@paul I'm late to this, but replaced that Logitech doorbell with the UniFi one and it's like night and day. UniFi is super reliable, and 24/7 recording is handy every now and then. I don't miss the Logitech one at all.
@paul Years ago I ended up getting Nest doorbells and setting up Homebridge, which I thought I would regret. But based on the past few years of HomeKit doorbell reviews, it seems like I am still (sadly) using the best option.
@paul I used to use the Apple Store as a guide. Because usually they would not sell an accessory that merely claimed it worked, they would test and vet that item. They don’t want returns to the Apple Store. And its appearance in a physical store usually meant the thing did and would work as expected
@paul I have the Aqara battery powered HomeKit doorbell thst came out a while back and works great - battery life is solid and about to get its first Midwest winter test
@paul I’ve had the Logitech Circle View doorbell for about a year now with no complaints. When it comes to HomeKit anything, buy more WiFi base-stations than you think you need for your home. Anything less than full-bars of WiFi coverage for any HomeKit device is going to cause “device unavailable” issues, eventually.
@paul I just got the Aqara G4 since it also has free local 24/7 recording via SD card. Video quality isn’t the best, but otherwise it’s been quite solid.
@paul I’m in Austin, Texas and have been using this doorbell for two or three years. The first year it would overheat and shut off all the time. It’s on a very covered patio and didn’t get direct sun, so that was frustrating.
However, after it cooled down that first year it never became an issue again when it got hotter the following spring/summer. I guess they were able to fix something in a software update.
@paul This one gets a bad rap for being unreliable and having heat issues. I have had one in the southern US for a couple years and it’s been fine. Even so, if your door gets direct sun, I’d probably avoid.
@paul Arlo has been great and never messes up. Wired so it runs the existing chimes as well as all phones logged into it.
When our paid security service got a false alarm they called the police (as I didn’t pick up right away). Cop rang the doorbell and we were able to have a conversation with him … all while we were 14 hours away.
@paul if someone says Aqara, run! I have an Eufy dual cam 4K non-HomeKit (sad) and tried to use the Aqara one, but it was unreliable, laggy, had terrible cameras, and I could go on and on in the downsides. I returned the Aqara one and stayed out of HomeKit with the Doorbell for now… 😔
@paul I have that Logitech Circle doorbell and it works great. I didn’t experience overheating but I also live in Portland Oregon metro… so… it isn’t really hot here.
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