Imou DB60 Video Doorbell Review

The Imou DB60 is an reasonably priced wi-fi video doorbell with a built-in battery that gives handy set up with out the necessity for wiring. It captures video in 2560 x 1920 decision with H.265 compression and has movement detection, human detection, and two-way audio. I examined the Imou DB60 for a number of weeks to see the way it performs for residence safety and sensible residence integration.

Specification

• Digital camera
  • 5 Megapixel progressive CMOS
  • Evening Imaginative and prescient: 5m(16.5ft) distance2.0mm
• Community
  • Wi-Fi:IEEE802.11b/g/n,2.4GHz
  • Imou life app: IOS, Android
• Video & Audio
• Video Compression: H.265
• Audio Compression: AAC
• As much as 15fps Body Price
• Two-way Bidirectional Discuss Echo cancellation
• Auxiliary Interface
• Discover Administration
  • Configurable Detection Space
• Common
  • AC12~24V, DC12/24V Energy provide
  • Working Atmosphere: -20℃-+50℃, Lower than 95percentRH

In The Field

The Imou DB60 comes with a video doorbell, a wi-fi chime and three totally different mounting brackets:

• Flat mounting bracket
• 15° angled bracket
• 5° angled bracket

It additionally consists of screws, anchors, and an set up guide.

Design and Construct

The Imou DB60 has a contemporary, rounded sq. design in white with shiny black accents across the digital camera lens and sides. It seems to be high-end however is constructed from plastic reasonably than steel.

The doorbell itself is kind of giant, measuring 5.7 x 1.8 x 1.8 inches. Nonetheless, it protrudes solely 0.9 inches from the wall as soon as mounted.

On the backside is the microphone and a micro USB port for supplying energy. The 6200 mAh battery is built-in and never detachable.

General, the construct high quality is respectable however not distinctive. The plastic physique is susceptible to scuffs and scratches throughout set up.

Set-Up

The preliminary arrange didn’t go very easily. I downloaded the Imou Life app, created an account, and adopted the in-app directions.

To start out the pairing course of, you’ll want to scan the QR code on the machine. You’ll need to do that for each the doorbell and the chime.

It’s good to reset and put the machine into pairing mode by urgent the reset button and doorbell button on the similar time (I didn’t learn the directions correctly and simply held the reset, inflicting frustration).

The app will hook up with the WiFI of the doorbell, and you then cross over the credentials of your 2.4GHz community. That is the place I skilled issues. For no matter cause, it will not hook up with the two.4GHz community I particularly use for IoT/sensible residence gadgets.

That is fairly possible a person error or a networking situation. I exploit EnGenius entry factors, and I exploit NextDNS, which is able to block some DNS requests.

I resolved the difficulty by connecting the digital camera utilizing my Google Nest WiFi Professional. That has a mixed 2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz SSID, which may trigger points with sensible residence tech, however it labored advantageous for this.

With the connectivity points resolved, I skilled no different points.

Mounting

I used to be impressed that there have been three totally different mounting brackets equipped. As that is battery-powered, I opted for the best answer I may factor of, I used some 3M pads and mounted it on to the glass on my door.

Imou provide a drill bit and screws for a safer mounting. Contemplating it is a low cost digital camera, I used to be shocked to see them embody the drill bit.

The digital camera can be wired up if in case you have an current wired doorbell.

Recording Choices / Subscription

One of many standout options of the Imou DB60 is its beneficiant storage providing. Not like many video doorbells that require a month-to-month subscription for cloud storage, the Imou DB60 comes with 4GB of inside storage, permitting you to make use of the machine with none further prices.

You then have an elective paid plan with Imou Shield. You will get 30 days free with auto-renew or 14 days free with out including any cost particulars.

With the Plus plan, you get 30 days of storage however it additionally permits AI detection, which permits the digital camera to solely provide you with a warning if there’s a individual, animal, car or bundle.

The essential plan supplies:

• 7 days of cloud storage
• The flexibility to obtain SD card recordings
• Share the machine with 10 customers
• Safety Reviews
• Machine Well being Guard

It’s a bit odd that this plan signifies you can’t obtain native information with out a plan. Nonetheless, it seems to be like you’ll be able to bypass this limitation by viewing a neighborhood recording and hitting the file button, which is able to file the footage in your machine.

The essential plan prices £2.59 pcm or £25.99 per yr for a single digital camera and as much as £12.99 pcm for 10 cameras. The Plus plan is £5.99 pcm for a single digital camera, then growing to £23.99 for 10 cameras.

Primarily based on the above, I don’t suppose there’s a lot level to the essential plan. The Plus plan feels overpriced, as compared, Arlo Safe is just £3.49 for a single-camera. Eufy can do AI detection freed from cost, relying on which doorbell you select (however these price much more upfront).

