To celebrate the company’s 15th anniversary, Reolink sent us a package with its latest smart video doorbell. The Reolink Doorbell Battery is the manufacturer’s first doorbell to be battery-powered. It not only promises excellent video quality and a wide viewing angle. On top of this, the smart video doorbell aims to score points with its lack of follow-up costs thanks to local storage options. We took a closer look at these promises in the Reolink Battery Doorbell test.
- Looking for a smart doorbell? Take a look at our list of the best video doorbells.
Technical data
| Model | Reolink Doorbell Battery |
| Resolution | 2048 x 2048 pixels |
| Viewing angle | 180 degrees |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (dual-band) |
| Power supply | Rechargeable battery (permanently installed) or connection to power socket |
| Battery size | 7000 mAh |
| Dimensions | 160 x 48 x 29.5mm |
| IP standard | IP65 |
| Video storage | local (microSD up to 256 GB) or cloud |
| Night vision | Yes, infrared |
| Voice assistants | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Price | € 164.99 * |
Scope of delivery
Design and workmanship
With dimensions of 160 x 48 x 28 mm, the Reolink Doorbell Battery is not a small video doorbell. This is particularly noticeable in direct comparison with the Reolink Video Doorbell (review, € 139.90 *). At 48 mm and 23 mm respectively, it is similar in width and depth to the latest Reolink Doorbell, but with a height of 133 mm it is significantly lower. The increased size is probably primarily due to the built-in battery.
However, the built-in battery is not only noticeable in the overall height. The Doorbell Battery is also significantly heavier than the Reolink doorbell without battery. On the other hand, Reolink remains true to its design. The latest model also features attractive rounded corners at the top and bottom. The layout also corresponds to that of its predecessor. The camera unit is located in the upper half and the illuminated bell button in the lower half.
In the center is a company logo that is not too conspicuous. On the back there is an on/off button and the two connections for optional cabling via a fixed connection on the power cable. The USB-C port for charging the battery and the microSD slot for inserting a memory card are also located under a practical rubberized plastic cover. The build quality of the smart video doorbell, which is primarily made of plastic, is of a high standard.
It doesn’t crack or creak anywhere and is IP65-certified for protection against damage from water or dirt. For our test, Reolink provided us with a special anniversary edition in white. However, apart from the “15” on the bell button, this should correspond to the classic white version. I really like the contrast between the matt white housing and the glossy black camera unit. Alternatively, the Doorbell Battery is also available in black.
Installation
Installing the video doorbell is quick and easy, even for non-professionals. First of all, you need to decide how the doorbell is to be supplied with power. If you rely on a continuous power supply and are worried about a flat battery, opt for hardwiring. If you don’t have a suitable power connection at the front door or want to install the doorbell in a different location, the built-in battery provides flexibility.
Once you have found the right place, you can use the practical drilling template from Reolink, which the manufacturer includes with the smart video doorbell. Now drill two holes according to the template and use the plugs and screws provided to attach the doorbell mount. A mounting height of around 1.2 m is ideal. If you want to change the viewing angle of the camera, you can use the practical washer that Reolink includes in the scope of delivery.
I find it a bit of a shame that the angle plate does not replace the standard plate. So if you want to use the washer, you also have to attach the standard bracket, which makes the video doorbell significantly deeper. Once the wall bracket is fixed, you should not attach the doorbell straight away. You should first fully charge the battery
.
At least if you want to use it in battery mode. Then insert a suitable microSD into the corresponding slot. Up to 256 GB are possible here. Once this is done, you can insert the doorbell. As soon as it is in the holder, the anti-theft protection is automatically activated to make it difficult for thieves. However, it can be unlocked again using the metal pin provided.
Reolink app
Before you finally hang the video doorbell on your wall, you first need to take out your smartphone and download the appropriate app from Reolink. This will guide you step by step through the setup process. After a few minutes, the camera is ready for use and you can finally place it in the wall mount. The app itself already impressed us with the Video Doorbell. This is not only due to its clear design. I also really like the numerous setting options.
Not only seemingly trivial things like the ringtone can be set here. There are a total of ten options to choose from. You can also specify when the chime should go off. The default setting is when the bell button is pressed. Alternatively, you can also request a chime when movement is detected. Here you can select different chime tones to know what the chime is currently referring to.
You can also use two-way audio via the app. This is made possible by the integrated microphones and speakers in the Video Doorbell Battery. At the other end, you use your smartphone to speak to the person ringing the doorbell. The smartphone responds to the ringing with a kind of call – very practical! Of course, this is particularly helpful if you are not at home and the parcel carrier is at the door. You can then simply tell them where the parcel can be left.
The sound quality of the intercom function is not outstanding, but it serves its purpose perfectly. If you don’t feel like talking into your cell phone or can’t at the moment, you can simply use the preset answers. The app offers suitable answers for people who have rung the wrong doorbell or parcel carriers waiting outside with a parcel.
Alternatively, you can also record and play back answers yourself in advance. This is anything but a matter of course and is not supported by the industry leader Ring, for example. The pre-recorded answers can have a maximum length of 10 seconds. However, I noticed that the pre-recorded voice messages suffered from quite poor audio quality. But you could still understand them.
Chime for the socket
A chime has always been an essential part of every doorbell. When a visitor presses the bell button on the Reolink Doorbell Battery, your smartphone rings by default. Since there are still people in 2024 who don’t carry their phone with them 24/7, Reolink includes a practical chime in the scope of delivery. You simply plug it into a socket and then pair it with the doorbell.
