Eufy Video Doorbell Dual Battery review

The Eufy Dual-camera smart doorbell can keep two eyes on your step

Eufy Dual Cam Doorbell Battery review
(Image: © Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Eufy’s smart doorbell is one of the biggest in a market of less-than-subtle devices, but the dual cameras handle their role splendidly, bolstered by a very useable app. Subscription sceptics will love the ability to store video at home without paying any monthly fees. The option of battery or wired installs is there, but neither is hard.

Pros

  • +

    Slick design and app

  • +

    Best view of the step available

  • +

    Side-steps fish-eye issues

  • +

    No subscription fees

  • +

    Encrypted local video storage

  • +

    Homebase provides a chime for wireless installs

Cons

  • -

    Needs an Ethernet socket on your router

  • -

    No Apple HomeKit support

  • -

    Enormous doorbell housing

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Although they might lack the elegance of their predecessors, smart doorbells are spreading like wildfire. They offer the internet connected home not only a usefully placed security camera, but the means to ensure good behavior from the ever-growing army of couriers we depend upon.

Pressures on couriers to get moving means they don’t like to wait for doorbells. Pressures of all kinds prevent us from being home when every delivery occurs. In many cases parcels are left on the door and these are especially tempting for so-called ‘porch pirates.’

A camera is a deterrent and evidence is always useful (especially if you’re taking on a skeptical retailer), but most smart doorbell cameras face a compromise when it comes to the step; a fish-eye lens compromises resolution and quality, but a sharper image will likely crop the step where parcels are left. Eufy’s solution is two cameras – one for each direction. Is it the answer for you?

Specification

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual review - what's in the box (Image credit: Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

Camera resolution: 2560x1920 (main) + 1600 x 1200 (step)

Camera field of view: 160˚ + 120˚

Camera battery: 6 months 

Camera weather protection: IP65

Camera two-way audio: Yes

Storage: 16GB EMMC

Installation

Charging is via a microUSB socket beneath a rubber seal at the back; it takes about 6 hours to charge the 6500mAh battery. (Image credit: Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

We tested the battery version and opted to install it without wires. It can also easily be attached to existing wiring of 16-24v, covering UK and US standards. In either case installation is made painless thanks to back plates which need only be screw mounted to the wall; there is both a flat one and an angled one (which works either way up). Once placed, the doorbell snaps onto it.

You’ll also need to connect the base station to a free ethernet socket on your router and to the main power. As well as a power jack and Ethernet socket, a USB socket lets you charge the doorbell here.

Once connected (and the doorbell charged), you simply need to follow a few on-screen instructions to get them working; the Eufy app pulls these off with elegance – the only irritation was that the Eufy HomeBase 3 we had already doesn’t yet recognize the doorbell – this is coming via software update soon, we’re told.

Build and handling

Eufy Dual Cam Doorbell Battery review

The doorbell, day and night; the infra-red lighting isn’t visible to the eye but illuminates visitors for night vision – the blue-glow around the button is to help people find it. (Image credit: Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

 The doorbell unit is fashioned of robust glossy plastic which looks good, though the sheer size of it is somewhat surprising; even bigger than other smart doorbells at 165 x 55 x 29mm (6.5 x 2.2 x 1.1 in). It’s also so shiny you’ll likely need to wipe it after a few visitors press the button, but on the other hand no one missed it! It also includes LED lights for the downward-facing package camera so the AI has a fair chance even in the dark – they’re activated by the motion sensor.

Accessing the doorbell to charge the battery is achieved using an included tool similar to a SIM-card tray tool; it unclips the unit from the wall mount so you can take it away and charge it.

Unlike the weighty doorbell unit, the elegant base unit felt (as it is) largely hollow. It has grey feet which provide ventilation, gorgeous matt-white sides and a gloss-white top. Inside is 16GB EMMC storage; it might not sound a lot but is room for weeks of clips (the storage cannot be expanded). 

(Image credit: Eufy)

Performance

The addition of an extra box on our network didn’t seem to be an issue, and the latency between button push and alert was broadly comparable with others doorbells we’ve tested – not the best, not the worst. You certainly wouldn’t want to have an extended conversation using the speaker & mic, but you can tell someone where to leave a package.

Eufy Dual Cam Doorbell Battery review

A daytime visit with a Halloween theme, an evening false alert (doormat, not parcel) and the events list. (Image credit: Adam Juniper/Digital Camera World)

Image quality was stand out. The camera did a good job of daylight and nighttime, with the only slight exception being the step camera and that was probably our fault for not using the angled mount so the exposure had to cope with light on the wall.

The AI – which, remember, you’re not paying for in a subscription but getting in the box – seemed to do a decent job of spotting humans and animals. That said our doormat did seem to trigger the package alert, so there is room for improvement. The built-in chime means it’s preferable to place the HomeBase box somewhere you can hear, but the position of your network points might restrict you and you can also use Alexa or Assistant devices as chimes and displays.

Above: Sample video clip shows bases well covered.

Verdict

Eufy Video Doorbell Dual Battery review

(Image credit: Eufy)

This doorbell’s main marketing point, the dual cameras, certainly perform to expectations, comfortably providing better video than single camera alternatives (and the one other dual camera device out there). 

Building around a Eufy HomeBase 2 should probably also be something of a selling point since the Eufy Secure app is capable of handling more devices using the subscription-free AI and storage at the cost of just one network socket. It also means that a failed internet connection won’t stop the device recording, while the encryption puts you in charge of your clips (other doorbell companies have been known to share with law enforcement without asking specifically)

Although we’d like a slightly more svelte design (and, in fairness there is a non-battery version), and it’s a shame there is no HomeKit compatibility, this is one of the best smart doorbells we’ve tested. It’s certainly at the steeper end, price wise, but if you want the smart features the subscription charges will soon put one-lens competitors total costs past the Eufy’s initial cost.

Other useful buying guides: 

Best outdoor security cameras 

Best indoor security cameras

Best PTZ camera

Best PoE cameras

Best pet cameras

The best doorbell cameras

The best body cameras for personal security 

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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 


Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 


He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook