The smart home industry is growing and thriving. The German company Gigaset also plays a not inconsiderable role in this. The manufacturer’s portfolio has long included convenient gadgets like smart thermostats, surveillance cameras and more. Smart doorbells are a real classic in the smart home sector. So it’s not surprising that this gadget is usually the first to be installed when someone wants to dive into the world of smart household gadgets. Of course, Gigaset has the right device for this as well. In today’s Gigaset Smart Doorbell ONE X review, we want to take a closer look at the supposedly smart doorbell. It not only wants to score with features like a high-resolution FHD camera including night vision and motion detection. On top of that, storage in a cloud system based in Germany promises a high level of data protection.
Scope of delivery
First, let’s take a look at the scope of delivery. The packaging in the company colors of white and orange comes in a compact format and therefore does not raise too high expectations in us.
However, the scope of delivery does include quite a few things:
- Smart doorbell
- Tools (screwdriver, dowels, screws)
- Drilling template
- Adapter for angled mounting
- Power Kit (adapter for the existing gong)
Design and finish
- Black plastic case relies on mix of matte and glossy
- High build quality
- Klinger button pleasingly large
Since the smart doorbell is to be used in the hallway or even at the front door, the appearance of course also plays a role not to be underestimated. After all, you do not want to disfigure the entrance area with cheap-looking or even ugly technology. Gigaset succeeds in giving its Smart Doorbell ONE X a pleasingly restrained and modern design. The manufacturer relies on a 135 x 47 x 28 mm and 140 g plastic casing in a rectangular shape with rounded corners. While the sides come in an insensitive matte black, the front has a black high-gloss look.
Not only the doorbell button is located on the front. It also houses the camera, the integrated microphone and a speaker that is used for the intercom function. The power socket and a reset button are on the back. Overall, the Smart Doorbell ONE X scores with a high build quality and cool looks. A certification according to the IP55 protection standard makes it clear that the doorbell can withstand moisture in the outdoor area of your front door. However, you can expect that at the rather high price that Gigaset charges here.
Still, you shouldn’t put the doorbell through too much. Certainly, IP55 speaks for a certain weather resistance. However, continuous rain can also lead to damage in the long run. The same applies to extreme temperatures. The manufacturer’s specifications speak of -10 °C up to 45 °C as the minimum and maximum operating temperature. If you want to be on the safe side, it’s best to install the doorbell with the corresponding canopy above the front door. Then you won’t have to worry about possible damage.
FHD camera with night vision
- Camera resolves in FHD (live view) or 720p (recordings)
- IR sensor enables night vision (range: 3m)
- Angle of view: 140°
Of course, a core function of smart doorbells the integrated camera. In the Gigaset Smart Doorbell One X sits a camera that resolves in full HD. However, the full resolution of 1,080p is only available when watching live videos. If you access the stored moving images, you get a maximum of 720p. So that you do not only recognize people directly in front of the camera itself, its lens offers a horizontal viewing angle of 115°. The vertical viewing angle is 57°.
In practice, this can make it difficult to see the faces of people standing just outside the door. The best way to solve this problem is not to hang the smart doorbell too low. All in all, the field of view is 140°, which is a solid value. If you take a closer look at the camera, you will notice the IR unit. This ensures that you can use night vision at night with the help of infrared. The range is 3 meters.
Lit bell button
- Ring button with great pressure point
- White illuminated ring lets button be seen even from the dark
Between the bell button and the camera lens are two small but important helpers. On the one hand, there is the light sensor. This registers the outside brightness and adjusts the image recording accordingly. Under certain circumstances, it also activates the night mode. The microphone is also located here, which is essential for intercom use. So that the person who rang the bell can also hear your answer, the speaker is located at the bottom edge of the housing.
The doorbell button itself can also be easily found in the dark. This is ensured by the practical illuminated ring that surrounds it. This is reminiscent of the design of many other smart doorbells. Gigaset has done a good job with the button itself. With a diameter of 32 mm, it is significantly larger than those of many other manufacturers. Thus, it can hardly be missed even by people with thicker fingers. On top of that, it offers an extremely pleasant pressure point.
Setting up and commissioning
- Installation is quick and straightforward
- Gigaset elements app ensures quick commissioning
- App comes with many setting options
From the factory, a cover sits on the back of the Gigaset doorbell, which serves as a mount on the wall. This not only has two drill holes. On top of that, there is a recess here through which you can lead the power cables. The big advantage of this is that the bell ultimately sticks to the wall. Furthermore, there is a QR code on the back, which is used for the setup. The holder is secured against theft with a security screw. The matching screwdriver is included in the scope of delivery.
Gigaset itself recommends having the smart doorbell installed by a qualified electrician. Of course, working with electricity always involves a high risk. However, anyone who has already installed a light will also have no problem installing the ONE X smart doorbell. Nevertheless, we don’t want to deviate from Gigaset’s recommendation here. If you don’t feel confident with the installation, you’d better get an expert on your side. The user manual is very well described at this point. Here, the manufacturer explains which cable belongs where.
However, before you get too hasty and wire everything up, you should of course attach the mount first. This is quickly done. Holes drilled and screwed tight. Since Gigaset has left the recess for both screws with a bit of play, you can align the bell optimally afterwards. Now pull the cables through the hole provided and the wiring can begin. If everything sits where it should, you can push the bell in the holder and screw everything back.
More control with Gigaset elements app
You can tell if everything has worked by the fact that the outline of the bell button lights up white. If this is the case, you can put down your tools and pick up your smartphone instead. For further setup, you need the Gigaset elements app. Once you have downloaded the app, you can simply add the smart doorbell as a gadget. To do this, you need the QR code on the back of the doorbell.
