Wyze, a popular smart home company, has recently released the Wyze Video Doorbell v2. This upgraded version of their original doorbell camera offers several new features and improvements at an affordable price of $39.99 (plus shipping).
The Wyze Video Doorbell v2 is a wired doorbell camera that provides a 2K-capable resolution and a head-to-toe view of your porch. It comes in a sleek black design and includes a microSD card slot for local storage. The camera offers 24/7 recording capabilities, and you can purchase a microSD card separately to take advantage of this feature. However, even without the microSD card, Wyze still provides free 12-second recordings when the doorbell is pressed. This is a significant advantage as very few doorbells offer continuous video recording, and even fewer offer it for free. The Nest Wired, which is known as the top pick video doorbell by The Verge, does provide 24/7 recording but at the cost of a monthly subscription fee of $12.
The closest competitor to the Wyze Video Doorbell v2 would be the Reolink Smart 2K Wired doorbell, which is priced at $109.99. The Reolink also uses a microSD card for local storage and offers additional features such as POE and 5GHz Wi-Fi. It can also record to an NVR, which the Wyze camera does not support natively.
In terms of functionality, the Wyze Video Doorbell v2 is compatible with your existing chime and includes an optional motion-activated voice deterrent. This feature alerts anyone who is detected by the camera that they are being recorded. Additionally, since the doorbell is wired, it provides up to six seconds of pre-roll recorded video to capture events leading up to any motion activity.
Highlighted below are the specifications of the Wyze Video Doorbell v2:
– Price: $39.99 plus shipping
– Video: 2K video resolution
– Power: Wired only
– Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
– Night Vision: Color
– Field of View: 135 degrees horizontal, 103 degrees vertical, and 166.8 degrees for a head-to-toe view
– Smart alerts: Motion and sound for free, people and package with CamPlus subscription
– Recording options: 24/7 local recording with MicroSD card (sold separately, up to 256GB), free 12-second recordings on doorbell press or MicroSD card ejection, stored for up to 14 days
– Subscription: CamPlus subscription (from $2 monthly) is required for full-length video
– Weatherproofing: IP65 rated
– Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT
While motion and sound alerts are free, Wyze offers its CamPlus subscription (starting from $2 per month) for smart notifications specifically for people or packages. This subscription also includes cloud storage for full-length motion-activated recordings.
It is worth noting that Wyze has faced security issues in the past, including incidents where users’ video feeds were shown to others and unreported security vulnerabilities. While security is a concern for all security camera companies, Wyze’s lack of transparency regarding these issues has caused some review sites to withdraw their recommendations for Wyze cameras. However, the company claims to have implemented additional security measures and better customer outreach since the last incident.
When purchasing any cloud-connected security camera, it is essential to consider the potential risks to your privacy. While exterior-facing cameras like video doorbells offer less intrusion, they still capture your comings and goings. Trusting the manufacturer and ensuring that you have control over your camera footage are crucial aspects to consider.
It should be noted that even with local storage, there is a possibility that footage may still be processed through the cloud. Wyze states that livestreams from their cameras are encrypted during transfer and that recorded videos are transferred securely to the cloud. However, previous security incidents were not a result of breaches in this security but rather through other avenues. It is important to keep in mind that when you introduce internet-connected recording devices into your home, it becomes difficult to guarantee complete privacy and security.