Customer Ratings & Reviews

Swann - Buddy 4k wireless video doorbell is great product. No monthly fee, no one else looking at you video, makes it very secure. Very easy setup and with the small speaker for the chime makes it very flexible if you have a large house. I do wish it up loaded to the Swann security system as well but it's still very easy to work with my phone and extremely clear and powerful.

I replaced my old doorbell camera with this new Swaan camera and it has a good quality Cristal clear view for my main home entrance. The doorbell was easy to install, however the anti- tamper screw didn’t work for my installation, the screw is very tiny and did not hold the doorbell cam like expected, other doorbells have a better system for anti-tamper. One of the best feature of this camera is the full coverage head to toe view, this is very useful when delivery drivers leave packages on my doorsteps. The 4k ultra HD it’s Cristal clear day or night, the instructions stated that you can view color camera at night , but for the past few days testing it , it only shows the videos at night on black/ white. The camera also includes a 32GB SD to save clips without paying any fees, you can upgrade the SD card up to 128GB. The true detect works as expected with the heat, motion and person, vehicles , packages, etc, some of this features will not work unless you pay for a swaan plan, you get a free trial of the swaan plan included. The app is easy to use it has an automatically playback of your cam when you open the app and it had 4 modes : Home/ Away/ Night/ schedules. The portable battery indoor chime can also be install in a permanent location of the inside of your house, it has 6 melodies to choose from. This wireless doorbell takes up to 6 hours to fully charge when you first set it up and depends on your motion settings, the camera charge could drain the battery faster than normal. Pro: wireless / 4k camera/ full coverage view / 2 way audio Cons : anti tamper screw/ night vision/ true detect error notifications shows people motions as vehicle motions on the app.

Easy to install and setup. Liked that this one has the wired option to existing doorbell. It doesnt ring your existing doorbell, but comes with a doorbell ringer. Got this doorbell onsale and for $100 is definitely worth it.

The Swann Buddy4K is the perfect solution (from a trusted brand) if you want the convenience of a video doorbell without paying a monthly fee or depending on cloud-based storage. I have been using a Swann Enforcer DVR based camera system for 3 years and it is great, but I wanted a video doorbell to be able to speak with visitors and get a better view of my front door. ...Pros... 1. Local storage via a swappable micro-SD card (32GB included). 2. The Swann Security App is easy to use. It guides you thru pairing and setup. Answering the door, live view, and recordings are easy to access. There are also lots of settings (chime volume, speaker volume, microphone sensitivity, motion detection sensitivity and boundaries, do not disturb). 3. 2-way audio lets you hear what’s going on and answer the door without having to be there or open it. 4. The install kit includes anchors for masonry and AA batteries for the chime. The metal mounting bracket is sturdy and has a security screw to make removing the doorbell harder for a thief or vandal. 5. The included wireless chime has different tones and is much louder than my old doorbell at full volume (you can also add extra chimes if needed). 6. Recorded videos are clear and not washed out during the day. 7. Night vision works well in low light and there is not a lot of noise, but it is in black and white. 8. Stays charged via existing doorbell wiring and transformer. 9. Doorbell button is clearly marked and has an illuminated ring around it (red when triggered by motion, blue once pressed). ...Things to consider... 1. I had to play with the motion zones and sensitivity a bit to capture motion at the range I wanted (I still ended up with a few false alerts mixed in). Unfortunately, advanced motion alerts (packages, cars, etc.) are only available if you pay a fee (the cost also extends cloud backup video storage from 1 day to 60 days). 2. While the Buddy4K can charge from the existing wiring, it does not trigger the existing doorbell chime (if you have one), but the included wireless chime works really well. 3. This was not an issue for my install, but no angled wedge is included for doorbells mounted on a wall to the side of the door (verses directly next to the door). The viewing angle is pretty wide, but a wedge really helps capture more of the approach to the door or if someone is trying to stand back to avoid being seen. Swann does offer a 30-degree wedge on the accessories section of their website that should help.

