Skip to main content

Wyze’s pint-size Video Doorbell is ridiculously priced at $30

In the realm of smart home devices, video doorbells rarely fall under the umbrella of “affordable.” Wyze’s new Video Doorbell changes all of that. This tiny device is just $30, but delivers performance on par with that of devices that cost upward of $100 or more.

You’ll receive an instant push notification the moment someone rings the doorbell, and you can pull a livestream of the doorbell to decide whether you want to answer the door or not. Uninvited solicitor? Just act like you aren’t home.

One interesting item to note is the aspect ratio. Compared to many cameras that stream at 16:9, the 3:4 aspect ratio of the Wyze Video Doorbell makes the most of your mobile device to display larger video feeds and show more detail about your visitor. It can also show packages left on the ground below the doorbell.

The Wyze Video Doorbell includes two-way audio so you can talk to visitors and let delivery drivers know where to leave packages. You don’t have to worry about someone missing the doorbell; when it detects motion, an LED comes on to draw visitors’ attention to it. Not only does it make it easy for visitors to ring the doorbell, but it warns any would-be porch pirates that you are watching.

Wyze includes free 14-day cloud storage for 12-second videos. You will need Cam Plus to store full-length videos and to receive real-time alerts when people are detected. The service costs $2 per month.

The Video Doorbell is IP65 weather-resistant, so it can stand up to most weather conditions outdoors. The doorbell is hardwired, so it isn’t the best fit for apartment complexes where you can’t make major changes, but if you are able to install one, installation is easy. According to Wyze, it takes an average of less than 30 minutes to get the doorbell up and running.

If you’re in the market for a video doorbell and you don’t want to spend a fortune on buying a more advanced model, the $30 price tag of the Wyze Video Doorbell (and the small size profile) makes it a great choice. Just make sure you are able to install it at your place.

Editors' Recommendations

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Anker finally admits to Eufy security camera issues
Eufy Floodlight Camera 2 Pro turned on and installed on side of building.

Anker, the parent company of Eufy, has officially admitted that its line of security cameras was not as secure as previously thought. Its products were said to use end-to-end encryption for recorded video footage -- but it turns out that wasn’t always the case.

In late 2022, it was discovered that Eufy cameras had a bit of a privacy issue. Using the VLC media player, a Eufy user managed to access video through the cloud that was supposedly only stored locally. There were also reports as far back as 2021 of folks viewing camera feeds of strangers, although Eufy chalked that up to a bug that impacted only a small number of products.

Read more
Blink Wired Floodlight Camera offers heaps of features and an affordable price tag
The Blink Wired Floodlight installed outside.

Blink, an Amazon-owned company that produces a wide variety of smart home gadgets, today announced the Blink Wired Floodlight Camera. The affordable device clocks in at just $99 yet manages to offer 1080p video capture, 2,600 lumens of LED lighting, motion detection, and several other premium features.

While Blink’s catalog is comprised of several indoor and outdoor cameras, this is the company’s first true floodlight. Previously, homeowners needed to purchase a Floodlight Mount for the Blink Outdoor Camera, and even then they would only benefit from 700 lumens of LED lights. The Blink Wired Floodlight Camera, meanwhile, is a standalone product that doesn’t require a secondary purchase -- pick it up for $99, and you’re ready for installation.

Read more
5 tips and tricks for the Ring Video Doorbell
Ring Video Doorbell installed next to a white entry door.

The Ring Video Doorbell is one of the best smart doorbells of 2023. Not only is it affordable, but it can capture HD video, store footage for later review, and is remarkably easy to install regardless of your existing setup. However, if you’re looking to make the most of your fancy smart doorbell, you'll want to dive into its accompanying smartphone app and make a few tweaks to your settings. Here are five tips and tricks for the Ring Video Doorbell to improve its performance.
Set up your motion zones

The first thing you’ll want to do after installing your Ring Video Doorbell is set up motion zones. These are customizable areas that will trigger an alert if motion is detected -- and properly setting them up will save you the headache of getting unwanted updates. To customize your motion zones, load up your Ring app and tap the three lines at the top of your screen. From there, select Devices, then navigate through Motion Settings to Motion Zones. You’ll now be able to add zones and adjust the size of existing zones.
Turn off motion notifications

Read more