Blink - Video Doorbell

I compared the new 2nd Generation doorbell against the first gen. Overall I think it's a worthwhile upgrade over the previous doorbell, mostly for the wider field of view since you can now see packages on the ground or visitors from head to toe. Pros: \+ Wider 150 degree field of view \+ Official IP65 Rating \+ Loads live view around 2x faster \+ Slightly better lowlight video \+ 1440P by 1440P resolution (not that impactful) Cons: \- Low bitrate video still so 1440P video doesn't look much better than 1080P video on previous gen doorbell \- If purchased with Sync Module Core unit, zero local storage options are available, however, you can purchase the doorbell alone and pair it with the previous Sync Module 2 or Sync Module XR, which does allow for local storage.

Those are pretty good loading speeds already. I have many comments on the review video I did for the first gen of people complaining about the live view loading speed. I'm definitely getting longer than 4 second loading times with the 1st gen and Sync module 2 (no monthly plan).

I’m going to use a gen 2 sync module for both to see if it makes a difference. Wondering if the new “core” version of sync module is faster. You should try a sync module 2 with record VS core on a generation 2 doorbell. I used a 3D printed one previously, guessing the footprint of this one isn’t the same and will need to get a new one printed. Hoping I can skip it all together with the taller field of view, or at least use something a bit smaller so it doesn’t stick out as far. I never have understood why the camera is aimed to get pictures of the sky. Distortion in the upper and lower zones maybe? Would be nice if lens could be aimed down a few degrees by user and skip the adding wedges. Only real use I can think of is a basement apartment it can capture people walking down stairs.

I think the old version is fine for video quality, it’s all about expectations. These aren’t POE cameras that are $200 each just for the camera. Then you need a recorder, switch with POE and a UPS in case home power is cut. If I replaced these with a full blown high definition system I would have over $10,000 in this system. I use them as motion sensors to turn on outside lights, when I come home at night. As pet cameras to checkup on my dog. In basement to read how much time I have before laundry is done. As a wireless doorbell that rings several Amazon echo devices in my home and garage. As a deterrent for would be thieves when several echo devices in garage and house announce someone is present and turns lights on.

I have 2 generation 1 doorbells on a generation 2 sync module. I just timed both it takes at most 4 seconds to open live view on both. A few times they opened in 2 or 3 seconds. I should get my generation 2 today, It’ll be interesting to compare.

I use blink as I can easily connect it to my Alexa devices

I have a Nest 4K and a Blink doorbell and they both have been fine for me. Going on 6 years with the Nest, 2 years with the blink. Both are hardwired in though which seems to be the key in this climate

I bought the E340 wireless, to replace a blink. Notifications and battery life are terrible. It randomly rings or not. I get a notification sometimes saying "ringing" but it doesn't ring. The app in my phone is set to unrestricted. I even bought a separate chime and it barely works. The battery? Lasts three weeks for me. Eufy support are pretty useless..I'm fairly certain I'm conversing with an AI that has no clue what I'm doing or how it's products work. My Blink was better.

I have a blink. Cheap and if you get the sync module, you don't need to subscribe.

I have a blink doorbell and 3 extra cams with the sync module - didn't need a subscription to view the footage, but I've since bought a year sub at £24 for the doorbell

Blink works for me. You don't have to get the subscription and it works fine.

Well all I can tell you is I don't recommend blink, it has delays at times so bad you've missed the person at the door completely and even then and even with the hub and a gigabit connection the audio/video can be very rough and laggy

We have blink, purely because we already had other blink cameras in the house so handy having everything in one system. Think long term, if you’re planning on getting other cameras whether indoor or outdoor, or even outdoor lights, always handier to have one system for all

Avoid Ring and go with either Eufy or Blink. Blink does have a subscription model but if you get the sync module for it, you can use a USB card and not need to subscribe.

I can personally vouch AGAINST ring and blink both of those were absolutely garbage. I went through 2 ring cameras which both stopped working randomly. Then i switched to ring and it has been horrible- super slow wont load most of the time and the module won’t stay connected. All of this in under a year. 

I just got an XTU, no subscription required. Rechargeable as well so you’re not wasting $ on batteries. Picture is incredible day time and night. ETA: and you can use an SD card for storage I just got it though so can’t comment on longevity but for the price I’m impressed. I previously had blink and hated that you needed a subscription, night vision was awful and it became a brick after only a few years.

