Blink - Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)

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.

Yep correct. The Sync Module Core has no USB slot or microSD slot, so a monthly plan is necessary. However, I deleted the Sync Module Core and added the Sync Module 2 instead and that works.

Yea I think they did it on purpose to force people to pay for the monthly plan, but at least we can use the previous sync module models to get around that.

I did delete the Sync Module core later in the video and added the Sync Module 2 afterwards, but that was after canceling the 30 day trial so I could test that local storage works on the Sync Module 2, which it does. It still pulls up quicker than the 1st gen doorbell even with the Sync Module 2, but I didn't time it against the Sync Module Core. Still, it pulls up within 3 seconds for me using the Sync Module 2, so that's pretty quick. Yea it would be nice to have some level of adjustment even if slight for downward tilt. They keep the sky recorded so we can capture UFO footage ; )

You're right, my box says it comes with the corner wedge. Strange they chose to only bundle the corner wedge with the sync module core since the sync module core has exactly zero relevance or connection to the corner mount.

I’m wondering why no one has mentioned Blink doorbell w/ the SyncModule 2. It just uses an SD card, you can access the clips on your phone. Cheap, easy to use, good features, and decent camera. The one downside is the doorbell chime. You can configure it to ring on your Echo device, notify on your phone, and/or ring an indoor Blink camera that you have set up. If you don’t have an Echo or an indoor camera, it will just notify your phone.

I believe this is the same for all of these doorbells (Nest, Eufy, etc). You can hardwire them all (including the Blink) to the existing indoor chime or you will need a separate speaker. If OP is hardwiring to existing indoor chime, this wouldn’t be an issue. But for you, if your Blink is not hardwired, and you don’t intend your replacement to be either, it will also probably need a separate indoor speaker system. FYI, for the Blink, it doesn’t have to be an Echo. It can also be an indoor mini camera.

Got it today. Went to install. And found out it didn’t come with the corner mount. (My 1st gen did come with a corner mount) so I gotta wait for the corner mount to come in

Okay. Update: I got it installed on the corner wedge that came with the gen1 I like the fact that on this one you can take it off the mount without having to take the wires off. I don’t like the fact that it doesn’t properly sit on the gen 1 corner wedge. BUT it does lock in. So I’m not too concerned. Now I need it to rain for a few days straight to see if it can handle the moisture

Not having a separate chime is the worst part of this product. I don’t want an echo, I want a fucking chime for my doorbell. We’re getting rid of ours this spring. They are good if you don’t care about not hearing the god damn door bell.

I have the blink and sync module 2. Works great. Been using it for a year now.

I have new versions ordered because of the taller FOV, I have mine mounted on a wedge facing down to get less of the sky and more of my sidewalk and porch. I’ll be curious to time the opening of the two devices in live view to quantify the difference.

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 installed two generation 2 doorbells this evening. I can’t say the live view is any faster loading than my generation 1. Both on a sync module 2. I moved a generation 1 doorbell to my garage entry door, because I had it and could. I do have a subscription and a stable 2.4ghtz network with a ping of about 24ms. If I turn off my VPN it’s closer to 12 ms ping. I just turned off my VPN and I can get a live view in 2 -3 seconds consistently. I can see where a slow connection or a connection with a high ping rate could cause issues. That’s not an issue with the camera it’s an issue with your ISP or WiFi equipment.

Has anyone noticed that it’s really easy to just pull it off the mount? Doesn’t take any force, you can just grab it and remove it and walk away with it - never had that issue with the old one.…

Plus you can trade in your old one for $10 and get 20% off the purchase of the new one. So, it only cost me $13 to upgrade w Prime Days today!

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.