Three years after releasing its first video doorbell, Wyze is back with a new version that delivers higher video resolution and wider viewing angles, all while keeping the price tag a hair below $40.
Shipping today for $39.99 plus shipping, the Wyze Video Doorbell v2 arrives roughly three years after the arrival of Wyze’s first Video Doorbell, and two years after the pricier, battery-powered Wyze Video Doorbell Pro.
Like the original Wyze Video Doorbell, the Video Doorbell v2 is a wired-only model that connects to your existing doorbell wiring. But rather than the 1080p video resolution of the first-generation version, the Video Doorbell v2 boasts 2K resolution (2048 x 1536), while its head-to-toe field of view (166.8 degrees diagonally) is greater than that of the v1 model.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best video doorbells.
Compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, the new Wyze Video Doorbell supports two-way audio, color night vision (via a starlight sensor), and motion and sound alerts; plus, motion-activated “voice deterrence” that triggers a voice prompt warning visitors they’re on camera and being recorded. You’ll also get 3 to 6 seconds of pre-roll video for motion events.
The doorbell arrives with an IP65 rating, meaning it’s designed to be dust-tight as well as resistant to jets of water sprayed from any angle; in other words, it should be able to handle rainy, windy, and snowy conditions.
The Video Doorbell v2 offers both cloud and local video storage. For the former, you get 14 days of rolling cloud storage at no cost, including 12-second clips for each doorbell press and snapshots for motion events, while the latter supports 24/7 recording on a microSD card. For longer video clips in the cloud along with AI-powered motion detection, you’ll need to pony up for Wyze Cam Plus, which costs $2.99 a month for a single camera or $9.99/month for unlimited Wyze cams.
Unlike the original Video Doorbell, the Video Doorbell v2 can be connected to your existing doorbell chime, including mechanical chimes. Keep in mind, however, that the new doorbell doesn’t ship with its own chime, nor will it work with the Video Doorbell v1 chime. That said, you’ll soon be able to use a Wyze Cam as a doorbell chime (we’re still waiting on an ETA for that feature).
We’ll have a full review of the Wyze Video Doorbell v2 once we check out a review unit.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart speakers, soundbars, and other smart and home-theater devices. You can follow Ben on Twitter.