$60 Kasa Doorbell…DON’T be fooled! 😬

TL;DR

The Casa Doorbell offers 2k resolution, 24/7 recording, and person detection without a monthly fee, but lacks features like HDR and free cloud storage.

Transcript

check out these specs for the casa doorbell 2k resolution records 24 7 and has person detection without needing a monthly fee plus it's only 60 dollars so what's the catch well let's find out to say i've been waiting a while for the casa doorbell is an understatement i saw a version of this at ces 2019 over three years ago back then they said it wo... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🍼 The Casa Doorbell provides 2k resolution, person detection, and continuous recording without a monthly fee, making it an appealing budget option.
• 😶‍🌫️ However, it lacks promised features like HDR and free cloud storage, and the footage playback experience is not as smooth as high-end alternatives.
• ✊ The doorbell requires existing doorbell wiring for power and includes a wireless chime, though compatibility issues with Amazon Echo devices may exist.
• 🙈 Users cannot save recorded footage without paying a monthly subscription, which is seen as a drawback.
• 🕶️ The doorbell struggles with capturing details in both bright and dark areas, resulting in poor image quality.
• 🤭 The two-way voice feature of the Casa Doorbell sounds distorted and quiet, diminishing its usability.
• 😫 While activity zones can be set up, they do not effectively filter notifications based on motion or person detection.
• 🖤 The Casa Doorbell lacks integration with SmartThings, which may limit its compatibility with other smart home devices.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can I access recorded footage from the Casa Doorbell without a paid subscription?

No, the doorbell's recorded footage cannot be saved to a phone or accessed without paying a monthly fee. Even copying the encrypted SD card files to a computer doesn't work.

Q: Does the Casa Doorbell provide clear footage in bright outdoor conditions?

No, the doorbell struggles with showing details in both bright and dark areas. Shadows appear too dark, making it difficult to see faces or surveil the surroundings properly.

Q: Can the Casa Doorbell's activity zones help reduce unwanted notifications?

While the doorbell allows users to set up to four activity zones, these zones do not work effectively for motion or person notifications, which can be problematic for those living on busy streets.

Q: Does the Casa Doorbell integrate with SmartThings?

As of now, the Casa Doorbell does not work with SmartThings, despite other Casa devices usually integrating well with the platform.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Casa Doorbell offers 24/7 recording to a micro SD card, with motion detection that can notify users specifically for detecting people, without the need for a monthly fee.

• The doorbell does not have HDR or free cloud storage as initially promised and lacks smooth footage playback compared to higher-end doorbells.

• It requires existing doorbell wiring for power, comes with a wireless chime, and experiences compatibility issues with Amazon Echo devices. Additionally, saving recorded footage without a paid subscription is not possible.