Now, before you angrily dismantle the doorbell again to scan this one, you should put the screwdriver back down. After all, the individual code for each smart doorbell can also be found on the back of the user manual. Once inserted, you simply follow the step-by-step setup that is provided by the app. Here, for example, you can also link to your Alexa system or Google Assistant, which not only enables practical voice commands.
On top of that, your smart speaker then serves as a chime, so to speak, and sounds when someone rings your doorbell. Without the speaker, it’s your smartphone that serves as the door chime. Other settings, such as the ringtone, should not be missing either. If you want to go into detail, you can also make various picture settings. If you have never owned a smart doorbell before, you will surely be annoyed by the motion detection notifications pretty quickly.
Turning down the sensitivity or selecting a specific camera range can help. Of course, you can also turn off the camera’s notifications altogether and only be alerted to the ringing. I like the many different options very much. In general, the app scores with a great overview and high ease of use.
Connection also possible with existing doorbell
In general, you can replace your classic doorbell with a Smart Doorbell ONE X without having to run additional power cables. Instead, you simply use the existing line for the connection. The prerequisite here is that the existing AC line offers between 8 and 24 V or a maximum of 15 W. It’s best to make sure of this beforehand. For my test, by the way, I used a practical power supply unit that allowed me to easily operate the bell via a power outlet. In practice, however, you should not do this for aesthetic reasons alone.
If your old doorbell doesn’t offer enough power, Gigaset has a suitable solution ready. The manufacturer includes a so-called power kit adapter with its smart doorbell. This ensures that even after installing the ONE X, your old doorbell and chime will still work. You will notice how practical this is, at the latest, if the Internet should fail. Then the Smart Doorbell acts like a classic doorbell. While we are on the subject of Internet connection. It is a bit disappointing that the smart doorbell only transmits in the 2.4 GHz band. Support for 5.0 GHz would certainly ensure smoother operation.
Costly subscription for video recordings
The issue of data privacy plays a major role for many with smart doorbells. After all, some models permanently film the area in front of your front door. If you don’t regulate the range of the camera here, you film the public space, including people, over the entire period. Accordingly, Gigaset’s German roots also pay off. After all, the company has adapted its ONE X to local data protection standards. Among other things, this means that the camera is only turned on when you actually use the associated app or the camera detects motion.
Should you also want to retroactively check why the camera was triggered, however, you have to accept additional costs. Gigaset pays for the in-house cloud where the videos are stored. However, since the collected data remains on Gigaset’s servers, you can be sure that it is well protected. After all, the company is of course bound by the data protection regulations that apply in this country. However, you can still stick stickers on your fence or the wall of your house to inform the neighborhood and other people about the monitoring. Gigaset includes a matching set right away.
Practical test
But how does the smart doorbell perform in everyday use? Let’s start with the picture quality. This is not outstanding, but certainly sufficient for a smart doorbell. The contrasts in particular caught my eye positively. If you want to benefit from the resolution of 1,080p in live view or 720p in recorded videos, a sufficiently strong Wi-Fi connection is essential. It should be 2 to 3 MB/s. There is also not much to complain about in terms of night vision. If your hallway or entrance area in front of the house is very dark, the IR sensor does a great job.
Conversely, however, light sources can make for a blurry picture. Since outside lights are on outside my front door at night, I was able to notice the slightly blurry image. Now, this doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to turn off all light sources. However, you should be aware that the visibility is limited. However, people can still be recognized quite quickly. I liked the performance of the microphone and speaker. Thus, you get a full-fledged intercom system with the ONE X.
I can imagine that Gigaset’s smart doorbell will score points especially in interaction with other gadgets from the manufacturer. For example, it is supposed to automatically start recording a video when cameras from Gigaset have registered motion. These and other settings can be made with existing subscriptions. The Gigaset Outdoor Safety package is the starting point. With costs of just 0.99 euros per month or 9.99 euros per year, this is pleasingly inexpensive and certainly perfectly adequate for most people.
A treat for owners of a Nuki lock
The partnership between Gigaset and Nuki gives the Smart Doorbell ONE X a really cool feature. Owners of one of Nuki’s smart door locks, such as the Nuki Opener Combo (test), can remotely unlock the lock when someone rings the doorbell. However, you don’t have to switch to the Nuki app for this. Instead, a button is available in the live view of the Gigaset app. This is really practical and really suitable for everyday use.
Conclusion
Time for a conclusion on the Gigaset Smart Doorbell ONE X. In the extensive test, the smart doorbell proves to be a good upgrade for all those who want to replace their classic doorbell with something contemporary. It scores with solid camera quality during day and night. However, you should not expect miracles here. It has difficulties with external light sources, especially in the dark. The intercom function also proves to be very helpful thanks to a good microphone and speaker. Friends of high data protection standards will also enjoy the fact that the recorded videos are not sent across the pond, but are stored encrypted on German servers.
Furthermore, I find the interaction with Gigaset’s own household gadgets as well as the smart locks from Nuki exciting and helpful. However, I have to complain about the Wi-Fi standard, which is unfortunately not quite up to date with only 2.4 GHz. The original RRP of 170 Euros in 2023 would be very overpriced in view of the partly much cheaper competition. However, Gigaset has meanwhile reduced the price considerably. At a price of now 79.99 euros, I think the smart doorbell from Gigaset is well worth a look.
Gigaset Smart Doorbell ONE X Test
Workmanship and design
Hardware
Usability
Privacy
Value for money
86/100
The smart doorbell from Gigaset only offers solid technical features, but scores with ease of use and an extra portion of data protection.
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