If you're looking to boost your home security without going full Fort Knox, a video doorbell is one of the easiest – and smartest – ways to do it. Not only can you check in on the front of your house at anytime, but it’s super handy for things like giving delivery drivers instructions or keeping tabs on any suspicious activity.
So, when I got the chance to try out the Reolink Video Doorbell, I jumped at it. Reolink is better known for its range of the best security cameras, and whilst it's only released a couple of doorbell models so far, this is one of the best.
Keep reading for my full thoughts, and whether this battery-powered doorbell deserves a spot next to your front door.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: price and availability
The Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) is priced at £119.99/$119.99, which is pretty reasonable for what it offers. It can be purchased on Reolink's online store or other selected retailers, including Argos and Very.
There’s also a wired version available that’s slightly cheaper, but I found the battery model much easier to install and live with. Unless you really want the wired option, I’d go battery every time.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: unboxing and set up
I found set up to be super straightforward, which is one of the reasons battery-powered doorbells are such a win. I simply charged it up, mounted the included bracket using the template and screws provided, and snapped the doorbell into place using the little locking pin tool. That same pin is also how you remove it when you need to charge it.
I also opted for the Reolink Chime, which plugs into a nearby socket and syncs wirelessly. However, if you’ve got a Reolink Home Hub, Echo Show, Google Home or even an existing compatible mechanical chime, you’ve got plenty of options.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: design and features
The Reolink Video Doorbell has a long, sleek design – measuring about 16 x 5 x 3 cm – and comes in matte black or white. It’s smart-looking without being too attention-grabbing, and the IP65 rating means it can operate in all weather conditions.
On the front you’ll find the 2K camera, microphone, light sensors and a large doorbell button – all subtly integrated. Around the back is a rubber flap covering the USB-C charging port and microSD slot, plus an on/off switch and optional wiring terminals.
It comes equipped with a 7,000 mAh non-removable rechargeable battery, which Reolink estimates can provide up to five months of typical usage on a full charge. I did not find this to be the case at all, but we'll get onto that shortly. As mentioned, there's also the option to hardwire the doorbell, which is a great touch if you find that the battery setup doesn’t quite suit your needs.
Charging via USB‑C takes around six to eight hours, depending on your power source. However, even though it uses USB-C, you’ll need to exclusively use the cable provided. Other cables won’t work properly, as it relies on a specific 5V1A or 5V2A adapter. It’s a slightly frustrating quirk, but manageable once you know.
It records in 2K Ultra HD (4MP) at up to 15fps, and the video is bright, clear and sharp. It also has a 1:1 aspect ratio and a 180° diagonal field of view, which means you get a full head-to-toe view of visitors and even packages left on the ground.
Night vision uses infrared rather than colour, which is a bit of a shame, as the quality does drop a little in the dark. Still, everything was legible, and it's perfectly usable.
It also featured built-in AI detection that can tell the difference between people, vehicles and packages, and it sends very accurate notifications once detected. You can even set up pre-recorded quick-reply messages when someone rings the bell, which is handy if you're not home.
The Reolink Video Doorbell connects to dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), so you’ve got flexibility depending on your router setup.
It also supports microSD cards up to 256GB, or you can hook it up to the Reolink Home Hub for up to 1TB of local storage. It's also subscription-free, but I opted into the cloud storage plan for ease which costs £3.50 per month, and cheaper if you pay annually.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: app
The Reolink app is generally clean and intuitive, making it easy to access the live view, playback recordings, and tweak settings as needed. That said, you’ll need to manually connect the doorbell to the app and your cloud account once it’s charged, as it doesn’t always connect automatically.
You can also fine-tune motion sensitivity, set size-based filters, and create exclusion zones to avoid unnecessary alerts from things like trees or passing traffic. Video clips are saved when motion is detected (unless you're using a Reolink NVR or Home Hub for continuous recording), and you can filter playback by event type or date.
When someone rings the bell, your phone acts just like it's receiving a call – you’ll get the option to answer or decline, and live video/audio kicks in quickly with very little lag. I did notice a slight delay when trying to watch back recorded clips, and the app tended to perform better on mobile data than on my home Wi-Fi. Still, the overall app experience was very positive and reliable.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: performance
My experience testing the Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) has been overwhelmingly positive, and it's genuinely made a noticeable improvement to my home security setup. Not only is the device sleek and well-built, but it also comes packed with some really impressive features, especially for the price point.
Even though I’ve been using the battery version, it’s great to have the option to hardwire it later if you want to. That flexibility makes it a brilliant choice if you’re unsure which route to go down.
The video resolution and wide-angle coverage also thoroughly impressed me. Whilst some newer doorbells are pushing 4K now, I found Reolink’s 2K video to be plenty clear and bright. It’s a bit of a shame there’s no colour night vision, as things do lose a bit of quality in low light, but hopefully that’s something Reolink can improve on in future models.
I also found the app incredibly user-friendly. Watching back clips via the cloud storage section was simple and smooth, and all the notifications were surprisingly accurate. The AI detection did a great job of recognising different types of motion and and rarely got it wrong, and the lag was never more than a few seconds.
The battery, however, is where my disappointment lies. Yes, it takes around six to eight hours to charge fully, which is fine – but Reolink’s claim that it provides up to five months of “typical usage” just didn’t hold up in real life. I have the sensitivity turned up quite high since I don’t live in a built-up area, and I got around 10-14 days per charge. Even after turning the sensitivity way down, it only managed three to four weeks at most. I don’t personally mind charging it every few weeks, but if you’re specifically looking for a doorbell that lasts several months on a single charge, this isn’t the one for you.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: verdict
The Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) is a sleek, feature-packed device that offers excellent 2K video quality, smart AI detection, and a user-friendly app experience – all without locking you into a subscription. The lack of colour night vision and the overestimated battery life are its main downsides, but if you can live with recharging every few weeks, it’s a great value pick that significantly boosts home security.
Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) review: alternatives to consider
If you like the look of the Reolink Video Doorbell (Battery) but want something with better battery life, I’d recommend checking out the Google Nest Doorbell (Battery). It’s slightly more expensive, but offers many of the same features with a bit more polish.
If you're more interested in a subscription-free setup, take a look at the eufy E340 Video Doorbell. It’s one of the best models out there that doesn’t charge extra fees for cloud access or advanced features – which is why it earned a full five stars in its own review.
