Amazon’s Blink brand has rolled out its latest Blink Video Doorbell, and if you’re curious whether this little device is worth adding to your front porch, you’re not alone. Priced at $69.99, the updated doorbell lands right in the budget-friendly zone, but it comes with a handful of improvements that could make it appealing to both new users and longtime Blink fans. Let’s walk through what’s new, how it works, and what you’ll want to think about before making it part of your smart home setup.
One of the headline upgrades here is the camera. The new Blink Video Doorbell now captures 1440×1440 pixel video, offering a square 1:1 aspect ratio with a 150-degree field of view. What does that mean in real-life terms? Basically, you get a full head-to-toe view of whoever is at your door, plus a clear look at any packages sitting on your doorstep.
If you’ve used a first-generation Blink doorbell before, this wider view is a noticeable step up from the older model’s more limited horizontal field of vision. And for those wondering about nighttime performance, the camera now comes with enhanced HD infrared night vision. That should make it easier to spot late-night visitors or keep tabs on motion outside your home after dark, though the final video quality will still depend on where and how you install it.
A lot of smart doorbells claim to have good battery life, but Blink is promising something pretty striking here: up to two years of battery life on just three AA lithium batteries. That’s a bump up from the two batteries used in the previous model, and the long lifespan is made possible largely thanks to Blink’s new Sync Module Core.
This little hub connects the doorbell to your home Wi-Fi, acting as a middleman that helps conserve battery by reducing the doorbell’s direct communication load. It’s designed to handle up to 10 Blink devices, so if you already have Blink cameras or want to expand your system, it can all work together.
There’s a small catch, though: the Sync Module Core doesn’t offer local storage. If you want to store your video clips without relying on the cloud, you’ll need to swap it out for either the Sync Module 2 (which supports USB storage) or the Sync Module XR (which adds a microSD slot).
The new Blink Video Doorbell offers live video and motion alerts straight out of the box, but if you want access to its more advanced features, like person detection that tells the difference between a person, an animal, or a random moving object, you’ll need to subscribe to a Blink plan.
Here’s a quick rundown:
Without a subscription, you still get access to live viewing and basic alerts, but you’ll miss out on stored video history and some of the smarter notification features.
Blink has designed this doorbell to be a straightforward install. Everything you need comes in the box, and because it’s wireless, setup mostly involves popping in the batteries, mounting the unit, and connecting it through the Blink app.
If you want, you can hardwire it into an existing doorbell transformer (provided it’s within the supported voltage range), but keep in mind that the doorbell still relies on battery power even when wired.
The doorbell is also Alexa-compatible, so if you have an Echo device, you can link them together for voice alerts and real-time updates. As for durability, the unit comes with an IP65 weather rating, which means it’s built to handle dust and rain, just maybe not a high-pressure power wash.
While the new Blink Video Doorbell packs in some useful upgrades, it’s important to think about what you’re getting and what you’re not. For example, it doesn’t offer pet or package detection — its smart notifications are focused on recognizing people. Also, the two-year battery life is impressive, but only if you’re using it with the included Sync Module Core or a compatible hub.
The $69.99 price point makes it one of the most affordable video doorbells on the market, especially when you compare it to big names like Ring, but keep in mind that subscriptions and add-ons can add to the total cost if you want the full feature set.
You can buy the Blink Video Doorbell starting today on Amazon.
