by 158 reviews.
# Blink Video Doorbell: A Comprehensive Review from a True User Perspective
The latest Blink Video Doorbell is a cutting-edge device that promises to revolutionize home security with its myriad of features. Sporting a 1080p HD camera for both day and night vision, this device enables two-way audio communication, motion-sensing alerts, and compatibility with Alexa, offering a seamless technological ecosystem within your home. Available in black and white, it fits any decor style, and although it works splendidly wire-free, you have the option to integrate it into your existing doorbell wiring.
One of its remarkable strengths is its versatile installation options — whether you have existing doorbell wiring or not, you can tailor your setup accordingly. With the ability to save and share clips using the Blink Subscription Plan, or locally through the Sync Module 2, your home is always under watchful eyes.
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## Pros and Cons of the Blink Video Doorbell: A Deep Dive
In today's review, we journey into the actual customer experiences, weighing up the merits and shortfalls of the Blink Video Doorbell. Let's dissect each critical aspect that a potential user would benefit from knowing.
### Installation and Setup: A Seamless Experience
Many users found the installation of the Blink Video Doorbell straightforward, albeit the discovery of needing to confirm compatibility with their existing doorbell wiring. As one user noted, "It wasn't hard, but I had to do a little research to make sure it was compatible with the wired install I wanted." Another customer echoed, "Installation was extremely simple. Not a fan of the online instructions instead of a booklet, but I managed."
The option for wire-free installation proved a game-changer for those with older homes lacking existing doorbell wiring. As highlighted by a user, Blink provided a viable, feature-rich alternative that made the absence of a dedicated chime a non-issue, with options like using Alexa or a Blink Mini camera as an indoor chime compensating efficiently.
### Usability and Functionality: Intuitive Integration
When it comes to day-to-day usability, the Blink Video Doorbell shines with its ease of integration into users' homes. Enabling seamless connectivity with Alexa seemed hassle-free: "Connecting to Alexa was equally as flawless... Set up the Blink skill in Alexa and 'she' immediately found all the Blink devices," recounted a reviewer.
Managing the device using the Blink app was widely acknowledged for its intuitive interface, allowing users to tailor motion sensitivity and establish custom zones to avoid false alarms. As one user explained, "You can adjust the motion sensitivity, set up privacy and no detection zones." However, some customers expressed frustration over the delayed notification times via the app, noting a lag in motion alerts, leading to occasional missed interactions.
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### Video Quality and Performance: Solid but Not Flawless
The general consensus around the video quality leans favorably, with many customers satisfied with the clarity and detail of the footage. A user mentioned, "The video quality is good," which was a sentiment shared by other users as well. Despite lacking ultra-high 4K resolution, Blink's 1080p HD quality appears to meet most users' expectations effectively.
However, some issues with the performance of real-time features were noted, particularly the time taken to establish a live feed upon notification. Several reviewers expressed that by the time the video feed activated, the motion-trigger source often had moved on.
### Battery Life: Under the Microscope
One of the most debated aspects of the Blink Video Doorbell is its advertised battery longevity. While introduced with a promise of two years' battery life under optimal conditions, customer reviews disclose a more practical scenario. According to one long-term user, "using the suggested energizer ultimate lithium, is about 6 months, not 2 years."
The Blink Sync Module, intended to aid in prolonging battery life, was highlighted by most as a beneficial addition, albeit not a cure-all for the battery's shorter-than-promised lifespan. The reality for many was adapting to a 6-month battery change cycle, which most seemed able to comfortably manage given the ease of changing batteries.
## Conclusion: A Balanced Verdict
Bringing our review full circle, Blink Video Doorbell emerges as a reliable, cost-effective addition to home security, offering an array of features typically found in more premium-priced devices. While it does face certain performance setbacks — particularly around motion alert responsiveness and battery life claims — the general sentiment among users underscores its value proposition.
This device isn’t marketed to replace high-end security systems but to offer a practical, accessible, and adaptable experience for average homeowners looking to increment their security smoothly. Key strengths lie in its effortless installation process, integral compatibility with smart home systems, and solid video output quality.
Therefore, for those who can navigate around its few limitations, the Blink Video Doorbell provides a remarkably sound investment into home security, custom-tailored for modern living. As an existing user candidly pointed out, "It is a good security device, and from a pure value perspective, I would highly recommend this."
