Reolink Doorbell Battery review: Better late than never

It’s been more than a decade since the first battery-powered smart video doorbell hit the market, but while Reolink has been quietly dominating the security camera game for a few years now, its only video doorbell offerings have been wired—reliable, but not exactly easy to install. Now, in 2024, the brand has finally released its first wire-free option, the Reolink Doorbell Battery. And it turns out it’s true what they say: good things come to those who wait.

The Reolink Doorbell Battery is one of the better-looking video doorbells on the market, with its rounded edges, minimalistic aesthetic and large, easily identifiable doorbell button that closely resembles that found on the Google Nest Doorbell, which costs about $100 more. It comes in black and white, although I much prefer the black version that I tested. It’s also rated IP65 water- and dust-resistant and can operate in temperatures up to 55°C, making it well-suited to harsh Aussie weather.

Unfortunately for renters, you will need landlord permission to install this doorbell as it doesn’t offer any renter-friendly mounting options. That said, it is still very easy to install—once the doorbell is fully charged, simply drill a couple of holes using the included drilling template, screw in the mounting plate (and optional angled wedge), attach the doorbell and you’re good to go.

Setup, too, is a simple affair. Just download the Reolink app, click “Add Device” and either search for the Reolink Doorbell Battery or scan the QR code. From there, simply follow the prompts to connect it to your Wi-Fi—the doorbell supports both 5GHz and 2.4GHz wireless connections.

As the doorbell is compatible with Google Home and Alexa, you can use your Nest or Echo speaker to function as a chime (or video feed, if it has a screen) when a visitor rings the doorbell, otherwise you can use the aforementioned Reolink Chime, which simply plugs into a power outlet and pairs directly to the doorbell.

As is often the case with Reolink security cameras, the Doorbell Battery’s picture quality punches well above its weight as a more budget-friendly product. The 2K video resolution is ultra-clear, and thanks to the 1:1 aspect ratio and wide 180-degree field of view, it manages to capture my whole front door area from top to bottom—and that includes the doorstep, which many other video doorbells frustratingly cut off.

On the downside, the doorbell doesn’t offer colour night vision, but the infrared sensors go such a long way to improving low-light footage quality that the lack of colour doesn’t feel like much of a handicap.

When I’ve reviewed Reolink security cameras in the past, I haven’t had any issues with the app. Perhaps it’s because it’s the company’s first battery doorbell, but managing it through the app wasn’t as intuitive as its other products.

For example, I wanted to adjust the settings so it would trigger recording every time it detected motion, but without sending me a push notification every time it detected motion. Seems simple, right? Unfortunately, it proved quite difficult. I could turn off motion detection, but that turned off recording altogether. If I left motion detection on, I’d get incessant notifications anytime someone walked by. Although Reolink was able to help me find the right settings (for others with this issue, here’s a handy guide), it would be great to have this basic setting more easily accessible.

Additionally, I occasionally found the live feed slow to load when not connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the doorbell itself (i.e. out and about, which is when you’d most need to check the live feed). It’s not as slow as other doorbells I’ve tested but still could use some improvement.

On the plus side, playing back footage and adjusting other settings like display preferences, auto-reply and motion zones, are a breeze through the app.

I tested the Reolink Doorbell Battery for a period of about six weeks, and in that time had tradies coming and going while doing home renovations, countless deliveries and a handful of visitors. After all that, the doorbell sat at 67% battery—that’s a little under 1% per day, meaning with the same kind of heavy usage I experienced, it’d be estimated to last about three months and 10 days before needing a recharge. Although that’s not on par with Reolink’s estimates of up to five months, it is on par with other video doorbells in its price range.

Although it took quite a while to get here, the Reolink Doorbell Battery is well worth the wait. It’s affordable, easy to install, and boasts the kind of image quality, field of view and advanced features that are usually reserved for more expensive models. Although it lacks colour night vision, offers no renter-friendly mounting options and the app can be a little unintuitive at times, it’s hard to argue with that price tag, not to mention the best part of all—no monthly fees.