The SwannBuddy 4k is a good video doorbell but it could be better. I’ve been wanting a video doorbell but I have a very narrow trim around my door. The most popular systems wouldn’t fit. This one looked like it would fit based on the dimensions so I picked it up. It’s got a narrow footprint so it did just fit. There is just a small quick start guide in box. The full manual is online. I know this is a way to save money but I really prefer something in the box that does a better job of explaining how the product works. Even a quick reference for the different functions of the status light would be useful. There are several mounting options from screws to double sided mounting tape. My application has metal trim around my door. I did not want to put holes in it so I used the mounting tape. You have to wait a day before you install the camera if you use the tape as it needs time to get to full strength adhesion. It seems like it is a strong tape. We will see how it holds up in the elements. There is a very small screw on the mount that locks the camera to the mount. This is a bit of a hassle. You need to make sure you have a small screwdriver and keep it in a convenient place. My biggest issue with installation is the doorbell needs an angled installation block. The trim on my door is slightly canted away from the door. Because of this, half my front step is not visible. An angled block that points the camera towards the center of the steps would fix this problem. Battery life is another issue. I had this running for about 5 days before I wrote this review. In that time, the doorbell lost 60% of its battery. At that rate, it needs to be charged every 2 weeks. There were quite a few notifications caused by vehicles driving by my house. I have been playing with the sensor sensitivity and active zones for the camera to lessen notifications and make it so it only detects people and packages. Out of the box, it is set at a very low sensitivity. In fact, it missed the mail person people walking thru our yard 2x before I increased the sensitivity. I think I almost have it set properly. The bell is not super loud. I cannot hear it throughout the house. Only on the first floor. Thankfully, the app sends notifications to my Apple watch so I am notified that way. There are several tones that can be selected but changing them is not intuitive. It took me a few tries. The app is pretty good. It has a very clean and fairly intuitive interface. I have the image quality set to medium. At this setting, the quality of images is good but not great. I’m sure setting it to high would improve that but also increase clip download time and make live view a little choppy. There is a heavy fisheye effect in videos and photos. Live video also takes 10-15 seconds to load. This is long enough for someone to leave before the video loads. The intercom feature hasn’t worked well for me. When talking to someone thru the camera, the sound is choppy. The doorbell is maybe 10-15 feet away from my router. The app says there is 100% signal. There is also quite a bit of latency. It takes a few seconds for my voice to be heard on the doorbell speaker. Not sure what the issue is here. When doing updates, there is no progress bar. Only a spinning graphic. Because of this you have no idea how long the update is going to take. The one firmware update I did never seemed to end. The spinning graphic just kept spinning for over ½ and hour. Eventually I opened my door and received a notification telling me the camera was working. At that point I closed the app and reopened it to see that it was updated and working properly. The device includes an SD card for local video storage and cloud access to that storage. There is a $10/month or $99/year subscription available. This allows 30 days of cloud storage, priority help, discounts and a few advanced options. If you don’t see the value in this, the doorbell still has the basic functionality you would expect. This doorbell is part of a much larger ecosystem. Swann has full security systems that can also be controlled with this app. They also have a home monitoring plan that can call the police for you in the event of an emergency. All in all, this is a good system. I think with a few updates, it could be great. Would I recommend this to a friend… Maybe. It is affordable and doesn’t require a subscription to operate. it is also very good and notifications. These are big pluses. However, dealing with the latency issues can be annoying and battery life is a concern. If they can fix these issues, this is a no brainer purchase. For now, it’s a maybe.

