While package theft deterrence isn’t the only use for a video doorbell, we like that this camera is honed for a specific purpose. It makes it easy to know what to expect from optimal video performance. Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro features:
180° field of view Two-way talk Night vision Motion detection Customizable motion zones People detection Package detection Smart Sentry
The wide view makes it easier for the camera to see packages left on your porch, even if they aren’t close to the doorbell. You’ll get an immediate notification asking you if you want to turn on the Smart Sentry Deter feature when the camera detects a package. You can choose to Deter for a set period, like 15 minutes or two hours. Or you can leave it in force until you turn it off. The hidden cost is much larger because, at this time, you can’t have the camera installed without a Vivint system. Which means you have to pay for the system up front plus system monitoring and camera storage. Or, if you’d like longer than two weeks of storage, you can pay extra to buy a Vivint Smart Drive. This piece of equipment continuously streams video and saves it for 30 days. Technically, it’s a local storage solution, but you can still access the clips from your app or your Vivint Smart Hub. No SD card transfer necessary. But whatever you do, you’ll be spending big bucks. For the system, video doorbell, installation, and first month of the storage plan, we estimate you’re looking at the better part of $1,000. And that’s without the Smart Drive. While we don’t have a Chromecast, which may have explained the lack of Google connectivity, we have several Alexa-enabled devices with screens. But either way, neither smart assistant worked with the Vivint cameras as described. That doesn’t mean Vivint’s untruthful; we may have been doing something wrong. But if so, it’s not encouraging that experienced users like us couldn’t figure it out. We especially like that the app notifies you when a package arrives and asks if you want to use the Deter feature. It makes the whole process incredibly easy. If you buy the camera as part of a Vivint system up front, it’ll be installed alongside your system. The whole process, system and camera, took about four hours to complete for us, even though the tech only installed a moderate number of pieces vs. putting sensors and cameras across the whole house. Features: This camera has multiple features designed to prevent package theft. Pricing: You’ll pay a pretty penny for the entire Vivint kit and caboodle. Home automation: The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro has modest home automation levels but works with other Vivint products. Installation: A Vivint installer will wire your doorbell camera for you. If you aren’t interested in getting an entire Vivint home, we would recommend a different doorbell camera to you. It’s much more affordable to get a standalone device. Or, if you want an entire security suite but feel Vivint’s not right, we have a full home security systems review. Our Vivint cameras review gives an overview of each camera, making it easy to compare the three options. If you aren’t sure about the video doorbell, you might like Vivint’s outdoor or indoor camera more.
