cameras aren't supported yet. The Matter integration is largely limited to controlling the lock and setting PIN codes through your smart home ecosystem of choice. As usual, if you want to use a device with Matter, you have to sacrifice features. It's not an encouraging trend. After all, it's the integrated video doorbell that's the main reason to consider this lock. There are cheaper palm vein options available from Eufy, as well as Philips and TCL, if that's what you're interested in. At $400, the FamiLock is expensive, but you're getting two devices in one. Adding a video doorbell to a lock puts a lot of strain on the battery, and there's no way to hardwire it. This very large lock comes with a 15,000 mAh rechargeable battery that Eufy claims will last approximately five months. I tested it for a month on the most intensive 'peak surveillance' setting, and the battery was down to 41 percent. You can adjust several settings to help save power, including keeping it on the default setting of only recording when the door is locked, but five months still seems optimistic. As the battery takes a while to recharge, the lock has four AAA backup batteries to keep basic function while it charges. You can also pick up a spare battery to have on hand. To help conserve battery life, the FamiLock's integrated 2K peephole camera only activates when someone presses the lock's doorbell or if you press a small button on the back of the lock. The exterior doorbell button is very prominent, with a blue LED that lights up on motion to draw your visitor's attention. Pressing it also emits a doorbell sound. (You can't connect the doorbell to your existing chime, though you can use an Alexa Echo speaker or an Eufy HomeBase as a chime.) The lock's doorbell camera provides clear, crisp video during daylight hours and decent night vision, although my protruding door frame reflected the LEDs, causing the footage to blow out a tad. Its 180-degree diagonal field of view meant I could see top to bottom and all of one side (not the other side, though, because of the aforementioned door frame). Packages and people were clearly visible, which is most of what you want to see with a doorbell camera. Getting people to press the button was tricky, though, even with the glowing light, as it's just not where people expect to press. There's no fee for viewing recorded footage of visitors in the Eufy app, and videos are stored locally on the device. Live views and recordings pulled up quickly in the app, sending alerts for motion and people promptly. However, there are no other smart alerts, not even package recognition, which is an odd omission for a doorbell cam. If you connect the lock to an Eufy HomeBase 3 ($149), you get more advanced smart alerts, including facial recognition that can alert you to who is at your door — a handy feature only a few other doorbells offer (including Google Nest, Aqara, and HomeKit Secure Video-compatible doorbells). You also get vehicle and pet alerts, but still no packages. The video portion of the door lock is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing you to view a live feed directly over Wi-Fi to a smart display such as an Echo Show. But I find these can be very slow to pull up a live feed; it's often quicker to just walk to the door. Eufy recently launched its own smart display for $200, which automatically streams a live view from the FamiLock's camera when there's activity or someone rings the doorbell. I tested this, and it pulled up the feed faster than using a third-party smart display, making it a better option if you want a video intercom. I still prefer separate solutions for a smart lock and video doorbell, but if you can't add a video doorbell to your door but can replace your door lock, then the FamiLock is a good, albeit slightly overpowered, solution. I've tested a couple of video door locks, including an earlier model from Eufy and one from Lockly, and this is my favorite by far. The best feature is seeing who's on the other side of the door as I approach, without having to wait to pull up a live video feed on my phone or smart display, bother with a peephole (mine is actually broken), or try to peer through the side window without them seeing me. Eufy says the palm vein data is stored locally on the device, not in the cloud. All video is stored locally on the device or in the HomeBase if you choose to use one. It's worth noting that Eufy experienced serious security and privacy incidents in 2022 related to its cameras. The company says it worked with cybersecurity experts and published a new set of privacy commitments on its website last year. Photos by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smart Home Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Smart Home Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
The Sun
05-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Amazon slashes price of Blink video doorbell shoppers call ‘better than Ring' – now £25 (was £50)
A budget-friendly video doorbell is giving the big names a run for their money right now. Amazon has slashed the price of the Blink Video Doorbell to just £24.99, down from £49.99, in a limited-time deal. Blink Video Doorbell, £49.99 £24.99 BUY FROM AMAZON If you're after a smart way to boost your home security without spending a fortune, this is one of the best-value doorbells you can buy right now. The Blink Video Doorbell is currently sitting at number three on Amazon's best-selling video doorbells list, and with good reason. As someone who's tested a number of the best video doorbells on the market, including my top budget pick, the Tapo D235, I know what to look for. And while the Tapo offers some extra features like colour night vision and dual-band Wi-Fi, the Blink Video Doorbell holds its own surprisingly well for nearly a third of the price. For just £25, the Blink delivers a solid feature set: 1080p HD video with infrared night vision, two-way audio, motion alerts, and a weather-resistant build. It runs on two AA lithium batteries that last for months, and you can either wire it into your existing chime or use it wirelessly, which makes setup super flexible. The Blink doorbell might not have all the bells and whistles of premium models, but at £25, it delivers far more than you'd expect for the price. If you add the optional Sync Module (sold separately), you can unlock features like live view on demand and local storage. Otherwise, there's a free 30-day Blink subscription plan trial to try cloud storage before committing. It also works seamlessly with Alexa for hands-free alerts and answering. Over 3,000 units have already been sold, and the Blink Video Doorbell has earned a strong 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. One shopper even went as far as calling it 'better than Ring,' noting, 'The HD video quality is excellent for a doorbell in this price range. 'I can clearly see who's at my door, day or night, and the two-way audio lets me easily communicate with visitors or delivery drivers.' Another buyer praised, 'The added security these give is brilliant, as is the image quality, and the yearly subscription is value for money. 'So much so, I'm considering purchasing a second unit or one of their security cameras.' Our tech editor, Sean Keach, recently became a big fan of the wire-free setup in his Ring Video Doorbell Battery Plus review. He praised how it 'lets you easily find anything in seconds,' though with the Blink offering similar wire-free convenience at more than half the price, it's a tempting alternative. If you're looking for more top-rated home tech, check out my tried and tested guide to the best smart home devices.
