DoorBird takes on other Wi-Fi-enabled smart buzzers
Step aside, Ring and Skybell -- a new Wi-Fi video doorbell is joining the fray.
Bird Home Automation's $349 DoorBird Video Doorbell, preorderable now for $299 and due to ship in March, is a new Ring and SkyBell competitor. Bird Home Automation is based in Berlin and its smart doorbell will be available internationally; at the current exchange rate, DoorBird will cost roughly £225 in the UK and AU$445 in Australia.
Like other video doorbells, DoorBird is designed to act as a digital peephole so you can see who's at your front door on a Wi-Fi- or cellular-connected Android or iOS device. Whether someone physically rings the buzzer or simply walks within range of the built-in motion sensor, DoorBird is supposed to send out a push notification, alerting you to their presence.
From there, you have the option to answer the call, pull up a live video feed and chat with your guest via the two-way talk function or ignore it. Either way, DoorBird promises to take a photo of the action and maintain a log of the 20 most recent visitors. Cloud video storage will be available after the initial product launch and Bird Home Automation alludes to future HomeKit and third-party product integrations, although it hasn't announced specifics just yet.
The outdoor-rated smart doorbell has an operating temperature range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (that's -20 to 50 degrees Celsius) and a night vision mode to capture activity when it's dark. Bird Home Automation says that the installation process is simple and its BirdGuard Add-on Cameras are available as optional accessories for an additional $199 each (converted, about £130 and AU$255).
DoorBird won't hit retail until spring, but we've already requested a review unit to compare against Ring and SkyBell.