Lastly, the Imou DB60 product web page signifies that this could be capable to file to an NVR utilizing OBVIF; nevertheless, I can’t discover the settings for this in any respect. As I used to be utilizing this with a battery, it’s attainable this setting was robotically eliminated. I’ve beforehand gotten my previous Eufy 2C to file by way of RTSP, however it wasn’t the most effective expertise, because the RTSP feed solely prompts when movement is detected.  

Movement Detection

Movement detection on the Imou DB60 is correct because of the twin PIR sensors. I by no means skilled false alerts from lighting adjustments or shadows.

You possibly can arrange exercise zones to restrict notifications to sure areas to make detection much more exact.

Notification and chime choices are strong. You possibly can customise movement detection sensitivity and human detection individually. Chimes might be fully disabled if desired.

Doorbell Responsiveness & Chime

One situation I’ve had with video doorbells is the delay between a doorbell press and the notification. It’s one thing that may infuriate me as I get so many packages, and a few supply drivers solely wait a number of seconds.

The Imou DB60 carried out very reliably for doorbell presses. It detected the button press immediately each time.

Doorbell alerts show shortly within the app with a dwell view. I’d say the response time is rapid, however it’s most likely 1 or 2 seconds. You possibly can then faucet to provoke two-way audio with the customer.

Day Time Recording High quality

The Imou DB60 Video Doorbell comes with a 5 5-megapixel progressive CMOS digital camera, able to delivering a decision of 5MP (2560 x 1920). The digital camera has a set lens with a area of view of 164°, offering a large protection space. It additionally options evening imaginative and prescient capabilities, with a variety of as much as 5m (16.5ft).

The digital camera doesn’t have the identical vertical area of view as different cameras, so if somebody is standing close to the door, you don’t get a head-to-toe view.

Doorbell alerts show instantly within the app with a dwell view. You possibly can then faucet to provoke two-way audio with the customer.

The 15fps body charge is usually a little bit uneven, however it is a frequent fps for these cameras.

Evening Time Recording High quality

At evening, the Imou DB60 depends on infrared illumination to see as much as 5 meters. High quality is respectable however fairly grainy; faces is usually a little tough to discern past a few meters.

The infrared LEDs solid a uniform glow that illuminates guests clearly when close to the door. However shifting additional again, individuals seem fairly darkish.

I used to be shocked the footage was color, I’d have anticipated black and white on an reasonably priced digital camera, however there are a number of shiny road lights round me.

Whereas usable, the evening imaginative and prescient efficiency isn’t on par with the daytime video high quality. It really works advantageous for fundamental movement detection, however particulars are missing.

Battery Life

The built-in 6200 mAh battery powers the Imou DB60 for an impressively very long time between expenses.

As I’ve a excessive fence in my entrance backyard, the doorbell is just triggering when somebody is definitely on the door.

I’ve solely used this for a few weeks, however based mostly on my utilization, I ought to get 4 months cost.

Frequent movement occasions will scale back battery life. However on the whole, the battery lasts lengthy sufficient to keep away from frequent recharges.

The battery standing shows within the app, so that you obtain alerts when energy runs low. General, battery efficiency is spectacular on the Imou DB60.

Value and Different Choices

The Imou DB60 Good Video Doorbell is on the market for round £110 and doesn’t seem like accessible on Amazon, however you should buy it from Safe.co.uk and DIY.com.

The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is simply over £100 and possibly the most effective different I can discover. It is just 1080P, however it has native storage, helps Apple HomeKit, and has facial detection. It’s going to even be up to date to help Matter.

The Eufy Video Doorbell C210 is on the market for £100 and features a chime. It is just 1080P, however has on-device sensible detection and notifications without having for any subscription. It makes use of microSD for recording however doesn’t come equipped with one.

Reolink has the Good 2K+ Wired WiFi Video Doorbell with Chime for £100. This matches the decision, can use each 2.4/5GHz WiFi, is appropriate with Reolink NVRs, however it lacks a battery, which considerably limits its enchantment.

The Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module is £90 however lacks a chime and is just 1080P.

Ring has the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) at £100 however lacks a chime and requires a subscription.

General

The Imou DB60 is likely one of the extra reasonably priced video doorbells available on the market, and it outclasses most of the choices at an identical worth level because of the 5MP(2560 x 1920) digital camera and free native storage.

It’s actually not the most effective doorbell digital camera I’ve used, however it’s wonderful contemplating the value.

I’d personally advocate not getting the month-to-month subscription. it looks like the Plus plan is the one factor that has any actual profit, and if you will find yourself paying £5.99 pcm indefinitely, you might as nicely spend an additional £70 for one thing just like the Eufy Video Doorbell S220, which is way superior and requires no month-to-month charges.

Ignoring that criticism, it is a excellent alternative when you simply need an affordable doorbell that features a chime and may give you dependable notifications and respectable sufficient recordings.