This is an average doorbell camera. While it gets the job done, I think there’s room for improvement. hardware: 3/5 app: 3/5 privacy: 2/5 performance: 2/5 The device itself is a doorbell with a camera, microphone, speaker, motion detector, IR lights (to help with nighttime), and some LED lights. The product comes with an indoor battery-powered chime unit and, for some reason, a large collection of stickers—I counted 25 in total. The packaging claims “True Detect(TM) Heat, motion * person sensing for reliable alerts”. I wasn’t sure what this meant, but I got excited that if it can detect heat it might be able to show me a thermal imaging type view at night. No such luck. It seems like True Detect(TM) means that it has an infrared motion sensor (the standard cheap kind). Camera: It’s a 4k camera, which is great. You can zoom in to see some details. But I was surprised that it wasn’t very wide angle. Seems about 100 degrees left to right (the packaging claims 165 degrees vertical; the image is taller than it is wide). While the camera is aimed down a bit to catch most of what is below the doorbell (like a package), the left-to-right limitation could mean with the camera to one side of the door, someone standing in front of the door might be halfway out of frame. I’m sure a good installer could mount the doorbell on an angle so this would be less of an issue, but I would rather be able to see a wider view of what is outside my door. IR lights: The camera doesn’t perform very well at night. The IR lights help a lot but only for nearby objects. There’s no chance it could pick up what’s happening in the yard or driveway next to the porch. Speaker: seems a little quiet, but you can theoretically use it to talk to someone near the doorbell from remote. Microphone: picks up noise from around the doorbell. Not super sensitive but you can definitely hear if someone on the porch is talking. LED Lights: This is a weird design choice, I think: When the doorbell detects motion, a big light around the button flashes blue a few times and then turns red. To me it seems a little off-putting, like if I saw that I would be afraid to press the button. It’s fine if they want to have an indicator that the camera is recording, but the way it lights up the doorbell button, I think, is at best distracting and at worst confusing to someone coming up to the door. I guess this is a personal preference? Installing the doorbell was pretty easy, with all the hardware you need included. I tried a few different spots before I found a place where it was the most useful. I was hoping to have it positioned so that my back porch and my driveway (just off the porch) would both be in view, but no such luck. In order to see the driveway, it had to be about 8” to the left of the door. But since the door opens to the right, the camera view wasn’t wide enough to see everything that was going on in front of the door—a lot of times I would only see a person’s shoulder as they opened the door. Even more unfortunately, I found out that the motion sensor was not sensitive enough to pick up any motion in the driveway (not even a car!), which was about 20 feet away from the camera. So I gave up trying to get a view of the driveway and instead I positioned the camera on top of the stairs going up to the second floor entrance. This view could cover more ground even with the limited angle of view, since I could see almost the whole stairway coming up to the porch. And this is where the doorbell has been for most of the past week. I fiddled with the sensitivity on the motion sensor for a couple days to try to get a balance between sensing motion farther away and minimizing the false positives. Even at 100% sensitivity, it wouldn’t reliably detect a person walking up the stairs until they were less than 10 feet away from the camera. I finally settled at between 60% and 80%, but I still get false positives a couple times a day. When motion is detected, two things happen. One, I get a notification sent to my phone, and two, the device starts recording to its SD card (comes with the product). There’s a delay with both of them. Often the motion sensor isn’t triggered fast enough to start recording until someone walking up the stairs is already halfway past the camera. The notification takes an average of 5 seconds to come through after motion is triggered, and often it takes 10 seconds—sometimes more. After I get the notification, if I click on it to open the app I get a live feed from the camera, but that takes another 5-10 seconds to load. Delivery people move fast in my neighborhood, so most of the time by the time I can see the video, whatever triggered the motion is long gone. So then if I want to go back and check the recorded clip, I have to click Playback, then Storage (see below), choose the clip, wait for it to download (apparently no streaming here), and then I can see it. Unless I’ve got someone waiting around my door wondering what’s taking so long, by the time I know what’s going on it’s long gone from my porch. So, that brings me to another strange design choice. The product comes with a limited amount of free cloud storage, which is great. But since it also comes with local storage right in the device (a 32GB Micro SD card), the cloud storage seems like it should be optional. It’s not! From what I can tell there’s no way to disable cloud storage. The device apparently uses the local storage as a temporary cache to store video until it gets around to uploading it to the cloud. The expectation is you’ll come back later and view the clips from the cloud. While I can see this reasonable if you pay for long-term cloud storage, or even one of their professional monitoring services, I would think that (especially since the hardware itself is capable) some people might not want to have their video stored in the cloud and simply manage them themselves. While using the cloud might be slightly more convenient under some circumstances, it opens the door to an additional attack vector that privacy-minded users might not appreciate. In addition to the storage and monitoring options they offer, the company also will sell you improved detection algorithms that (I think?) are processed in the cloud. I didn’t try this option, but it seems like it might reduce false positives and give you information like whether the motion is a person or a pet or a package. I’m a little disappointed that these detection options aren’t built-in, and I’m skeptical about how well they might work since the basic detection seems not to be able to sense motion more than several feet in front of the camera. Finally, the doorbell has the option of wired power or battery power. Since I mounted mine in an odd location, I opted for battery power. While it’s nice to have this option, I don’t think it makes sense for long-term use. After 5 days the battery was at 76%, which means I might expect to get at most 3 weeks out of it before I have to unscrew it from its mount and bring it inside to charge for a few hours. Of course the actual use will vary a lot depending on how much use it gets, but taking it down to charge and then re-mounting it frequently sounds like a lot of maintenance. Also, the indoor chime unit only has the option of battery power (2 AA batteries). I don’t know how long those batteries will last, but I’d love the option to plug it in since I’m never going to move it and I could easily position it near a power source. Oh, one last thing. The box was filled with stickers! Why? And as an insult to the environment, the sticker sheets were individually wrapped in plastic film, giving me a whole pile of single-use non-recyclable plastic that I need to put in a landfill. In summary, this is a fine camera that I think could be useful, but there’s room for improvement, and some of the design choices leave me perplexed.

