Video summary

I Tried All The Best (and Worst) Doorbells

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product category reviewed

A roundup of video doorbells (13 options) ranging from budget to “bazoners” (high-end). The review emphasizes:

  • Features
  • Image quality
  • Upfront cost
  • 5-year total cost of ownership
  • Subscription requirements

Key takeaways (unique points mentioned)

Common themes / what they have in common

  • Most models are battery-powered; exceptions are Ubiquiti models.
  • Only two power types are discussed:
    • Battery
    • Wired/PoE (Power over Ethernet)
  • There’s huge variation in features even at low prices.
  • Subscriptions/services are the main driver of long-term cost (some of the cheapest upfront options cost more over 5 years).

Subscription and storage behavior (repeatedly compared)

  • Some budget models require subscriptions for anything beyond basic notifications.
  • Many models paywall:
    • Recordings
    • Live video
    • Other features
  • One major “no subscription” advantage: local preservation of recorded evidence, reducing the risk of loss/deletion.

Notable models and what the video says about each

Budget category

1) Orbital M52 (~$10)

  • Lowest upfront price
  • Requires a subscription for more than push notifications
  • Image quality described as “okay”
  • Subscription called “reasonably affordable,” but long-term value is questioned

2) Arlo video doorbell

  • “Mandatory subscription trend” continues
  • Live video only after paying
  • No push notifications without subscription
  • No wall plug/chime included (so hearing indoors may be inconvenient)
  • AI detection described as “pretty solid”
    • Recognized a person correctly (they refer to the “fabricator” as a person)
    • Identified the environment as a workshop
  • Compared against another doorbell that clocked the same scene as a pet
  • Value hit: 5-year ownership cost > $500
  • Rating: “low D” (complaint tone: “Have you gone mad, Arlo?”)

3) “First nonsubscription bell” (dual camera + onboard storage; brand not clearly named in subtitles)

Adds features not seen earlier:

  • Two cameras (one pointing down)
  • 32GB onboard storage
  • Live view + included chime
  • Two-way voice through the app
  • No subscription
  • Small screen with canned messages

Other notes:

  • Image quality: “decent”
  • Rating: B tier
  • Main reason it’s not higher: can’t buy cloud storage, so evidence could be destroyed (concern raised about needing cloud backup during “invasions”)
  • Still wins:
    • “Value king award” for least expensive viable product over 5 years

4) Blink Doorbell 2K Plus

  • Starts poorly without an add-on:
    • Without the sync module, it’s “just a brick”
  • Sync module costs ~$20 more
  • Battery life claimed: up to 2 years
  • Includes: described as having two-way voice and live video included
  • Catch: recordings are paywalled
  • Image quality: “slightly better than the Havon”
  • Rating: C minus

Mid-tier category (mainstream)

5) Ring doorbell (original; Shark Tank mentioned)

  • Setup/ease of use: “industry standard”
    • Very easy (Wi‑Fi password and automation)
  • Downsides:
    • Ring app has ads and a store
    • Annoying sounds/noises
  • Ratings/cost placeholder:
    • C tier (pending image quality clarity)
    • Mentioned 5-year ownership cost around $350
  • Corporate criticism:
    • Amazon acquired Ring in 2018 (“getting their billion dollars back somehow”)

6) Ubiquiti UIC31

  • Positioned as “best under $100,” but was exactly $100
  • No subscription for core features since 2019
  • Optional cloud backups at “pretty average price”
  • Rating: A-plus (with “sketchy baggage”)
  • Major concern noted:
    • Previous scandal involving public access to unsecured cameras
    • Dispute resolved poorly/they “deflected,” leading the reviewer to put the company in a “sponsor doghouse” until at least 2027
  • Claim that they’ve cleaned up since

7) TP-Link Tapo 2K Plus (no subscription)

  • Similar to Ubiquiti: emphasizes internal storage
  • Uses 512GB internal storage (contrasted with someone else’s 128GB)
  • But build quality in low light is weaker than expected
  • Cloud backups exist but aren’t core
  • Rating: B tier

8) Ubiquiti Doorbell Light (PoE)

  • Two-way audio similar, but PoE improves streaming reliability vs battery
  • Requires running wire once; then no battery changes
  • Downside: even though it’s only $100, it needs an ecosystem of products
  • Rating: B tier

9) Wise doorbell (dual camera; “2.4GHz and 5GHz” support)

  • Costs $20 more than most in the segment
  • Distinguishing feature: supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi‑Fi
    • Aims for more stable streaming / fewer dropouts
  • No built-in storage, but supports up to 256GB microSD
  • No core paywall; optional cloud backup exists
  • Button feel described as “pretty nice”
  • Rating: A+ tier (again, some “baggage”)
  • Controversy mentioned:
    • “Headlines for undesirable reasons”
    • Reviewer notes surveillance products often invite controversy (includes a mention of Ring collaborations with law enforcement)

Mid-tier image quality comparison (as described in the segment)

  • Ring: looks “really nice,” but may be misleading due to contrast settings
  • Yuthi: better text readability at distance (example: driveway text clarity)
  • Tapo: rough
  • Ubiquity: not as good as expected; dynamic range described as rough

Conclusion from image quality segment:

