Skip to main content

Wemo expands its home security lineup with a smart video doorbell

Wemo is known for easy-to-use smart home products, but its lineup has always been on the smaller side compared to the competition. The Wemo Smart Plug has earned a spot on our list of best smart plugs, but the company never focused heavily on home security — until now. Today at CES 2022, Wemo announced the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell.

This video doorbell has a 178-degree field of view combined with a 4-megapixel camera. Throw in the enhanced night vision and zoom functionality, and you can keep an eye on what’s happening not just at your door, but in your yard, too. The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell works exclusively with HomeKit Secure Video, which also means it’s easy to set up and manage through the Home App.

The Wemo Video Doorbell works with HomeKit Secure Video.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Wemo Smart Video Doorbell is pretty bulky in appearance, flaring out at the top and featuring a large doorbell button at the bottom. It’s streamlined for easy use; no guest will wonder exactly what button needs to be pressed to ring the doorbell.

One of the major benefits of using HomeKit Secure Video is that all footage is analyzed on the user’s device. This means much more security for any footage, and that on-device intelligence is used to distinguish between people, pets, and cars, rather than sending it to the cloud. The video is also end-to-end encrypted .

In addition to the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell, Wemo is upgrading all of its most popular products — including the Wemo Smart Plug, Wemo Smart Light Switch, and Wemo Smart Dimmer — to support Matter over Thread. Wemo is working with the Connectivity Standards Alliance and the Thread Group to streamline the setup and operation of these products.

Wemo is just the latest of many companies to join in the Matter and Thread movements. This connectivity removes the need for complicated setup processes and means that devices that can’t normally work together will soon be able to go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Patrick Hearn
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
Should you buy a wired or wireless video doorbell?
A Eufy video doorbell installed near a door.

Video doorbells come in a variety of styles, but they typically fall into one of two categories -- wired or wireless. You'll find both categories available from big names like Ring, Arlo, and Google, making it easy to snag a great product regardless of which style you prefer.

But should you buy a wired or wireless video doorbell? It's not easy making that decision, as both installation types come with various advantages and disadvantages. Here's a comprehensive look at both types of video doorbells to help you decide.
How does a wired video doorbell work?

Read more
Check out these Ring video doorbell alternatives that don’t require a subscription
A Eufy video doorbell installed near a door.

Ring is one of many companies that lock video doorbell features behind a monthly paywall. Unless you're forking out cash every month, you won't have full access to everything your device can offer. The brand also recently instituted a price hike -- and some shoppers are so frustrated that they've started looking elsewhere for their security needs.

If that's you, or if you'd like to find an easy way to cut down your spending this year, here's a look at four Ring alternatives that don't require a subscription. Some of these may offer optional subscriptions, but even if you don't pay, you'll have access to a wide range of features that aren't free on Ring.
Eufy

Read more
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs. Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Is the new Pro model worth it?
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus installed outside a front door.

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is the newest member of the Ring family, offering high-end specs without the hassle of wires. However, it's not the only premium battery doorbell up for grabs, as Ring already offers the Battery Doorbell Plus, which is slightly more affordable than the new Pro model, yet comes with many of the same features.

While there are a lot of similarities between the two, there are a few key differences to be aware of before making a purchase. Here's a look at the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro and Ring Battery Doorbell Plus to help you decide which one is best for your home.
Design

Read more