Kasa Smart Video Doorbell Review

About the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell

• Color: Black
• Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• Smart assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant
• Installation type: Hardwire 16V-24V AC
• Weather rating: IP64
• Field of view: 160° horizontal
• Video Resolution: Up to 2K HD
• Dimensions: 5.12-inch x 1.77-inch x 1.08-inch

The doorbell comes with a chime, mounting wedge, mounting bracket, position card, extension wires, wire nuts, screw and anchors. It also comes with a quick start guide. You may need a screwdriver or cordless drill to install the doorbell on your home.

Additionally, existing doorbell wiring is needed to install the doorbell, as there is no option to run the doorbell on a rechargeable battery.

What we like

Impressively crisp video at all hours of the day

The video clarity on the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell is one of the best I’ve ever seen for the money. The doorbell has a 3 megapixel camera that records high-quality video up to 2K resolution, rivaling more expensive, top-tier doorbell cameras like the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual.

Even at night, the black and white night vision is sharp, helping to show the details even in the dark. The doorbell has a built-in infrared sensor that can detect people and motion events from up to 30 feet away when it's dark outside.

The doorbell's 160° viewing angle shows my yard in full, helping me see everything outside my front door.

Non-stop recording with free local storage

You’ve got two options when it comes to storing video clips with the Kasa doorbell: Sign up for one of Kasa’s paid monthly plans or insert a microSD card (up to 128 GB) into the back of the device.

The latter is an appealing option for people who are wary of uploading videos to the cloud and prefer to manage the storage themselves. There is a small slot on the back of the doorbell where you can insert the card. Make sure to do this part before installing the doorbell, as the doorbell needs to be removed in order to access the slot.

With the card inserted, the doorbell is capable of recording 24/7. Not many other doorbell cameras can do this, with one exception being the Nest Hello, Google’s wired video doorbell, but a paid subscription is required to enable non-stop recording.

With Kasa’s, it’s free, and offers added assurance that even if the camera misidentifies an event or straight up misses something major, you can go back and review the footage knowing it’s all there.

However, the one downside here is that a paid Kasa Care plan (starting at $3/month per camera) is required in order to save and share any video clips recorded to the card. So, while you’ll always be able to view footage from any time of day when relying on local storage, you will need to pay up in order to download and share any video clips.

Useful features that add value

Kasa's doorbell works with other Kasa devices like smart plugs and smart lights to create what Kasa calls "Smart Actions" in the companion app. When enabled, these routines can help automate your home. For example, you can set it up so that when the doorbell detects motion, it triggers on your Kasa smart bulb.

The doorbell also has prerecorded replies, which you can select from in the Kasa app. The audio is clear and able to be heard when standing several feet from the doorbell. There are five replies in total with options like, “I’ll be there in a minute,” and “Sorry, not interested.”

If you see someone at your doorbell, you can tap in the app to play one of these replies, which is a handy feature if you’re trying to put a tired kid down for a nap or are in the middle of a video call for work.

Other doorbells from Ring and Google also have automated replies but cost more than Kasa’s, adding even more value to a feature-packed buzzer.

It works well with Alexa and Google Assistant

Smart video doorbells have the ability to connect with smart assistants, and Kasa’s works with Alexa and Google Assistant. There is no support for Siri, and therefore Apple HomeKit, but if you’re all in on either Alexa or Google Assistant, then Kasa’s doorbell will fit right into your well-oiled ecosystem.

The Kasa doorbell view is available to live stream on smart displays like the Amazon Echo Show 10 and Google Nest Hub (second-gen). This is a convenient, hands-free way to quickly check in on your front door when you’re busy cooking dinner in the kitchen or sitting in your home office working at your desk if you have a compatible smart display nearby.

What we don’t like

The Kasa app doesn’t offer two-factor authentication

When it comes to keeping your smart home safe and secure, one of the first lines of defense is enabling authentication features like two-factor.

This is typically found in the companion app for the device, but Kasa does not offer two-factor authentication. When enabled, this feature can notify you when someone else attempts to log into your account, allowing you to step in and take immediate action to keep them out.

It’s worth noting that other video doorbell brands like Google Nest, Ring, Eufy, and Wyze all offer two-factor authentication.

The AI is hit or miss

The Kasa Smart Video Doorbell can detect people, however, it’s not always accurate at doing so. On multiple occasions, the flag flying on the front of my house triggered the doorbell to inaccurately detect a person.

More often than not, the doorbell detected the flag as a general motion event. This type of notification is more on par with what I’d expect from a video doorbell.

But if you’re not expecting any visitors, then recurring alerts that say, “Kasa doorbell has detected a person” when no one is actually there can cause unnecessary alarm.

I also had several occasions where a person was in the view of the camera and I did not receive a “person detected” notification. The doorbell isn’t a complete failure, as there were times where a person was spotted and actually there, but it could use improvements.

It’s very sensitive with a limited number of activity zones

Even on low settings, the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell is fairly sensitive to any motion. In the Kasa app, you can adjust the motion sensitivity on a sliding scale from one to 10 with the latter being the most sensitive.

I tested the doorbell with the motion sensitivity set to four, and then turned down to two, and found both to be more sensitive to events than other doorbells I’ve tested in this price range like the Ring Video Doorbell Wired and Blink Smart Video Doorbell.

To remedy any false triggers from things like flags, shadows, or trees swaying in the wind, you can enable activity zones for the doorbell the Kasa app.

Some video doorbells like those from Google Nest have more activity zones, but you’re limited to four with Kasa. For most people, four activity zones should be enough since you can click and drag them to create your own.

It doesn’t work with your existing doorbell chime

The Kasa Smart Video Doorbell does not work with existing mechanical chimes. Instead, it comes with a digital plug-in chime that you can place anywhere in your home. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me, but it may be for you.

If you’re looking for a smart video doorbell that works with mechanical chimes, check out the Nest Hello.

In addition to the digital chime, Amazon Echo and Google Nest smart speakers and displays can also serve as chime announcements in your home. I prefer using smart speakers and displays as chimes in my own home because it is easier to hear when someone rings the bell because I have these devices placed throughout my home.

This is especially if I don't have my phone or Apple Watch on hand to get instant notifications. This is also a good option for larger homes, like two-story houses, where you may not be able to hear a mechanical chime on every floor.

Privacy

As noted above, the Kasa app for iOS and Android lacks two-factor authentication, a feature that can prevent unwanted access to your account.

Kasa claims all video clips stored in the cloud server are encrypted so that no one else can access them. You can read Kasa's full privacy policy here.

Should you buy the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell?

Yes, this doorbell offers a crystal clear front-door view.

For the money, the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell offers an incredible view rivaled only by more expensive video doorbells like the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual. When paired with a microSD card, you can unlock even more impressive features like free local device storage for clips and nonstop recording.

The camera’s AI could use a few tweaks to improve its ability to distinguish between people and general motion events, and you’ll need to dial back the sensitivity settings to avoid an onslaught of notifications.

Given the great video quality day and night, as well as other less common features like 24/7 recording, these couple cons are worth the trade off when it comes to the incredible value offered on when using the Kasa Smart Video Doorbell.