  • “All the cameras are some flavor of suck”
  • Reviewer: don’t pay extra expecting dramatic improvement; dynamic range/resolution differences are limited

Flagship category ($150–$300)

10) Yuthi flagship

  • More than previous model:
    • Dual camera + 8GB non-removable storage
  • No traditional expandable storage; uses Ubiquiti Homebase ecosystem for up to 16TB additional space
  • Rating: B tier (friendly on paywall for key features)

11) Google Nest doorbell

  • $180 base price + $100/year subscription
  • Subscription burden makes it expensive:
    • Only 3 hours recording history
    • 5-year subscription cost nearly $700
  • Image resolution described as lowest in the price range
  • Rating: C++
  • Note: live view/recording/2-way audio not paywalled the same way (subtitles suggest they “don’t pay while recording, live view, or two-way audio”), but the takeaway still heavily criticizes subscription cost and resolution/short history

12) Ring Pro (battery doorbell pro)

  • Similar to Ring, but:
    • $150 upcharge
    • Resolution bump: 1080p → 1536p HD+
    • Adds quick-release battery
  • Subscription and rest remains the same
  • 5-year ownership cost: described as ~$500
  • Rating: “see at best” (implied average/limited improvement)

13) Ubiquiti G4 Doorbell Pro

  • Reviewer: “I hate batteries,” likes it because it can use power options:
    • Included power/transformer combo
    • Or PoE (with separate model support)
  • This unit uses Wi‑Fi for data at 5GHz
  • Subscription-free (as stated)
  • Downside: expensive/hard to justify unless you’re already in the Ubiquiti ecosystem (access points, etc.)
  • Ubiquiti notes it’s being phased out for a newer model in Q4 2026
  • Rating described as:
    • “Asterisk tier highquality product… expensive”
    • Later: “atab boy of product design” (subtitles’ wording appears like an award/commendation)

Flagship image quality conclusion

  • Google One: lowest resolution; fence slats hard to distinguish
  • Ring: only slightly better
  • Yuthi and others: limited dynamic range
  • Final takeaway: don’t pay extra for better camera quality because it’s still “some flavor of suck”

Pros (unique recurring positives)

  • No-subscription models with local storage are valued (own your data; usable without ongoing fees).
  • Ring setup ease: best-in-class.
  • PoE reliability praised (Ubiquiti Doorbell Light).
  • Dual-camera + Wi‑Fi band support features (Wise dual cam + dual-band).
  • AI detection on at least one Arlo unit described as “pretty solid.”
  • Ubiquiti G4 Doorbell Pro highlighted as fully featured and subscription-free.

Cons (unique recurring negatives)

  • Subscriptions/paywalls significantly worsen 5-year cost.
  • Some devices:
    • Paywall recording and/or live view
    • Lack an indoor chime/wall plug
    • Require modules (Blink “brick” without sync module)
  • UI/UX complaints, notably Arlo’s worst UIUX encountered.
  • Image quality differences aren’t meaningful enough to justify premium pricing.
  • Security/privacy controversy history noted for multiple companies (especially Yuthi/Ubiquiti and Ring-related mentions).

Specific numeric scores / cost mentions

  • General theme: “some of the cheapest options end up being a lot more expensive” over 5 years.
  • Arlo 5-year cost: over $500
  • Ring 5-year ownership placeholder cost: $350
  • Arlo rating: low D
  • Blink Doorbell 2K Plus: C minus
  • Wise 5-year cost: later recap says lowest 5-year cost of ownership: $270
  • Flagships:
    • Google One: $100/year subscription, ~$700 over 5 years, and only 3 hours recording history
    • Ring Pro: ~$500 for 5 years
  • Product tier labels used:
    • A+, A, B, B tier, C++, C, C minus, D, F-tier (used rhetorically in places like “brick”/worst design example)

Overall verdict / recommendation (based on the video’s conclusions)

  • Best value in the budget category: the non-subscription model with onboard storage + included chime wins Value King for lowest 5-year cost while remaining viable.
  • Best mainstream financial choice: Wise (lowest 5-year cost around $270), though it may lack built-in SD card.
  • Premium/flagship pricing isn’t worth it for image quality—camera performance is underwhelming across brands.
  • Best “own your data / no subscription” standout: Ubiquiti G4 Doorbell Pro, but it’s expensive and ecosystem-dependent.
  • Final stance: cheapest upfront isn’t cheapest overall—prioritize subscription-free/local storage or plan for the true 5-year cost.

Awards mentioned

  • “Value king award”: least expensive viable over 5 years (for the no-subscription dual-camera/onboard-storage model).
  • “coveted atab boy of product design”: Ubiquiti G4 Doorbell Pro (subscription-free and fully featured).

Speaker-based notes (different people’s angles)

  • Primary evaluator / main narrator: drives most ratings, cost-of-ownership logic, subscription critique, and final recommendations.
  • Second speaker (interjections/quick comparisons): comments on setup and device behavior (e.g., Arlo detection comparison where one recognized as pet vs person), and reacts to image quality results.
  • Additional speakers (image-quality segment: “Google one / Ring / Yuthi / Ubiquity”): contribute brief observational reactions (e.g., Google resolution/fence details, dynamic range emphasis).
  • General group context: testers mount cameras to a wide frame and evaluate day/night events.

Original video