Specification Blink Video Doorbell (newest model), Two-way audio, HD video, motion and chime app alerts and Alexa enabled — wired or wire-free (Black):
Comments from Amazon:
I was initially looking at another brand because they had a wireless video doorbell that came with its own chime. My home was built in 1897 and I don't have existing doorbell wiring or chime in the house. So wireless doorbell that came with a chime was the way I wanted to go. Only problem, this other brand didn't offer all the options and/or configurations I was hoping for. Then I was introduced to Blink. It had all the options I needed. Granted it doesn't have its own chime, BUT....you can use the mini or Alexa as your indoor chime. Perfect! Had the corner mount so I could point the video doorbell camera towards the entrance to the porch. Again, old home on a corner with a wrap around porch where the entrance to the porch was on the corner and the door was at the end of one side. Does me no good to have the camera pointing straight ahead into the front yard. You can mix and match all of the devices to get the optimum setup for your needs, and they all connect seamlessly. Then I started doing my research on Blink. Reading the reviews from customers really made me question if I should buy. Too difficult to install. Too difficult to set up. Can't connect to Alexa. Battery life a fraction of what they claim. Cameras always disconnecting. I'm glad I ignored the reviews, chalking up the technology issues to people just not being tech savvy. I was right. Installation was extremely simple. Not a fan of the online instructions instead of a booklet, but I managed. Sync Module, video doorbell, 3 outdoor cameras and 1 mini indoor camera connected to the Blink system with no issues. Connecting to Alexa was equally as flawless. Set up the Blink skill in Alexa and "she" immediately found all the Blink devices. Our Echo in the living room, Echo Dot in the bedroom and the indoor mini will all serve as chimes wherever we are in the house. The Echo devices will also announce any motion detection. We can arm and disarm the system by voice command with Alexa. Disarm does require a voice pin code which you have to set up in the Alexa app. Setting up and managing the devices in the blink app is fairly intuitive and straight forward. You can adjust the motion sensitivity, set up privacy and no detection zones. After setting up the doorbell out of the box, we would get random motion detection notifications. After checking the clips, it had to be either vehicles passing in the street facing the door, or a flag flapping in the wind at the end of the porch where the steps are. I shut off motion detection in the street, lowered the sensitivity slightly, but left the flag area on, and no more false detection's. So it was definitely not the flag tripping it. Camera still picks up people as they come to the top of the steps and alerts us. Video quality is pretty decent. I'm please so far. Haven't been able to test what the night video looks like, or the two way voice at the doorbell yet. Once I am able to and if there are any real issues, I will edit my review. As far as battery life, it's too early to tell. All the documentation I have read indicates that with the sync module and turning off settings or features you don't really need will extend the battery life to the 2 years claimed. Time will tell. If I had a complaint so far, it's the fact that the time it takes from notification until a live view of the camera finally comes up in the app, the person tripping the motion detection has dropped off the package and left. That timing needs reduced greatly.
After the 30 day free trial ended. I began to have issues with the camera. I’m unable to view live feed I can only see if someone triggers the camera.
Okay, 1 year using and 1 year to learn so as to give a real review, it's not some 4k ultimate video recording doorbell, but the video is clear enough and dollar for dollar it might be one of the better 1080 doorbells, it does have some issues I found work arounds for and some I couldn't, the reviews you read saying it's very slow to motion alert you are not just hard to please customers, it is an issue, It is slow to alert you thru the app on your phone, why I have not a clue, the work around is if you have Echo Dot or Echo Show and you know how to set up routines, have Alexa tell you when that device detects motion, I found it lightning quick, why that works faster I don't know, lol, remember I'm doing honest review on how things worked for me. I also discovered you can have Echo Show or Echo Dot be your chime so again if you understand Alexa routines, and you have alexa devices, you will never have an issue hearing when someone rings your blink Doorbell, don't forget to link your Blink app and the Alexa app to ensure the above things work for you, okay on to issue I can't find a work around, Blinks idea of battery life reminds me of auto manufacturers MPG estimates, we all know in the real world it's not going to happen, sure, if you dial down all the features, you might get half of what Blink says, but then I ask you, why have it, we buy them to use them right ?, so I have found average battery life even using the suggested energizer ultimate lithium, is about 6 months, not 2 years and don't care how they or their paid reviewers try to spin it, it's not going to happen even if you dial all the features down, making it a waste of money, and yes I'm using the sync module which is supposed to help battery life, maybe it does, can't answer that but real life, no B.S. spinning, your not going to come close to their battery projections, my only work around for that is the batteries are easy to change and I understand and can deal with this, Speaking of the Blink module, I use it for local storage and I also use the pay for cloud storage, that's another non work around issue, far far to many features are LOCKED OUT, if you don't pay for the Blink subscription, Now if you don't care about saving videos and you just want to know who is at your door regardless if you are home or away, this will alert you, it will display to you video of who and allow you to talk to them also and I must say it does a good job at it and you don't need the blink subscription and if you do have the Blink module and a usb stick in, it will save those for you, at short lengths, but it will do it. Overall it is a good security device, and although obviously it is far from the better ones. From a pure value Perspective I would highly recommend this, , easy to install, no wires, pretty much can put it where you want it, Again it does everything pretty well, One of the best prices out there, just understand it has shortcomings, but also understand it's price, and it will certainly do the job for you, this isn't a trashing review, I tried my hardest to be real and actually recommend it, it just doesn't function at the upper levels of some of the others, but it doesn't have the upper price tag , plus I am actually going to buy another, remember, you can put them about anywhere, I actually have one stashed at the front of my house, not by the door, it gives me a full frontal view of my home when I am away, sure it is a Doorbell but it is a camera as well and at this nice price why not, weather elements have not hurt mine a bit in the 13 months I have had them, including the one not by the door and pretty open to rain, snow and cold, it has held up well, still ticking, no signs of wear, so another plus
I already had cameras but added this as an extra precaution. Overall it was a good addition to the system. Install and setup was not hard, but I had to do a little research to make sure it was compatible with the wired install I wanted to use. Had to double check voltage on the doorbell transformer, actually had to search for it ( the transformer) in the garage and never really noticed this small square box at the top of the ceiling near my breaker panel until now. Double checked the voltage and was able to proceed. Be sure to shut off the power first though. Install was easy after finding and confirming the voltage. Doorbell works quite well and the video quality is good. Note: you do not have to hardwire the doorbell, it can be done without that added step. The hardwire DOES NOT replace the use of batteries- it is to enable the doorbell to work with the house doorbell ringer and does not charge the batteries.