SkyBell HD – Smart Doorbell
Update April 17, 2020: We retired our Skybell after using three generations of the product. While the Skybell HD is still available through some third-party sellers on Amazon, it appears the best way to get one today is through Alarm.com or Honeywell.
Our SkyBell smart doorbell was one of the very first devices we reviewed on our site back in 2014. We are now on our third generation device and it’s time for an update on our experience. We will focus on improvements over the SkyBell 2.0
Packaging
SkyBell has continued to improve their packaging and this is the nicest version yet, including the integration with Nest prominently on the box.
Installation
The model is well built and the installation is simple, especially for us since we are replacing the previous SkyBell. The mounting kit has definitely improved and our installed SkyBell looks like it has been there forever.
Performance
When we upgraded to the 2.0 version, we didn’t see much of a difference in the performance of the SkyBell – frankly it still seemed to take a long time from someone pushing the bell or setting off the motion sensor until it notified us on our phones. But the SkyBell HD is much, much faster. It is still pretty hard to catch the UPS guy real time, but it is far more possible. The SkyBell even captures some video footage a few seconds before motion is detected, so you can get a really accurate video image of the person who came to your door.
Video Quality
By far the most improved feature with the SkyBell HD is the quality. The SkyBell camera now records in full 1080P high definition, and we can really see the difference. If there is a package left, we can almost read the label from the camera – or at the very least we have a really good idea what it is. The comparison is pretty clear from these two photos.
Other Improvements
Skybell also now integrates with other services and devices for the home like Nest, IFTTT, Amazon Echo, iControl Networks, Honeywell, Alarm.com, Moni Smart Security, Kwikset, Stringify and SmartThings. We haven’t really tested any of these integrations since we are pretty used to using the application now as is – but we look forward to experimenting in the future.
Conclusion
SkyBell HD is a solid offering and now feels like a smart home device that is ready for anyone to use and install. We continue to be pleased with the improvements and upgrades to the app and the device and we are also happy that our videos are stored in the cloud and we can access them without paying an additional fee. One thing we are hoping to see soon is the ability to snap and send a photo when someone rings the bell or trips the motion sensor – then we would be able to see who came to our door when we miss the notification.