The Swann Doorbell Camera has been in use a week or so and it has performed amazingly. It replaced the NON-4K Swann Doorbell Camera I previously purchased so I was already very familiar with the design and performance. DESIGN/BUILD The design is very basic but works well. It is solidly built and and does not feel cheap in your hands. It has a small footprint and compliments the look of any house. The camera captures 165 degrees, almost 180 which means it will capture almost head to toe screen shots. IR LED's allow for night vision and the quality of the night vision is very clear. The motion sensor does a good job of capturing humans only but the setting selector is a little odd as it is measured in percentages instead of feet. So you don't know how far away the sensor will activate, you have to play around with it. MICROPHONE/SPEAKER- the mic is very clear when talking to anyone standing outside. The speaker is also very audible but regardless of the quality of the speakers, it will all come down to your fast and stable internet connection that can broadcast images/video and sound without signal loss. CONNECTIVITY The level of connectivity and connection I have experienced is very good but I do have a mesh internet system for a wide coverage area and I have a gigabit service. The gigabit service allows for simultaneous transmission of video and audio with experiencing signal loss. BATTERY- The battery life could be a little better but it can be improved by changing the motion detector settings and the sleep setting (in-between motion detection activation settings). OVERALL I definitely enjoy this device, it provides great quality, great connection and reliable security. I recommend this device to anyone looking for stable security wrapped up in an awesome tech device.

I was looking for a replacement for my existing Doorbell Camera, so I wanted to give Swann a try. Overall, the quality of the unit is good. It came with a chime that usually with some other vendors is purchased separately. Setup was pretty easy and in the app (Android) the setup portion was quick. It paired and got on my wifi quickly. I will also say that this unit’s ability to keep and maintain a solid wifi signal is far better than anything else I have tried. It does require 2.4ghz network so you need to make sure that your router supports dual networks. Once setup , however, that is where the “ease” disappeared for me. My live view was taking forever to connect, it would just spin and spin. I have a high end Orbi mesh system and 2GB of Google fiber so in my mind, I thought I shouldn’t have any issues. I must say that I missed the Battery section on the Device settings. It clearly said: If you notice that you are frequently not able to see Live view, we recommend that you turn this off. Well, I thought surely that my newer, higher end equipment and large bandwidth wouldn’t need to turn it off. Well, I did. I turned it off and its performance improved. I will also say that even turned off, there still is a more obvious delay on my android phone in getting to “Live View”. I still experience the similar delays in playback of events. In an effort to fix the problem, I thought I may need a higher speed micro SD card so I had one that had 128GB and so I replaced the one that came with it (32GB). Unfortunately, that did not help. Out of curiosity, I then decided to install the app on my Ipad. Wow! What a difference. On the Ipad, Live View pops right up, very responsively. The playback is amazing on the Ipad, all clips are quickly shown and when selected, the download is extremely quick. This is even true remotely. I was out of town and accessing the camera via both Android phone app and Ipad was identical. Same behavior. I need to open a ticket with support regarding the Android app as there are clearly differences in performance. Now, let’s get to functionality. Overall, the Swann is lacking in comparison to other camera/doorbell products. The field of vision is smaller that my older most prominent doorbell camera. I used to be able to see across my yard and over to my neighbors but now I can only see my yard. Even when the detection zones are minimalized and sensitivity is set high (85%) to ensure you absolutely get the area you want, it still is only about 15-20 feet from the actual camera. Other competitors used to catch movement as far as the end of my driveway/road in front of my house. That is close to 100ft, a huge difference. Overall, when using the Ipad, the unit is useful and functional in it’s basic capacity. When using an Android device, performance leaves much to be desired. I am hopeful with firmware and other future updates, this will improve. From a functional use and features standpoint, I also give this 3 stars as at it’s price point, its feature set is not competitive at this time. I really do like the device and it does have basic features for someone looking for one for an apartment, townhome or smaller space. I would recommend this to someone for those specific use cases.

TL;DR: 1. SETUP: It was a little finicky, but after reading the quick start guide, it was fine. Physical installation was easy 2. USE: Once set up, it is okay 3. USABILITY: I’m still playing with the settings, but the picture quality is usually excellent 4. OVERALL: The instructions could be more concise. It doesn’t always connect immediately. The battery life is questionable. After about a week, I’m still tweaking the settings 
I have used a few different wireless video doorbell cameras. I like the idea that everything was included in the cost of the device, but that isn’t really true. You still need to buy a plan if you want it to detect people, animals and packages. That’s okay, as I have other subscriptions and I’m not adverse to another. For the camera, I wanted to be able to see out to the street, as well as in front of my door to see packages and the occasional wildlife. This camera definitely does that. It’s not a wide angle lens, but does show everything I wanted in very good detail. You can almost make out license plates, as well…which gives me peace of mind to probably see faces, if needed. The resolution is VERY good. I attached a couple pictures from the Swann Buddy versus a competitor. The Swann is very detailed, but for some reason doesn’t consistently fill in the color of my neighbor’s red car. The competitor gives much more of a wider view, but with less fine details. Swann is noticeably better. Out of all the doorbell cameras I’ve tried, none are 100% accurate. Some miss occasional recordings they definitely should have picked up. The Swann has missed a few. The competitor misses some here and there, but not in the time I tested both side by side. In the week I’ve tested them, the Swann was charged to 100%. It’s currently at 78%. So, in roughly a month, I will be charging it again. The competitor has been using the same Energizer Lithium batteries since late Winter (roughly 4 months or so) and the batteries register “Ok”, as they aren’t assigned a physical number. I’ve had the competitor for a couple years. Batteries are rated for 2 years. In real world use, they last about a year. The picture quality is among the best (if not the best I’ve tried). My main concern is with the sensor not registering or recording movement. The lack of being able to fully fine tune the settings is frustrating. [I would like to turn off the lighted LED rings (in the manual, it shows I can, but since the update, that feature is no longer available)]. The limited battery is of a concern, as well (and that’s with updating to the newest software) - the WiFi signal constantly registers at 98-100%). I like the picture resolution and angle. It gives the perfect view for what I want. After some needed software updates, this should be a great device.

