If you’re in the market for a video doorbell to protect your front door, the huge variety of options might be a bit overwhelming. But as long as you’re not an Apple HomeKit user, theEufy Security Video Doorbell Camera E340is a near-perfect choice with dual cameras and great video quality. It also provides installation flexibility, and you don’t need to worry about paying extra for a monthly subscription.
Eufy Security Video Doorbell Camera E340
The Eufy Security Video Doorbell Camera E340 is a flexible and high-quality option to help secure your front door. You can choose to either install the video doorbell with existing doorbell wiring or place it anywhere around your front door and use the provided battery. Along with a front-facing camera, another lens points down so you can see packages near the door. The camera provides 2K resolution and color night vision. Instead of needing to purchase an additional subscription to view recorded video, that is stored on the doorbell’s built-in storage.
Choose Either a Wired or Battery-Powered Installation
When starting a search for a video doorbell camera, you usually need to decide between buying onwhether to purchase a wired or wireless option. The wired option takes power from existing doorbell wiring while a wireless version uses a rechargeable battery to keep juiced up.
But there’s no need to make that decision with the E340. You can install it with wiring from a standard doorbell or just use the provided battery.
Depending on what type you choose, the installation process will differ. The wired version will take more time and require removing an existing doorbell option, turning off the power, and installing the E340 in its place.
With a wireless installation, you just need to place the doorbell near the front door and install the battery.
No matter what option you choose, Eufy includes all the hardware you need, including a wedge base if you need to place the doorbell camera better. You’ll just need to provide a drill and screwdriver.
I already have theEcobee Smart Doorbell Camera that I previously reviewedat my front door using existing wiring, so I placed the E340 nearby with the provided battery. Installation took a little less than five minutes as I drilled in the mounting bracket and then placed the E340 on it to get started.
The doorbell itself does take up a bit of space, more than other competitors. It’s a little less than six inches tall and two inches wide. The finish is both glossy and matte black with the main camera lens above the actual doorbell.
If you’re using the battery, make sure to completely charge it first before installing the doorbell. I was really pleased to see that there was no dock or any other type of extra equipment needed—just use a USB-C cord to completely charge it. Whenever you want to remove the battery for charging, just use the included tool to quickly release it from the video doorbell itself.
To complete the setup process, download the Eufy Security app forAndroidoriPhone.
Interestingly, the actual doorbell button is basically the same size as the camera lens. That threw off a few visitors and delivery drivers who attempted to first press the camera lens.
Being able to choose how you install the doorbell is a huge plus for anyone grappling with what option to buy, and also makes it a great choice for renters or someone who lives in an apartment.
Another unique option of the E340 is its dual-lens setup. The main, 2K camera lens points outward to give you an idea of what’s happening at your front door. But a second lens is pointed toward the ground so you can better see what’s at your front door—more specifically packages.
The main camera lens did well in my testing. It gave a clear view of what was happening during the day, though it struggled a bit on extra sunny days, providing a clear view past my usually shaded porch. When the sun went down, you can choose from regular black-and-white infrared night vision or a color option. Also in the dark, dual lights at the top and bottom sense motion and will automatically activate when someone approaches.
With the second camera, you can see packages that are delivered and use some of the great Delivery Guard features to fend off any possible porch pirates.
Available in the Settings menu of the E340, turning on Delivery Guard will automatically send you a notification when a package is delivered. But that’s far from all with three other settings you can activate.
Package Guarding will trigger a voice alert and lights when someone approaches a package that’s already been delivered. You can choose from a voice response including “Excuse me, can I help you.” The feature can also be activated just during a certain time.
Uncollected Package Alert will send you a notification at a certain time of day if a package is still outside.
Finally, Package Live View Assistance works whenever you turn on a Live View. You will see the exact time the package was delivered, the video of the delivery, and any videos of people who approached the package.
Since package theft isn’t a problem in my neighborhood, I tried out all the features myself and came away very pleased. The camera caught 95 percent of my testing “deliveries.” And Package Guardian is especially helpful as I can imagine the automatic voice response could easily scare off a thief.
The E340 can also be part of a larger smart home setup as it is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Home. The big omission is Apple HomeKit, so steer clear if you’re a full-time Apple smart home user.
As a nice touch, if you already have the Alexa app for iOS or Android, once E340 installation is complete, you will see a pop-up that will automatically allow you to connect it to Alexa.
Connecting to Alexa is also important if you are using the battery. Since you’re not using existing doorbell wiring, you may’t make use of any chime equipment inside the home. But if you connect to Alexa, when the doorbell is pressed, the Echo will send an audible chime and announce that someone is at your door. IF you don’t use Alexa, you will likely need to purchase an optional chime.
I used my Echo Show 8 with the E340 and could clearly see the view from both cameras and also talk with someone if necessary at my front door.
No Need to Worry About an Extra Subscription
Another downside with some video doorbells is the additional cost of a monthly subscription for basic features like storing and recording live video. But the E340 doesn’t require any subscription thanks to 8GB of built-in storage for recorded video.
Thanks to the storage, Eufy says you can store up to 60 days of events depending on how busy it is at your front door. If you do want to pay for cloud storage, Eufy also has a plan that covers one device and stores video for 30 days for $2.99 monthly. For $9.99 monthly, the Plus plan covers up to 10 Eufy devices.
Viewing recorded video is easy in the companion app. It’s easy to change days and see why the video was recorded.
If you’re using the battery, the app is also the place to go to check on battery life. To make the most between recharges, the Power Manager section also allows you to choose a specific working mode. An Optional Battery Life will only record when the button is pushed. A Balanced Surveillance option will juggle the detection time period to reduce the chance of detecting the same object twice.
An Optional Surveillance length will allow for videos of up to 60 seconds long. You can also customize the recording options.
Just like other video doorbells, when motion is sensed or the doorbell is pressed, you can choose to receive a notification on your smartphone as well.
Should You Buy the Eufy Security Video Doorbell Camera E340?
Eufy continues to build a unique and powerful smart home ecosystem. Like other similar products from the company, theEufy Security Video Doorbell Camera E340might cost more than competing options. But that’s something you’ll most definitely make up for in the long run.
The video doorbell offers great video quality, even at night. And the dual-camera system can help you keep an eye on packages at all times, something that’s a problem with other competitors. Instead of having to fork over a monthly subscription fee to see recorded video, the built-in storage will help say goodbye to any extra costs. While I wish the video doorbell would feature HomeKit compatibility, it works great with my Alexa system and is also compatible with Google Home.
