Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro Review

The Vivint Video Doorbell Pro (second gen) is an ideal pick for anyone wanting to deter package thieves, thanks to its package detection and Smart Sentry features. We also like the simplicity of its Vivint app. We weren’t too keen on the high price or the fact that Vivint doesn’t offer a DIY installation option, though.

• Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro
• Mounting bracket and screws
• Manual

While this Vivint camera has many of the same features as other smart doorbell cameras, like two-way talk, night vision, and motion detection, one stood out: Smart Sentry. If you’ve ever battled with porch pirates, then you’ll like this feature as much as we do. It's also the main difference between the original 2015 Vivint Doorbell Camera and the latest model.

First, the security camera detects a package on your porch and alerts you on the Vivint Smart Home app. Soon it will also let you know when a package is removed. Unlike with most video doorbell cameras, you'll know if your package is stolen in real time. 

Then, Smart Sentry goes to work. If Smart Sentry detects someone on your porch, the light on the smart doorbell turns red and flashes, and the doorbell emits a high-pitched whistle (or you can customize it to another sound) to scare any would-be thieves away.

Even better, the doorbell security camera says, “Camera recording,” loudly. If that doesn’t scare off a porch pirate, they don’t care about being caught. 

Watch our tester try to sneak past the Vivint doorbell with Smart Sentry on guard.

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Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro’s 180° field of view is impressive and covers more area than almost any other doorbell camera on the market. Even some of the best doorbell cameras have a 150° to 160° field of view. A few exceptions include the Arlo Video Doorbell and EZViz DB1, which measure in at a girthy 180°.

What does this mean to you? You can see the faces of very tall people on your porch. Also, a doorbell camera with such a large field of view not only catches activity on your porch but a large portion of your front yard, as well. In fact, you may be able to skip a video doorbell and security camera combo and just use this doorbell camera to monitor your front yard alone.

The first gen's video quality let us down a bit at a maximum of 1080p. Although this is considered high definition, we've tested other video doorbells with much higher resolution, like the Nest Hello, Arlo, or Eufy cameras. The second-gen has made improvements in contrast and color accuracy, which is nice to see.

Its improved HDR also increases the video doorbell's low-light video performance. For you, that means better detail in night footage or areas that are shadowed. 

We found that this Vivint camera’s audio quality for the two-way talk feature was just about perfect. You can understand the person on either side of the doorbell really well.

And it works with a respectable 90 dB speaker. That's loud enough to get someone's attention, for sure.

There wasn’t any lag or static in the conversation, either, though this can vary depending on your Wi-Fi strength and connection to the doorbell cam.

Installation of the Vivint Pro is super easy since all Vivint equipment must be installed by professionals. Vivint professional installation costs $49 for a whole smart home security system package, but the installation is free if you just buy the doorbell.

If you run into minor issues after installation, check out our Vivint troubleshooting guide for tips. Otherwise, Vivint can send a tech out to your home for hands-on help.

As mentioned earlier, the Vivint Doorbell Camera costs about $250, which is a lot when compared with other doorbell cameras with better video quality. Vivint does offer customers free installation for the device and 30 days to try the Vivint Pro with a 100% refund if you don’t like it, though.

The Vivint app for this doorbell cam is easy to use and intuitive. We found the various options easily, and it didn’t glitch out like many other smart home apps. The Vivint app wasn’t anything spectacular, though. Simply basic and reliable.

The best feature is the ability to delay the Smart Sentry for 15 minutes, which gives you time to snag your package. Of course, if a package thief is quick, they may be able to snag the package in those 15 minutes, as well.

Vivint products are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Z-Wave products, but don't work with the Apple HomeKit smart hub. Some users have reported trouble getting Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands or video devices to work with the Vivint Pro, though.

You can watch the Pro’s live feed for free through the Vivint Smart Home app or through the control panel, but you’ll need a storage method to record and save clips. The cloud storage plan is $5 per month, which is similar to other doorbell cameras’ storage subscription fees.

With the first-gen, if you would like a local storage solution, you had to purchase the Vivint Smart Drive. The gen 2 comes with a built-in SD card.

While the Vivint Video Doorbell Pro doesn’t have the best video quality, we love its advanced package-theft deterrents for your smart home. If you already have a Vivint security system, or really want to scare away porch pirates, we highly recommend this video doorbell if you can afford the price.

Not feeling Vivint? Check out our more affordable picks with better video quality or our security recommendations for renters.

While tackling our Vivint Doorbell Camera review, we researched several factors, including these:

• Video quality
• Audio quality
• App usability
• Smart home compatibility
• Features
• Cost
• Storage
• Monitoring

We investigated these areas with hands-on testing, conversations with Vivint, and research to determine if this is a product that our readers should invest in. Learn more about how Safewise reviews products by checking out our methodology page.

Read answers to more Vivint FAQs.

• How Much Does Vivint Cost?
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• Vivint Customer Service
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