August just announced its third-generation smart doorbell, the August View, which is unique among other smart doorbells. For starters, it actually looks like a traditional doorbell: it has a thin rectangular shape, rather than the square shape of its predecessor, the Doorbell Cam Pro ; it also comes with swappable faceplates, so you can choose whichever color you want.
Ease of installation is perhaps the biggest thing going for the August View — it’s wireless so you can place it wherever you want without having to worry about the wiring. The downside here is that you’ll have to recharge the battery every three to six months. (You’ll get a smartphone alert saying that the battery is getting low.)
The other supposed advantage of the August View is its image quality. It has a high-quality sensor that’s able to capture 1440p video, which the company calls “the highest resolution of any battery-powered doorbell camera.” We’ve seen high-resolution sensors in smart security cameras before, like in the Nest Cam 4K and in the Lighthouse (now defunct), but they those examples were only able to capture 1080p video.
The August View shares similar features to most other smart doorbells, including 24-hour video streaming, two-way talk, instant motion alerts and the ability to zoom in on subjects that are at your door. It’ll save motion alerts in the cloud for up to 24 hours, so you can check back to see what went on during the day, but if you want to see videos older than 24 hours, you’ll have to pay for a subscription plan (an extra $5 per month).
The August View will cost $230, which is $30 more than August’s existing-and-wired Doorbell Cam Pro ($200), and you’ll be able to purchase it later this month. At launch, it’s expected to work with Amazon and Google’s smart ecosystems, and August says it is working to gain Apple HomeKit support, too.
Gear Patrol also recommends:
Ring Video Doorbell ($100)
August Doorbell Cam Pro ($200)
Nest Hello ($229)
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