eufy Wi-Fi Video Doorbell with Chime (Open Box)

This is one of those products that deserves a comprehensive review so buckle up. Short version: This is a phenomenal doorbell and security camera. The camera quality is excellent, audio is crisp, setup is easier than you'd think, and you'll be using a product by a company that actually tries to respect your privacy. Long version: Like many people I have been very concerned with the position Ring has taken on user privacy. Recent media reports say that that they are freely sharing footage with law enforcement and are even working on being able to identify people on a "watchlist with their cameras. This combined with the constant recharging, monthly storage charges, and poor video quality of my Ring left me looking for an alternative. Eufy's device is different than Rings. It appears that Eufy has designed the doorbell to store the footage locally on the device in an encrypted manor. This theoretically means that you, and only you, will have access to your footage. It also means that there are no monthly service charges. Yay! Installation: I'll admit I was initially worried about the installation. My home was built in the 70s and the doorbell system is from that time period as well. Thankfully, the installation was incredibly simple. The included instructions were clear and required simple steps like removing screws, plugging in wires, and tightning screws. I was up and running in 30 minutes with a new sleek doorbell mounted on the included angle mount that gave me a better view than the Ring device I was using. App: The app is well designed and walks you through most issues you'll encounter. If the wiring scares you - it shouldn't. There are very simple diagrams and anyone with a sliver of DIY ability will have no issues. The app responds instantly and I haven't had a single issue with it. Settings are clearly laid out and everything is accessible. Video/Audio: The video quality on the camera is superb and the audio is really impressive. The device holds a good wifi signal and there is almost no delay in footage. Additionally, when someone triggers a motion alert the doorbell crops out their face and it appears in the notification on my iPhone. The sound is perfectly synched up with the video and it is much much clearer than what is on the Ring doorbell. Eufy's HDR works well for me but should only be used in a dim environment. One feature I was thrilled with was the ability to remove "fish-eye distortion". This helps people who mount their device next to a ledge or column. The software automatically flattens the image to compensate without hurting the view of the camera. This one check-box made my video much more useful. The sensitivity of the camera is great and already I'm not getting notifications from passing cars on my road. Another win over Ring. Chime: The interior doorbell chime is good, although I wish it had a way to adjust the volume or play different rings. It's also unclear if it can be battery powered and, if so, for how long. Eufy should probably clarify this. Now i'll talk about what I would change. It may seem like a lot, but none of these items hurt the experience of this excellent product. As Eufy's first doorbell I want to give them suggestions for the next version. At this point I know whatever they put out, I'll be buying it. Here are some minor suggestions I have for the Eufy team: - Since there is no doorbell company competition in the privacy sector, It would be good for consumers to know if anyone at Eufy ever has the ability to access any footage. I know Eufy says they don't - but do they have the capability? Is any footage accessible in the cloud at all? After all, this is a Wi-Fi connected device. As an IT professional, it would be nice to have a more detailed explanation. - The doorbell could use some fun new rings and a way to adjust the volume - It's unclear in the instructions if it is possible to use the doorbell with the home's internal chime. - 5GHz WiFi is really important these days. Especially when many people are in crowded environments the signals can be jumbled. Thankfully the 2.4GHz transmitter in this device is EXCELLENT but it would be nice to have the new standard available. - The doorbell could use HomeKit and/or SmartThings functionality to tie it into the rest of my house. HomeKit Secure Video would be awesome as well. - 4GB of local storage could use a bump. It's a little low. The ability to use a MicroSD card would be awesome and may help Eufy keep their costs down. - A temperature sensor would be nice to see what the temperature is outside - Exclusion zones simply give a small red box that can't be increased in size. I've tried multiple times. Overall, this is a great product. Not only does it deliver on privacy and security but it also smashes the competition in functionality, video quality, setup, and ease of use. I really can't recommend it enough. Great job, Eufy!