Verdict
high-pitched - quality HDR TV and a wide - angle thought make the pumped up SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro a good selection for monitoring what ’s going on at your front door . The lack of Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support is a piddling dissatisfactory , and the subscription price is high if you buy this as a standalone product . However , if you have a SimpliSafe alarm arrangement , then this is a good pick .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
Alongside a security system , a overbold video buzzer is almost essential .
It ’s good to see more security vendors pass water their own products , as one simple subscription can cover both your alarm and cloud store .
With great television timber , the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a useful add - on for SimpliSafe users . Its only pocket-size drawback is that it is a wired - only Cartesian product .
Design and installation
The SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro is a wire - only product , much like theRing Video Doorbell Pro 2 . It would have been nice to have a battery choice , as with theAbode Wireless Video Doorbell , for those that do n’t have live wiring .
In terms of cabling , the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro works with existing wire gong and any 8 - 24V AC transformer . If you do n’t have one , then you may corrupt a suitable plug - in transformer , exercise a cakehole in the wall and press the line through .
A dim-witted mounting bracket is provide in the box , with a wedge provided should you need to angle the buzzer . Power cables bind to the mounting wall bracket , and the doorbell slides into place , have it off at the bottom for security .
With the power on , the doorbell boots up and is ready to unite the SimpliSafe app , plug into via Wi - Fi .
Features
The doorbell appears in the SimpliSafe app under the Camera incision , alongside any other SimpliSafe cameras you might have , such as theWireless Outdoor Security Camera . There ’s no need to have aSimpliSafe alarm scheme , and the bell can be used standalone .
The standard plan gives 30 days of history for £ 8.99 a month . For one camera , that ’s quite expensive , but the plan make more sense as part of a security system . I would n’t purchase this tv camera as a standalone product .
As with most TV camera , the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro can be remotely watch through the app , with a tap - and - hold activeness to activate two - way lecture . Plus , a recording can be made .
An icon choose you to previous history , with a tilt of thumbnails . However , there ’s no filter pick to stand out to a specific date . If you need to do this , then the Timeline feature of the app has to be used , which does n’t have thumbnail . Unless a clip is fairly late , then , finding a specific consequence can be a bit cumbersome .
All video clips can be downloaded from the swarm and save to your phone for good , or share with other masses using the sharing pick in the app .
As a buzzer , the way the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro will be used most is when callers come . A doorbell press voice any inner bell you have cable up , plus signals an qui vive to your phone , so you may do .
A PIR motion sensor on the doorbell also lets the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro play as a security tv camera . stage setting are quite canonical , with sliders to select apparent motion predisposition for day and night separately , plus a individual Activity Zone .
SimpliSafe has a citizenry - only detection mode , although this cultivate during the day only ; at night , the camera can only pick up motion in world-wide . It ’s possible to work off notification if you find them too much .
Pointing out onto a road , I found the options sufficient to reduce the number of alerts to manageable degree .
Although the camera has a 1080p sensor , I feel that it was set to 720p by default . I change the stage setting to 1080p – what ’s the item of accept a protection camera that does n’t shoot at its ripe declaration ?
There ’s no Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant integration , which is a bit of a shame , as it stand for that voguish speakers ca n’t be used as internal chimes .
Performance
There ’s a 162 - degree wide - angle lens in the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro . There ’s no fisheye effect , so the camera takes in a wide and undistorted vista of the outside world . TV is shot in landscape painting manner , so you ca n’t see a person outside head - to - toe . That ’s not a massive issue : I prefer a portrait view , but can go with a landscape one .
HDR video help balance out the image . Even on a threshold face into the sun , I plant that the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro managed to rescue sharp , well - expose video , with no blown - out highlight .
As a doorbell , the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro forge with target and citizenry nearer to it : effectively , callers at your home base . Sharp and clear video is respectable here .
Audio caliber is excellent , too . I obtain that I could hear callers distinctly , and they could cull up what I was saying back to them .
At night , the photographic camera switches to its IR LEDs . Quality here is more basic , and compass drops off quite a bit . However , for people at the door , I could clear see them in full detail .
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Should you buy it?
It makes sense to buy the matching doorbell and practice your existing subscription for the cloud storage .
There are smart television doorbells with more feature and lower subscription cost . Check out ourBest Video Doorbelllist for more options .
Final Thoughts
TheRing Video Doorbell 2 Prois a more accomplished and powerful TV bell than the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro , with a wide reach of features . If I was buying purely on proficient ability , then the Ring option is better .
However , choosing the right camera comes down to the system it will be used with . If you have a SimpliSafe warning signal and are paying for a subscription already , then it pee sensation to buy this doorbell : it drive all of the basics right and shoots high - calibre video . For alternatives , check out my guide to thebest picture doorbells .
Trusted Score
How we test
Unlike other sites , we test every security camera we review thoroughly over an extended full point of clock time . We use industry stock trial to compare lineament in good order . We ’ll always tell you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a mathematical product .
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FAQs
It needs permanent power , so you either need the male plug - in adaptor or an existing 8 - 24VAC transformer .
No , it can work standalone , although it makes more gumption , subscription wise , if you have an consternation system , too .