The SwannBuddy4K Video Doorbell performs quite well and delivers good video quality on par with many competitors and at times better. It has a wide 165° field of view, provides a wide visual range, capturing everything from animals, packages to visitors' faces in great detail. I really like that it can operate basic features without subscription fees although Swann offers a comprehensive tiered subscription service. You get limited cloud storage from the start, and the included 32GB of local storage is a great addition for privacy and to avoid ongoing costs. Installing the doorbell is quick and easy with the provided mounting bracket that comes with an anti-tamper screw as security. It connects easily through the app and once you set up an account you can access it through more than one source. It comes with a wireless chime that connects seamlessly and has a great range. I have the app on two phones and a tablet. The app has many customizable settings but I wish the user interface would be simpler. I use Android phones and tablets and I can say that the app is okay; it’s a bit sluggish at times but I never experienced freezing. The doorbell itself is bulkier than the typical smart doorbell and is easily noticeable once installed. The battery charges quickly and the charge seems to be long lasting; a week from a full charge, and many notifications and bell ringing later, the battery is still over 75%. Sensitivity can be adjusted in the app and wake-up time after a movement detection is not much different from other smart doorbells I’ve owned previously. I’ve experienced uneven notifications; despite the included feature, it has yet to detect a package or animal. The video quality is good especially on high resolution settings. It says 4K but I haven’t noticed a great difference with other doorbells. Night vision could be better in my opinion. The still images are clear, however, captured moments of a moving person or an animal look blurry. The wide angle of the camera provides above average coverage but at close range, the images look distorted. All in all, the SwannBuddy4K Video Doorbell excels when it comes to video quality and its local storage feature without the need for a subscription service. I wish it had integration with smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Also, some app issues and inconsistent notifications prevent it from being a great smart doorbell. Depending on your priorities, this doorbell might suit your needs but it is not ideal for everybody due to its limitations.

After my last wireless doorbell kicked the bucket last month I held off on replacing until I found something new and different. When the opportunity to pick up the Swann Buddy 4K, I immediately knew I was getting an upgrade from my last one at least in camera resolution. The unit is super easy to install and set up, requiring only two screws in the bracket and a very intuitive wifi pairing process. Voice prompts let you know along the way that you’re doing the right things, which will give people who are technologically disadvantaged a great reassurance. Performance? I’d say pretty good. Where the unit really lacks for me is the entire missed opportunity to leverage the app better in walking through the post installation setup. An example would be the motion sensing going off constantly without my understanding what was going on. It wasn’t until I dug into the app that I found that i could adjust both sensitivity and the area that triggers the unit. The same could be said for the stamina video settings - i didn’t know why the camera looked grainy until I found the setting to bump it all the way up. These settings should be configured right up front and instead you’re left to find them on your own. Then there’s the issue of their subscription service. They come very strong in promoting this unit as no subscription required, yet require you to opt into a free trial that will inevitably expire without you remembering and subsequently getting charged. It was not clear on the screen if this could be bypassed altogether, and I just found it disappointing. Finally, and I know this is little … but the tiny screw that holds the doorbell to the bracket also requires a tiny screwdriver to turn. While I did have one of these from a watch band kit, the average person will not. There’s also no easy way to replace this screw should you lose it. The product overall is good but not great and it’s really about the user friendliness more than the hardware. Ultimately you should check it out and decide for yourself.

