August View Doorbell Cam (1st Gen, 2015)

Slim new design ; Interchangeable faceplate ; 1440p camera ; Comes with Chime

Live view can be hit or miss ; No video on Home Hub ; Chime connection issues ; Subscription-based storage plans

In a world filled with increasingly closed-off devices, the August View could offer a sharp, platform-agnostic doorbell for your burgeoning smart home… if August’s software gets an upgrade.

The $199 August Doorbell Cam has on-demand live streaming and a 1,280x960 HD resolution -- two features we haven't found on many other first-gen Wi-Fi buzzers. The video feed and push alerts are responsive and the app is easy to navigate.

This smart buzzer has to be hard-wired and it isn't compatible with digital chimes or intercom systems (only mechanical chimes). Its square shape won't fit on every door frame and its motion sensor and video storage features haven't launched yet.

August's Doorbell Cam is the best model we've reviewed to date and is especially appealing if you have a Smart Lock or are planning to get one. Just keep in mind that it may not fit in the same spot as your old doorbell.

Sharp daytime video. Easy wireless installation. Motion detection. Two-way audio. Alexa and Google voice support. Works with August smart locks and IFTTT applets.

Pricey. Frequently lost 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connectivity in testing. Long wake times with iOS app.

The August View Doorbell Camera captures sharp and colorful daytime video at 1440p, and the motion sensor does a fine job of detecting motion with very few false alerts. Setup is easy and you can have the doorbell work with August smart locks or...

Excellent HD image quality. Integrates with August Smart Lock. On-demand video streaming.

Motion detection and video recording not yet enabled. No IFTTT support. Overly complicated installation procedure.

Conclusions With the August Doorbell Cam you can see who is at your door no matter where you are. It uses the same app as the August Smart Lock, so you can lock or unlock your doors instantly depending on who is out there, and it acts as a Wi-Fi bridge...

The $199 August Doorbell Cam has on-demand live streaming and a 1,280x960 HD resolution -- two features we haven't found on many other first-gen Wi-Fi buzzers. The video feed and push alerts are responsive and the app is easy to navigate.

This smart buzzer has to be hard-wired and it isn't compatible with digital chimes or intercom systems (only mechanical chimes). Its square shape won't fit on every door frame and its motion sensor and video storage features haven't launched yet.

August's Doorbell Cam is the best model we've reviewed to date and is especially appealing if you have a Smart Lock or are planning to get one. Just keep in mind that it may not fit in the same spot as your old doorbell.