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Wyze

Wyze Battery Video Doorbell problems & complaints

Is it worth it? The downsides first: what owners report, and who should skip it.

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#10 of 11
$Battery or wiredScore 3.3/5
15%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-14)Small sample: 1,058 ratings.

A cheap, roughly $66 doorbell with a tall 150-degree 1536p view, a microSD slot and Wyze's cheap plans. Tom's Guide found the battery draining far faster than the 6-month claim, colors washed out, and face recognition rarely worked. About 1 in 7 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars.

Subscription: Optional: microSD slot for local recording (continuous when hardwired); Cam Plus $2.99/mo for one camera adds 14-day cloud history and person, pet, package and vehicle alerts (Tom's Guide)

Common Wyze Battery Video Doorbell problems

  • Battery life falls far short

    Wyze claims up to 6 months, but Tom's Guide's battery fell from 100% to 73% in two weeks, a pace of about 5 weeks per charge. Tom's Guide's roundup says it only lasts six months versus the Blink 2K+'s 22. Amazon's summary calls battery life mixed.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, Tom's Guide, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • AI features are hit or miss

    Tom's Guide found Descriptive Alerts often got clothing colors wrong, and Friendly Faces recognized the tester only once. Its roundup says the AI features aren't very useful. The best AI features need the $19.99/mo Cam Unlimited Pro plan.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, Tom's Guide
  • Reliability, connectivity and washed-out video

    Amazon's summary says owners report mixed experiences with reliability, battery life, connectivity and security features. Tom's Guide notes no HDR, pixelation on moving subjects and muted colors in direct sun.

    Source: Amazon.com product page (Customers say), Tom's Guide review

What owners like

  • Tall view for the money

    Tom's Guide was impressed by the 150-degree view and overall video quality for the price. Amazon owners praise the crisp 1536x1536 resolution and say it covers the whole front door area.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Local storage and a cheap plan

    It has a microSD slot for continuous recording when hardwired, and Cam Plus costs $2.99 a month for one camera (Tom's Guide).

    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Easy setup, calls your phone

    Tom's Guide went from unboxing to alerts in about 10 minutes, and a doorbell press rings your phone like a call. Amazon owners call it easy to set up.

    Source: Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
Good for
  • A low upfront price
  • Local recording without a plan
  • Existing Wyze camera owners

Scores (tap for why)

  • Video quality3.5
    Why 3.5?Wide 150-degree 1536p with good still detail, but no HDR, pixelation on moving subjects and muted colors (Tom's Guide).
    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Smart alerts3.0
    Why 3.0?Descriptive AI alerts impressed Tom's Guide but mislabeled colors; Friendly Faces rarely worked. Smart alerts need a plan.
    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • App & reliability3.0
    Why 3.0?Simple setup and phone-call style rings (Tom's Guide), but Amazon owners report mixed reliability and connectivity.
    Source: Tom's Guide review, Amazon.com product page
  • Ongoing cost4.0
    Why 4.0?microSD local recording plus Cam Plus at $2.99/mo; the AI tier is $19.99/mo (Tom's Guide).
    Source: Tom's Guide review
  • Easy install3.0
    Why 3.0?About 10 minutes to install, but ringing an existing chime needs an $18 Chime Controller, and the battery needed charging about every 5 weeks in testing (Tom's Guide).
    Source: Tom's Guide review

What experts say

  • Tom's Guide review: At $66 it's hard to fault, with local storage and a wide 1536p view. The cons are no HDR, an unhelpful Friendly Faces and battery life nowhere near 6 months.
  • Tom's Guide: Also tested: it was the best budget pick until the Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ replaced it.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

Is the Wyze Battery Video Doorbell worth it?

A cheap, roughly $66 doorbell with a tall 150-degree 1536p view, a microSD slot and Wyze's cheap plans. Tom's Guide found the battery draining far faster than the 6-month claim, colors washed out, and face recognition rarely worked. About 1 in 7 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars. It ranks #10 of the 11 video doorbells we compared.

The deciding question: is “Battery life falls far short” a deal-breaker for you? If not, still compare it with higher-ranked video doorbells before buying. If it is, look elsewhere — see the alternatives below.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked video doorbells whose biggest complaint is a different kind of problem.

#1 in video doorbellsTP-Link Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera

Wirecutter's top battery doorbell and PCMag's Editors' Choice: sharp 2K video and full smart detection with free local storage. It's bulky with a fish-eye look, the battery lasted about four months in testing, and the whole unit comes down to recharge.

Its catch: bulky with a fish-eye look#2 in video doorbellsRing Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K)

The sharpest video doorbell Tom's Guide and PCMag have tested, with 4K video, radar motion detection and an easy wire-free install. It costs about $250, can't save a single clip without a Ring plan, and works only with Alexa.

Its catch: no recordings without a subscription#3 in video doorbellsRing Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd Gen, Retinal 4K)

The best video Tom's Guide has seen from a doorbell, and PCMag's best Ring doorbell: sharp 4K, strong low-light color and accurate AI alerts. It costs about $250, it's wired only with no battery backup, you can't see a single recording without a Ring plan, and it works only with Alexa.

Its catch: no recordings without a subscription

Wyze Battery Video Doorbell: questions people ask

Is the Wyze Battery Video Doorbell worth it?

It ranks #10 of the 11 video doorbells we compared. Good for: a low upfront price · local recording without a plan · existing Wyze camera owners. Skip it if: you want long battery life · you want to ring your existing chime without an add-on · you want the sharpest video.

What is a good alternative to the Wyze Battery Video Doorbell?

If “Battery life falls far short” is a deal-breaker for you, consider the TP-Link Tapo D225 Video Doorbell Camera (#1 in video doorbells). Its main complaint is a different one: bulky with a fish-eye look.

See all 11 video doorbells ranked →

Common problems with other Wyze products (5 more) →