The SwannBuddy 4K Video Doorbell is easy to install and can be set up to work wirelessly or electrically. Wiring it with the existing wiring from a traditional doorbell is super easy. This setup allows the video doorbell to be installed more permanently. By wiring it, the doorbell does not have to be periodically removed to charge the internal battery, making the product more maintenance-free. This state-of-the-art doorbell has many valuable features. Among them is the 2-Way Audio, which lets the owner interact with whoever is at the door. Using the app allows interaction even if no one is home. The 4K Ultra HD Video delivers more precise details of faces, vehicles, packages, etc., and works with infrared night vision, enhancing visual acuity up to sixteen (16’) when dark. The SwannBuddy 4K Ultra HD Video Doorbell is equipped with a comprehensive set of security features. It can sense heat, motion, and people and sends warning alerts to the app, which can be set up with notifications for the homeowner's peace of mind. The doorbell provides full coverage of a person from head to toe, allowing the homeowner to see what is on the ground and the person’s face. Video clips can be saved locally on the 32 GB Micro SD included and/or sent to the cloud, ensuring no detail is missed. Increasingly, everything has an extra charge, and one of the beautiful things about the SwannBuddy 4K HD Video Doorbell is that all of the features come with the doorbell, and there is no monthly fee for any of them. I have installed this doorbell by wiring it to the existing wiring of a traditional doorbell. It comes with a portable battery-powered indoor chime that sets to any one of six melody choices. Also installed at my home is a single-source outdoor video camera manufactured by Swann. These are now listed together and work through the same app, which has plenty of room for installing other Swann products as my personal security needs evolve. The chime that comes with the doorbell is paired to the doorbell, and the doorbell is paired to my home internet. Some apps do not always work well, but this one always works well and does not seem to have glitches. Installing was very easy, and everything I needed, except my drill, was included in the box, even the two (2) AA Batteries that power the portable chime. There is also heavy-duty double-face tape in case the homeowner needs to attach this to the glass. The drill was only necessary to provide the new mounting screw holes through the metal door frame. These screws secure the mounting bracket, and the doorbell slides down and locks in place on the mounting bracket. There is a very small screw at the bottom that, when tightened, secures the doorbell so that it is not easy to lift the doorbell from the mounting bracket and remove it. This is just an extra measure to protect the doorbell from thieves. This is a very nice video doorbell. I would recommend it if you were concerned about increasing your entry door security and desire the conveniences it offers with deliveries, visitors, etc. either when you are home or away.

TLDR: This Swann - Buddy 4K UHD Wireless Video Doorbell & Chime is a 4K resolution doorbell that uses wired power or rechargeable batteries, has audio, alerts via motion and Infrared sensing when someone is at the vicinity, and has no subscription fee to use with an app. It allows the user to respond with voice to the visitor. It comes supplied with an indoor chime/speaker that works wirelessly up to 65 feet from the camera unit. Using a phone app, users can interact with video and two-way audio to whomever rings the bell or activates the motion sensor. It has night vision and works to - 5 Fahrenheit. The unit has a built-in rechargeable battery that is recharged by removing it and plugging in a USB-C phone charger adapter (Swann supplies the USB-C cable) or by hard wiring it to your existing 12-24 volt doorbell wires using the two wire screws in the back of the camera which keeps the battery recharged for powering the camera and voice circuits as well as the wireless doorbell. The video quality is very good since my front door is not facing the sun except in the late afternoon. Sincer most deliveries happen in the morning this is a good thing. The voice quality is very good. Note: I have approximately 150-200 Mbps internet service via my WiFi and the quality of both video and audio is clear. Night vision is also very good to catch anyone who may be prowling, lurking or walking by at night. Mounting the camera to the wall in place of the existing push button door bell was very easy. Swann supplies wall anchors if needed as well as screws. I did not use the double sided adhesive pads that are also supplied. There is a small set-screw on the bottom of the camera that secures it to the wall mounting plate. I appreciate the sturdy construction of the camera as well as the black and white styling. A user will need a regular size phillips screwdriver for the mounting bracket plus a smaller phillips screwdriver for the set-screw. The small white indoor chime unit is powered by 2 AA batteries (supplied) and can be either glued to a wall with a supplied double sided adhesive pad or just left on a shelf, a counter, in the kitchen, taken to the back garden, or used in any room. It chimes when the doorbell is pressed. Six (6) chime tones are available per preference. I chose to keep it mobile by not mounting it. The “Swann Security” app is on the downloads Google Play store and allows creating a free account and pairing your camera to the app. The app also allows connecting your camera to the WiFi network you will use at your home. The camera is compatible with 2.4Ghz WiFi only (common on all WiFi networks). It works well and is easy to use.

