An established player in the security camera market, Swann has been branching out into related smart home devices, such as video doorbells. Its first, mediocre SwannBuddy Video Doorbell was released in 2022. One of the main issues with the original SwannBuddy 4K Video Doorbell has been fixed with the updated model, which significantly improves the device’s resolution and image quality.
Specifications
With a huge doorbell button in the middle of the device that is ringed with light (briefly blue, changing red when recording), a camera lens up top, and a motion sensor at the bottom, the SwannBuddy 4K offers a classic design that is shared by the original SwannBuddy and the majority of video doorbells.
The updated design has a little overhang on top of the camera that functions as a kind of shade and could, in theory, shield the lens from the weather. A second chime that runs on two AA batteries is also provided, much like with the prior item.
Video is recorded with a vertical viewing angle of 165 degrees and a resolution of 2032 x 3712 pixels at 15 frames per second (the diagonal viewing angle of the camera is not specified). A 32GB microSD card is preinstalled, which is a nice touch because most manufacturers don’t provide you with anything. The camera can record to both cloud storage and an inbuilt microSD card.
In addition to starting up when a visitor hits the doorbell button, the camera can start recording on movement thanks to its heat-sensing motion detector and standard infrared night vision.
Swann Buddy4K UHD Wireless Video Doorbell & Chime | No Monthly Fee | Ultra-Wide 165° View | Smart Analytics | 2-Way Audio | Night Vision | Easy Installation | Indoor & Outdoor Surveillance
Swann claims that the camera’s inbuilt 6500mAh battery may last up to three months of continuous usage; however, after ten days of apparently intensive use, my battery level reached 64 percent, suggesting a far shorter lifespan.
You will need to frequently recharge the battery using its USB-C connector; however, it can be trickle-charged using a regular doorbell transformer. And to do that, you must take it off the wall mount that comes with it. Additionally, take note that the box does not include angled mounting brackets; however, a 30-degree angle mount is available for $20 separately.
Installation and setup
In contrast to Swann’s MaxRanger equipment, the SwannBuddy 4K connects straight to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and does not require a hub or the long-range Wi-Fi HaLow specification. Using the Swann Security mobile app to scan a QR code and then entering network credentials makes setup a touch laborious. (Why should consumers be required to enter their Wi-Fi password twice?) The chime pairs with the camera by pushing a button on the gadget and then another on the doorbell when the app has been onboarded.
The SwannBuddy 4K saves video to both its internal microSD card and the cloud. However, by default, cloud-based recordings are only available for the last 48 hours, and previous recordings are immediately erased by Swann’s app. To access locally stored clips, you must tap the microSD card icon in the app’s Playback section. It’s simple to overlook this step because the interface is the same as the one for cloud storage. Additionally, cloud-stored playback can be incredibly slow to start up, frequently lasting up to 40 seconds.
Swann’s subscription option includes rich notifications, 60 days of cloud storage, plus package, pet, automobile, and person alarms (rather than only human detection). One camera costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year with this plan, while unlimited devices cost $12.99/month or $129.99/year. (Both of those represent notable increases over 2022 prices.)
Performance
With a significantly better lens and image sensor than the previous 1080p model, the SwannBuddy 4K captures high-quality video. Keep in mind that the video was shot in portrait orientation and has a small fish-eye effect due to significant distortion. Although recordings were very dark and hard to see beyond a range of around five feet, Swann’s claimed 16-foot range in night vision mode was roughly true in my tests.
Oddly, you are unable to control the duration of the video clips that are captured; in my testing, no clip, regardless of motion duration, was more than 60 seconds. The majority of the clips ended after 10 to 20 seconds.
When the bell is rung, the chime is responsive and loud enough. A physical button on the device allows you to cycle through the six different chime options, and the app allows you to change the volume. When the bell rang, I seldom waited longer than a few seconds for the chime to sound and for a push notification to be sent to my phone.
Push notifications for motion detection also came quickly—within a few seconds—though sometimes I didn’t get any at all. If you find yourself receiving too many notifications or wish to save battery life, you can also create a detection zone to prevent motion detection in specific areas of the image and configure a sleep time of up to five minutes between detection events.
Conclusion
Given the higher video resolution, overall enhanced performance, and new AI features, the SwannBuddy 4K is unquestionably an improvement over the rudimentary first edition, and the about $50 price increase seems justified.
Although I’m not a huge fan of the subscription model, many users may decide that the onboard storage is plenty without the additional cost and that the capabilities like package and pet recognition aren’t worth the extra money.
