The RemoBell video doorbell ($199) offers a safe way to see who is knocking without opening the door or going anywhere near it. As with other video doorbells such as the Doorbird, Ring, and SkyBell, the RemoBell streams live video to your mobile device whenever somebody presses it and offers built-in motion detection with push notifications. It's completely wireless and installs in minutes, but it doesn't work with other smart home devices and suffered from subpar audio and video lag issues in testing.

Design and Features

At 6.0 by 2.7 by 1.2 inches (HWD), the RemoBell is roughly the same size as the DoorBird D101 , making it among the bulkiest video doorbells we've reviewed. Its silver-and-black weatherproof enclosure contains a 1-inch doorbell button surrounded by an LED ring that glows blue when pressed and pulses blue during setup. Behind the black glossy portion of the enclosure are a PIR (passive infrared) sensor that detects motion by sensing body heat, a microphone, an ambient light sensor, a 720p camera with a 120-degree field of view, and two IR LEDs for up to 15 feet of night vision.

The bottom edge of the enclosure holds a speaker, and the back has a compartment for six rechargeable AA batteries (included, though you have to supply your own charger) and a reset button. According to the company, the batteries should supply up to four months of power before requiring a recharge. Inside is a Wi-Fi radio that will connect to any 2.4GHz network. You also get a mounting bracket and screws.

The RemoBell works with Android or iOS mobile devices but does not offer a web app. When the doorbell button is pressed, the device itself emits a relatively loud chime, while a chime also plays in the app and a live video stream is displayed. You have the option of accepting the ring or declining it. If accepted, you can use the two-way audio feature to speak with whomever is out there. If declined, the live stream is terminated. Either way, the camera will capture a one-minute video clip and store it in the cloud. The camera also records a one-minute clip when it detects motion and sends a push notification to your mobile device.

You get 30 days of free cloud storage for recorded video; after that you have to pay $3 per month, which gives you unlimited storage. Unlike the August Doorbell Cam and the SkyBell, the RemoBell does not support on-demand video. It also lacks integration with other smart home devices such as door locks and connected lighting like you get with the Ring Video Doorbell ($99.99 at Amazon) , and it doesn't support If This Then That (IFTTT) or Amazon's Alexa.

The mobile app opens to a Recent Activity screen that displays events including answered rings, missed rings, and declined rings. Each event is accompanied by a date, time, and thumbnail of the recorded video. Tap the thumbnail to play, download, share, or delete the clip. Tapping the three-bar icon in the upper left corner takes you to the Settings menu where you can view and edit account information, configure video quality and motion sensitivity settings, manage push notifications, and check battery life.

Installation and Performance

Unlike some wired alternatives, I had the RemoBell up and running in a matter of minutes. After installing the batteries I downloaded the app on my iPhone and created an account. I then followed the in-app instructions to press the reset button and connect to the RemoBell's SSID. I then connected to my home Wi-Fi, entered my password, and was rewarded with a successful setup message within 45 seconds. I mounted the camera to a wood panel near my front door and was good to go.

The RemoBell delivers relatively sharp daytime video with rich colors. Night vision video is also sharp, but has the same purple tint we saw with the Ring Stickup Cam. There is noticeable video and audio lag when answering a ring, which makes it difficult to carry on two-way audio conversations. To make matters worse, I was barely able to make out what the caller was saying due to poor audio quality and low volume. Audio quality at the doorbell itself isn't much better.

On the plus side, the RemoBell never failed to send a push notification when motion was detected or the bell was pressed, and it always recorded a video clip.

Conclusions

If you're looking for a connected video doorbell that doesn't require wiring and can be installed in a matter of minutes, the RemoBell will fill the bill, but there are better options out there. While it delivers sharp 720p video and never missed a notification in testing, its audio quality is weak and its real-time video is laggy. Moreover, it lacks features you get with similarly priced devices such as on-demand video, Alexa voice and IFTTT compatibility, and integration with other smart home devices.

The Vivint Doorbell Camera is still the best smart doorbell we've tested, but you have to invest in the Vivint Smart Home system to use it. If you're not interested in going all-in on a security system but want some level of integration with other devices, the August Doorbell Cam is a solid choice, especially now that it supports motion detection and video recording. It also works with the August Smart Lock, offers on-demand video, and delivers sharp and colorful HD video.

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Further Reading

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