The Swann-Buddy 4k UHD Wireless Video Doorbell & Chime is a quality built product that I was excited to attain. Once unpacked I liked the looks of it and was pleased it had an easy-to-place chime speaker with it. Upon installation, the first thing that impressed me was the way that this doorbell mounts. You can use an included adhesive pad that is the shape of the metal mounting plate if you do not want to make screw holes but the screws are small and I would be afraid the adhesive would peel paint off if it had to be removed. Also. I would rather have the security of hidden screws that are probably harder to dislodge than the double-sided adhesive pad. Not sure but if you really want to go for it use both. Once mounted to the mounting plate there is a screw that holds it in place securely. I would like to have seen them use an actual security screw though instead of a regular Phillips head. However, it is much better than another well known brand I have used that was all plastic and no screw to hold it to the mounting plate. Moving on to functionality and performance This is where I believe there could be some improvements. I understand that theoretically, a doorbell needs a fish eye lens to make sure you get a nice full view of whomever may be at your front door. However, I feel like it may be a little over-exaggerated and it was hard to find a picture setting that I really like although I settled on 1:1 for now and I do like stretch kind of. The picture and video quality is pretty good definitely better than the last one I had. There is a bit of a lag picking up people walking by and when the replay first starts it is slow motion for some reason. The sound on the other hand is quite good for a doorbell it sounds pretty clear and is also sensitive. It picks up people talking in the house although you can not really understand what they are saying. I noticed it claimed to identify a pet from sound when it was actually a person not sure why it would do that. The Swann Security app for Android is pretty good and works like it is supposed for all of the most important things. It does have some pretty cool pre-written voice replies you can use to communicate to visitors whether wanted or unwanted. I would like to see the ability to do more fine-tuning though like being able to adjust the length of the auto-generated clips and create your own pre-written phrases. I just feel like if there should be more settings in the app overall it would improve the product. In conclusion, the Swann-buddy is a good choice as far as video doorbells go especially since no subscription is required. It just seems to me that the doorbells offered by different companies are never as good as their regular surveillance camera counterparts. I am not sure why since smartphones obviously have great cameras these days and not much space. So far it has been my experience every time though. If you are a person that is looking for a good video doorbell this a good choice and while you can integrate a doorbell into the app with other cameras from Swann I was not able to add the doorbell on to the Swann camera hub I have that is viewed on a large computer screen or TV. Still you will be able to see and hear people at your door clearly and that is the most important thing.

This is really exactly what you're looking for in a video doorbell. This thin works anywhere that has a good Wifi connection. And installation absolutely could not be any simpler. You don't even need an existing doorbell, but if you happen to have one, there's an easy option to connect it without too much fuss. I feel like the box comes with more than it needed to, but that's because I didn't need any of the accessories for a doorbell replacement or enhancement. Either way, it comes with wiring for the older unit on your wall, a ton devouring stickers, charging cable for thw wireless version(Type C, of course.), double sided tape in case you don't want to drill holes in your door or frame, and a bracket to hold the doorbell while it's fully charged and working. Also making it easy to detach and recharge. The double sided tape makes it possible to even mount this thing on your window or sliding door. Then there's the chime box. That thing can be placed anywhere in your home so you can hear when you've got visitors. I don't hink I even talked about the app that works with my swann security system as well. I can see what's going on from my phone, tablet or TV DVR. This is a no brainer here. This an easy purchase to make. There is an optionl subscrition, for more in dept surveillance, but it's not necessary, as you will be able to record and look back at footage for a couple days. It also comes with a 32 gb micro SD card pre-installed ( Though, I put a 256 cerd inside mine instead.) Get this thing.

I absolutely love it when a company offers a complete product with all the essentials included, and the SwannBuddy 4K doorbell delivers just that. This security doorbell comes with a battery-operated chime, a 32GB SD card, a charging cable, and even stickers to let potential intruders know that the premises are protected. The installation process was a breeze, requiring just a simple wall drill and hookup. While the only concern I have is the potential for theft due to the device being held in place by a tiny screw, the ease of setup made a lasting impression. Although I initially encountered difficulty connecting the doorbell to my Wi-Fi network, the app proved easy to use once the connection was finally established. Customizing settings and managing notifications became intuitive, with minimal false alerts once I addressed an issue with a nearby tree branch triggering unnecessary notifications. The doorbell’s sensitivity to movement serves as a valuable security feature, while the two-way calling functionality allows for effortless communication with guests, whether I'm at home or not. The voice prompts and emergency siren are compelling additions, offering peace of mind in unwanted situations. Additionally, the SwannBuddy 4K provides affordable security plans, ranging from $3.99 to $19.99. Despite the option for additional plans, I find the included features to be sufficient for my needs, making the doorbell a cost-effective and comprehensive choice. 10/10!!

Great and simple to use wireless door bell. Only two main pieces for this doorbell to work and the instructions made the setup and implemenation simple and easy! Door bell instructions were not difficult to follow and step by step went through it all. All you need is wireless Internet and download the app to get it working with your phone, app is easy to use and looks great once you have the door bell installed. You can watch through the doorbell live and get notifications when there is movement or when somebody rings the door bell. Pretty easy to use and looks nice once installed near your door. You can customize the door bell chime and other cool features with this door bell. All in all it is a great device and does what it says it can do. Perfect for keeping an eye on the outside of your house as an extra layer of security for the front of your house. View is wide enough to cover around 50 yards of space to see if anybody is messing with your packages or in your front yard. Great doorbell and highly recommended!

