eufy Video Doorbell C30, Battery Powered, 2K FHD, 16:9 Expanded View, Easy Installation, Ring Call, Human and Motion Detection, HomeBase S380 Compatible, No Monthly Fee

A very pleasant upgrade from Ring
Have been using Ring for the longest time, but after seeing the cost increase each year I’ve decided to give Eufy a go.What a pleasant surprise! The doorbell feels very sturdy. Quality of the image is very nice. Notifications work very well along with answering the call and talking through it.This is a nice addition to my Eufy solar camera.

Eufy in decline
I have been using Eufy exterior light cameras and doorbells for several years now. I really like the system for a couple reasons. First, I don’t like the idea of my videos being maintained by a centralized vendor system. Second, I appreciate that there are no fees associated with using the system like so many others. In the past, I found the instructions to be well written and the packaging to be very good. The manual had a font that was large enough to be easily read.But what has always concerned me is the way they role out new products doesn’t seem to show any concern for their previous customers. For example, when they dropped Apple Home (HomeKit) support when they moved from HomeBase 2 to HomeBase 3. At the same time, HomeBase 3 did not support a wired doorbell until this model was introduced several years later. So I’ve been open to change systems since they dropped support for Apple Home. What I would really like is support for Matter over Thread, but there aren’t even any rumors the company is showing any interest in that.With that in mind, I was hesitant to invest anything more in Eufy, but a Black Friday deal on this doorbell. What intregued me was that it had a battery, but could be hooked to normal doorbell wiring in order to keep the battery charged an provide coverage during power outage. I just installed this so this is really an initial review. This is my initial impression.First off, as others have commented on, the directions are terrible. For one thing, the printed one in the package uses such a small font, you can only read it with a magnifying glass. There is a scan code that will take you to a manual and you can download a PDF that you can then read on any device … but gone is any of the style Eufy used to use in their manuals … extremely basic. While it covered the install pretty well, there is no explanation of ANY of the settings in the app. In addition, the manual had no spec sheet with information like width of the doorbell or how much memory does it have without adding an SD card. An SD card is not included so how much is the doorbell capable of storing in stand alone mode.I was surprised to learn this doorbell does not work with any previous Eufy chime. What I don’t feel is explained adequately if there appears to be four chime options. The three options are in a paragraph that describes how the system works independently it describes three options, the home’s existing chime, a Eufy Chime (sold separately) or using Amazon device as a chime. It then describes using doorbell with Homebase, but neglects to say Homebase can be used as a chime. To add to the confusion, the only Eufy chime that is compatible is referred to as a Minibase Chime which can be used to store videos like HomeBase. What is funny is the very first thing described in the manual is how to set up the Minibase Chime even though it is not included in the kit.This takes me to another item not adequately explained. The SD card slot. It shows it in the breakdown diagram identifying items on the doorbell … but in the description it simply says lift up silicone lid to insert the SD card. I believe there is also a hinged metal frame for the SD that has to be lifted to insert the SD, but if so, the instructions don’t mention it. The only other thing that is said about the SD is in the instructions for the Minibase, it says to move the SD from the Minibase to the doorbell. It doesn’t say anything about how this memory card would be used when doorbell is being used independently or with Homebase.Upgrading from a previous wired doorbell, I expected the base that is screwed to the doorframe would be the same, but it wasn’t. The size of the hole for the doorbell wire is the same, but it is higher in the frame … so either the doorbell needs to be mounted at least 1/2″ lower (i.e. old mounting visible) or you can drill a hole in the plastic frame where it needs to be for the wire. This is what I did.The wiring is very tight and makes it difficult to snap the doorbell onto the frame. I’m thinking I may go back and cut a larger opening in the frame to better accommodate the wire.The video quality and performance is on par with the other Eufy products I have. I do appreciate that it works with Homebase S380. I’m hoping at some point Eufy will produce a new hub that will them provide their system compatibility with Matter over Thread.Now to figure out what is different in the app. It just seems that with moving to more electronic documentation where you don’t need to worry about the cost of printing, that it would be nice to use that to provide a manual that really answers all of the questions regarding the product.

No support help
I have not been able to set up my video doorbell and have had no luck getting support. I did not receive a CIM card or the manual in the packaging. Not a good experience.

Somewhat misleading documentation
This doorbell cannot record 24/7 AND use an existing mechanical chime. Other than that it does work well and the resolution is great and human detection works as advertised. It would be nice if it had vehicle detection too.

Fast deliveryVery cool , black , effective . Wish it would work a bit differently. But mostly satisfied .

I’ve been using this doorbell for a couple of weeks, and it’s been a mixed experience. The build quality is solid, and the video quality is clear—definitely up to the 2K claims. The 16:9 expanded view provides a great angle, letting you see more of your front door area. It’s also got a mic and speaker that work well for real-time communication, making it easy to talk to visitors from anywhere. AI motion capture works well to, and I really appreciate that it doesn’t require a subscription to work, or get access to these features (AI detection – motion vs human or car, etc).However, there are some issues to consider, before you pull the trigger. Read on..Setup was straightforward. The app guides you step by step through the process, and the physical installation is simple (two screws) and they ncluded mounting guide sticker. The device pairs with Wi-Fi easily, and even if your power or internet goes out, it can still record events locally (recorded to a micro sd card that’s not included)The main issue for me is the battery life. It’s equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery, but how long it lasts depends on your settings. I started with motion detection (AI for people), and the battery dropped to 66% after just three days. I switched to recording only when the button is pressed, which has been more manageable—down to 40% after two weeks. If you rely on motion detection, expect to recharge it weekly, especially if there’s a lot of foot traffic. On the other hand, less frequent use will stretch the battery life much further. If you want to record motion and weekly battery recharging sounds like a hassle, you might want to consider a wired version.The video quality is clear during both day and night, even when the doorbell is exposed to direct sunlight. The infrared night vision works well for low-light conditions. Local storage is another big plus, as there’s no need for a subscription fee which is a huge plus. It supports up to 128 GB via microSD, so all your recordings stay private (assuming the bell isn’t stolen with the card inside).Performance-wise, the doorbell is pretty reliable, but there are some quirks. The app works fine but can be slow when accessing the doorbell. Notifications for motion or button presses take around five seconds to arrive, which feels like a long wait when you’re trying to respond quickly. Also, renaming the doorbell is a headache and doesn’t work like it should (at-least for me) Even though I renamed it “Front Door,” my smart devices (Alexa and Google Assistant) still announce the default product ID—a long, clunky number. The app itself briefly displays the original name when loading, which probably causes the naming issue.A couple of things to note: The doorbell doesn’t come with an indoor chime, so you’ll either need to buy one separately or rely on your smart devices and/or phone for notifications. It does support integration with Alexa and Google Assistant, which is helpful if you have a smart home setup, but it may announce the original device name which is annoying (despite changing the name in both the app and with the smart device service).Overall, it’s a solid device with good video quality, decent audio, and easy setup. If you’re okay with regular recharging or only need occasional use, it’s a good choice. But for heavy motion detection or less fuss, I’d recommend the wired version instead. The app and naming issues don’t feel fully baked, but pretty good.

It perfectly works as it is but I am not happy that you have to charge it every week! 9 days running and battery is 100% now 56%. I wish it has solar charger mount!