For residents with several floors, several chimes can of course also be placed in the house. So you are guaranteed not to miss any visitors. The ringtone of the doorbell and chime can be customized in the app. Reolink provides various options to choose from, so everyone is sure to find what they are looking for.
The connection between Chime and Doorbell Battery was excellent. I only noticed a minimal delay during the test. However, if you want to replace your existing doorbell with the Reolink, you can continue to use the old chime. To do this, you need to connect the Reolink to the old chime and an appropriate power connection.
Video quality
In the Reolink app, you can choose between two different video modes (1024p or 2048p). If you have a sufficiently strong internet connection, you should opt for the higher resolution. After all, the lower resolution has no other advantages apart from a reduced data throughput. Both recordings run at 15 frames per second.
You may be able to see the differences between the two resolutions in the two comparison images. To be honest, I could hardly see any differences on my smartphone display. However, if you want to archive the recordings of the video doorbell and value a high resolution, you should opt for the higher resolution.
In the test, the video doorbell impressed me with its really good image quality. The recordings are not only sharp, but also offer high color fidelity. At least when the surroundings are nice and bright. In dubious scenarios in which the IR sensor is not yet active, such as sunset or sunrise, the results were no longer as good, but still sufficient.
At night, however, the Reolink provides excellent IR night vision. However, there is no colored night vision. An LED unit like the TP-Link Tapo D230S1 (review, € 82.00 *) would perhaps have been a good idea here. However, the biggest improvement over the Reolink Video Doorbell is the great viewing angle. If you mount the video doorbell at the recommended height of 1.2 m, you can see both the head and feet of people of normal height.
Motion detection
Of course, Reolink also offers motion detection. This works very cleverly in the video doorbell and can distinguish between different sources of movement. Detailed adjustments can be made in the app. For example, you can specify which size objects should trigger the detection. You can also specify which movements should trigger a notification. The Reolink not only detects the movement of people and animals.
Vehicles and parcels are also detected. To ensure the privacy of your neighbors and protect you from annoying mass push notifications, you can not only set the sensitivity of motion detection in the app. You can also define blind spots in the garden and completely exclude certain types of movement from the notification list.
Local video memory
Unfortunately, many smart video doorbells are associated with follow-up costs. At least if you want essential features such as video memory and motion notifications. The best example is Ring products such as the Ring Battery Doorbell (review, € 58.99 *). Reolink has always taken a different approach. Like the Argus 4 Pro (review, € 229.99 *) or Argus Track (review, € 179.99 *) surveillance cameras, the Video Doorbell Battery also offers local storage.
This means that the smart doorbell can easily avoid expensive subscription fees for a cloud by using a microSD of up to 256 GB. Thanks to local recording, you can save as much footage as you like in the highest possible resolution, with no restrictions on recording duration or age other than the size of the microSD card you purchase. New footage simply overwrites the oldest.
If the storage is not enough for you, you can easily expand it to up to 1 TB. However, you will need a home hub system from Reolink for this (Price not available *). This is particularly suitable for people who have several of the manufacturer’s devices in operation. With its HomeBase S380 (review, € 149.00 *), which can store up to 16 TB, Eufy offers significantly more total storage for its smart devices such as the eufyCam S3 Pro (review, € 149.00 *), € 649.00 (€ 324.50 / stück)*) or Video Doorbell E340 (review, € 140.99 (€ 140,990.00 / kg)*).
Nevertheless, 1 TB should be enough for most users. If you need a cloud for whatever reason, Reolink also has a suitable model for this. However, the company naturally charges a corresponding fee for the use of its servers. However, as the smart video doorbell offers the best conditions for inexpensive local storage, using the cloud would simply be pointless.
Smart home and battery
Finally, we would like to take another look at ease of use. We will first look at the support of voice assistants. The Reolink supports the use of Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. This means it can also be operated via the most common voice assistants. Support for other services such as Apple HomeKit or Samsung SmartThings would certainly have been nice here too. But that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
The battery is a different story. As with the Argus 4 Pro, I have to complain about this. On the one hand, the battery life is not too good. A battery life of just under 2 months is simply not appropriate in this price range. For comparison: The TP-Link Tapo D235 (review, € 129.90 *) lasts up to 210 days. I also have to criticize the fact that the battery is permanently installed.
This means that you have to do without using the bell for the charging time. Only when it is fully recharged can it be attached to the place of use again. In this regard, I also find the placement of the USB-C port incomprehensible. You have to take the bell out of the holder to charge it. If the port were accessible without having to remove the Reolink, it could also be ready for use while charging.
Conclusion
The Reolink Video Doorbell Battery impresses in the test with good video quality, easy installation and a wide range of functions, including motion detection and two-way audio. A particularly positive feature is the option of local storage, which means there are no follow-up costs. The doorbell delivers solid images even in low light and offers reliable night vision. The included Reolink app is user-friendly and offers many customization options, from ringtone to smart answering options.
Weaknesses can be seen in the battery life of only around two months and the permanently installed battery, which has to be removed for charging. An LED would also have been desirable to enable colored night vision. Overall, the Reolink Doorbell Battery is a flexible and high-quality choice for users who want to avoid follow-up costs but can accept compromises in terms of battery life. As an alternative, we recommend the much cheaper TP-Link Tapo D230S1. Apart from the lack of support for the 5 GHz radio signal, it is not only on a par with the Reolink, but in some respects even superior.
Reolink Doorbell Battery
Design and processing
Hardware
User comfort
Video quality
Price-performance ratio
89/100
The Reolink Doorbell Battery scored particularly well in the test with good image quality, local memory and dual band. However, the market has better battery doorbells to offer.
