Over the weekend, one of my family members’ houses was broken into while they were tucked up having a relaxing morning in bed. Thankfully, nothing was taken and no-one was harmed, but I did strongly recommend they order one of the Amazon Blink video doorbells to up the security on their property.
I’ve had a Blink video doorbell on my front door for the last six months, and it’s provided invaluable peace of mind and safety for my home, and has been extremely handy when it comes to deliveries, too.
The Amazon device usually costs £89.99 for the doorbell and sync module, and doesn’t require a subscription. But what’s even better is that it’s currently reduced in the Amazon Spring Sale.
READ MORE: LIVE: Amazon Spring Sale 2023 - best deals as they drop online
Shoppers can pick up the doorbell and sync module in a bundle deal for £58.49 during the limited-time deal, or just the doorbell for £38.99. The Blink video doorbell can manage its own system, but has improved battery life and some advanced features with the module.
Not only does the sync module extend battery life, but you can also start ‘live view’ and take thumbnails in the app. Without the module, you will only receive motion alert and doorbell press notifications, and you must tap a notification within 60 seconds to enter Live View with two-way talk.
We decided to get one of the Blink doorbells because I am quite often home alone, and have two dogs. I was feeling anxious about opening the door to strangers without knowing who might be at the door, and wanted to be able to check who was there before I got up to answer.
As a Prime member, we got free next day delivery, and had it set up and working the very same day, after following the simple step-by-step instructions.
We opted to get the full set up with the sync module, which has the benefit of allowing videos to be stored from up to 10 cameras for no additional cost, meaning there’s no need to sign up to a costly subscription, and we can always add cameras to our collection.
The doorbell will send motion clips to the module, which can be then viewed through the Blink app or on a computer for up to 30 days.
You can choose to save and share these clips in the Cloud if you did want to pay the Blink subscription fee, but we haven’t yet ever wished we’d subscribed or found the need to upload to the Cloud.
Amazon does offer a 30 day free trial on the subscription service, after which you can subscribe for £2.50 per month per device, or £8 per month for unlimited devices on a single account.
Another thing that had put us off buying a video doorbell for a while was that most of them are wired, but the Blink video doorbell can be completely wire free. The doorbell runs on two AA lithium batteries, and then connects to Wi-Fi using the app.
We found that our batteries lasted around six months, as we’ve only had to change them this week. The app does tell you when the battery is running low so you can catch it before they die, so you have wrap-around video coverage of your home. Alternatively, you can have it wired into an existing chime.
The Blink doorbell, available in black or white, has a relatively wide camera angle, with an 80 degree vertical lens, and 135 degree horizontal angle. It records in 1080p HD video during the day and with infrared HD night vision after dark. What’s more is that you can set the sensitivity of your camera to notify you of movement. You can lower the sensitivity to only detect larger objects, or heighten it so that it also picks up smaller objects.
Meanwhile, you can disable motion detection for selected regions of the doorbell to prevent unwanted motion clips or notifications. For example, if you live on a busy road, you can disable the area where cars drive past to avoid a notification for every passing vehicle. You can also set the length of motion clips to be recorded from anywhere between five and 30 seconds, so you get a really personalised experience.
When you do get a notification on the app, you can use the two-way audio setting to speak to whoever is at your door. This has proven to be particularly handy when parcels get delivered when I’m out, as I can ask the driver to leave it in a safe place, or with a neighbour. It essentially means you can answer your door from any time or place. And if the doorbell alone wasn’t a deterrent for unsavoury visitors, then you can also let them know they’ve been caught through the speaker.
Another feature I love is that we were able to connect our existing Echo device to the doorbell, so that it chimes when the doorbell rings. It also announces ‘someone is at the front door’. The only frustrating thing we’ve found with the system is that the dogs both very quickly learned that the Alexa was the new doorbell, and now bark every time they hear an Amazon notification thinking that there is someone at the door.
Other than that, our only regret is having not bought a Blink video doorbell sooner - a regret I imagine my unfortunate family member also has. The entrance to your home means everything, and the family member who found theirs trespassed commented on how unsafe they had felt afterwards. But the Blink video doorbell, with its two-way communication and HD video, it offers a clear picture outside your home, which eases anxiety and deters unwanted visitors.
Easy to set up, weather resistant and stylish in appearance, it’s much more affordable than products like the £180 Google Nest alternative, and can be integrated into your smart home with your existing Amazon products for a more cohesive experience.
The Blink video doorbell is priced from £38.99 as part of Amazon’s three-day Spring Sale.
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