The SwannBuddy 4K Video Doorbell is a robust and versatile security solution for any home, and I recently installed it on door at the rear deck of my house. This doorbell camera has proven to be a game-changer, offering a suite of impressive features that enhance security and convenience. First and foremost, the video quality is exceptional. With a 4K resolution, the SwannBuddy captures incredibly sharp and detailed footage. The ultra-wide 165° viewing angle and 1:1 aspect ratio ensure that I can see everything from head-to-toe, including our cat or dog that utilize this door to come in and out of the house. The AI identifies a pet flawlessly and this comprehensive view helps me monitor all activity around my back door, catching details other cameras might miss. One of the standout features is the two-way audio. The built-in microphone and speaker allow me to communicate directly with visitors. If installed on a front door it could be asking the delivery person to leave a package in a safe spot or deterring potential intruders, this feature adds an extra layer of security and convenience. The flexibility in power options is another major advantage. The SwannBuddy can operate completely wire-free using the rechargeable 6500mAh lithium battery, or it can be connected to existing doorbell wiring. I am using the battery and so far it appears that it will last a long time and this flexibility makes it suitable for various installation scenarios including mine. Its IP56 rating means it's built to withstand the elements, ensuring reliable performance even in harsh weather conditions. Night vision capability is crucial for round-the-clock surveillance, and the SwannBuddy excels in this area. It can see up to 16ft (5m) in the dark with powerful infrared night vision. This automatic night vision activation provides peace of mind, knowing that my home is monitored day and night. Storage options are generous and convenient. The doorbell comes with a 32GB micro SD card for local storage and also offers cloud storage options. This dual storage capability ensures that footage is safely recorded and easily accessible when needed. The installation process was straightforward, thanks to the included mounting hardware and comprehensive operating instructions. The package also includes a chime speaker unit with six different chime options, powered by two AA batteries, adding a traditional doorbell sound inside the house. In terms of dimensions, the doorbell itself is compact and unobtrusive, measuring 2.1" x 1.25" x 5.5" and weighing just 7.5oz. The chime speaker unit is even smaller, making it easy to place discreetly indoors. Mine is right next to the front door chime. Additionally, the SwannBuddy supports the Swann Security App for iOS and Android, providing remote access to live footage, recorded clips, and the ability to receive instant alerts. The app's user-friendly interface makes it easy to manage and review security footage from anywhere. One minor drawback is the proprietary charging cable (USB to Micro USB), which can be inconvenient if you prefer universal USB-C cables. However, this is a small inconvenience compared to the overall functionality and performance of the device. In summary, the SwannBuddy 4K Video Doorbell is an excellent investment for home security. Its high-resolution video, wide viewing angle, two-way audio, flexible power options, night vision, and dual storage options make it a top choice for anyone looking to enhance their home's security. Installing it on my back deck door has significantly improved my ability to monitor and secure my property.

I was looking for an easy set up doorbell camera with NO subscription but with the option of storing footage and being able to go back and watch footage, I may have missed. Swann Buddy 4k wireless doorbell does it all... Pros: Easy to install Easy app setup Wireless NO SUBSCRIPTION FEES! Memory card storage (comes with 32gb but can use up to 128gb card) Good quality image Allows you to choose detection area so you don't get notified for every little thing. Includes playback option Can communicate 2 ways via doorbell/app Variety of chimes for doorbell CONS: Battery does not last as long as advertised. Since this is the only CON, I am willing to recharge every few weeks vs. every few months. I believe it may be able to be connected with wire to avoid this CON but I cannot do that in my current place. It charges in a few hours. First full charge was about 6 hours, following full charges were around 3-4.

I should have done more research before buying this product. If I could give zero stars, I would. There are so many problems with this one. 1. Huge connectivity issue - mine goes online and offline several times a day, even though the internet/wifi connection is really strong throughout my house. 2. Slow and delayed live viewing. When I tried to see "live view," sometimes there was buffering. It tries to connect, but sometimes it fails to connect. 3. Motion detection problems - there are so many false motion alerts, or does it record after something happens? 4. Video quality during the nighttime is not great. 5. Short battery life. I mean, mine lasted only a few days before I had to recharge it. 6. The app crashes a few times or gets "stuck." 7. When you press the doorbell button, I sometimes do not get "chime" on the chime speaker unit. 8. I had to factory reset the device about seven or eight times. (I have been using this unit for about a month) I do not recommend this unit to anybody.