Blink can be used without a subscription but it still bounces videos off Blink's servers even when you're storing them locally so you'll still need internet access. Having used Blink doorbells for the last ~6 months, I think I'd look at other options before buying one.

I have a blink one. You can use it with or without subscription. You have a sync module which is a little square box, about 4 inches square plugged in somewhere in your house which you plug a USB flash drive in to store clips offline and you can view on your phone etc. The subscription, if you choose to go that route is very cheap - £2.50 a month for one device, or £8 if you have multiple devices. Very user friendly app, you can use Alexa to ring the bell, I'm really happy with it.

Interesting. I bought a blink one. It worked for a bit, then I'm assuming froze and now it won't reconnect or do anything. No amount of changing batteries, resetting back to factory defaults etc appears to fix it. So mileage may vary with the blink products.

+1 for Tapo. My doorbells are quick and they have good video quality 5mp 2k day and night. Do NOT buy blink. I ended up recycling mine as I couldn’t even sell them for $10 on marketplace. They were slow even with the blink module. They were even slower after the chip unsoldered itself from the inside of the module and I couldn’t even sell only see video when the bell was pressed. The delay with the sync module was about 7 seconds and over a dozen without. By the time I got the notification and could respond anyone who rang the bell was already off the property.

Best is subjective. Is Ring the "best"? Probably not but it works. Plus you have the Ring alarm, so I'd buy one and see how it goes. I got 3 here and they work fine. One day I'll be tempted to move to Reolink or the link for full-local control but not in a rush. I've got no experience with Arlo but I've got Blink at the cottage. Blink works for my use case, no subscription, I just need to know if I need to call the snow removal contractor :)

Blink, battery operated version, off of Amazon as I didn’t have to find someone to wire. I didn’t have to get my husband to install. I have them in a few locations in the yard. Super easy to install and easy to use and worked all winter with the cold.  Great picture and video too.

I use a blink doorbell, it wasn't very expensive and I have only replaced the batteries once in 2 years. I do limit the zones that it detects movement on to prevent too many activations, but I get video daily of my mail carrier. I use the local storage hub device and don't pay for cloud service. You might want to consider switching.

The Blink doorbell at least allows local recording without a subscription if you get their little hub thing. I got my blink doorbell and hub for under $50 on Black Friday 2023. I stuck a 128GB flash drive in it and it puts all the clips on that. Still, I think I'd rather have gotten the Eufy.

Try Blink. Long battery life, great picture & sound. No complaints.

Yeah its come in handy, only because I have an outside wall mounted postbox. But don't get the Blink cameras, they're rubbish because they have these 10 second cooldown gaps inbetween recordings where nothing gets recorded, and it can't be disabled.

Honestly, I went through the same. I tried Blink but the Battery would run out or there were issues with alerts. Google Nest is what I found to be the best.

I had a eufy as my husband works nights and I wanted to be notified if anyone was in the house. I found the notification time to be so slow. If I’d have had any intruders they’d have had about a minute before I’d have known. I went back to Blink and got the extra part so I didn’t need a subscription and much prefer it.

We have Blink cameras all around the house, including a doorbell. They’re sneaky with it and make you think you need a subscription but you don’t. Just stick a usb flash drive in the sync module and you have local storage for free. Everything works perfectly.

The Blink doorbell won't record doorbell activations if no motion is detected, even with a sync module

We have a battery powered Blink and it’s actually better than expected.

Blink is decent once you figure it out

I have a blink. It can run without subscription but it’s shite. I would not recommend it.

But if you’re dead set on WiFi I will tell you have a blink doorbell and a ring doorbell. Blink is complete garbage. Ring was at least usable.

Stay away from Amazon Blink... absolute worst quality. Eats up batteries, wi-fi hub doesn't save all videos (if any), VERY slow software lag. I can't wait to find something better.

Blink. It's basically Ring with a local storage option.

We were broken into a couple years back and our Blink was able to pick up enough for police to know it was a couple scrouts they had their eye on. Helped them build a case when they were finally caught.

Blink. Absolutely no problems so far, you can actually access stored footage from the app remotely via a usb attached to a sync module with no subscription.

Do not buy Blink. It lags. I have several Blink cameras including the door bell one. Saving clips locally is okay, but any online access take forever. It would not work well for door bell.

The Blink one works beauty I just change the batteries once a year and never an issue.