August Doorbell Cam Pro (2nd Gen, 2017)

Helpful instruction guide ; Easy integration with August locks ; USB-dock allows easy charging/setup ; Battery backup ; Durable build quality

No image adjustment for darker locations ; Spotty external Wi-Fi signal strength ; Patchy audio through the August app ; Only works with some doorbell setups

We’re fans of the August Doorbell Cam Pro, but there remains room for improvement even in this second-generation device. While installation of a smart doorbell offers significantly more challenges than a smart lock, August’s app does a good job of...

Excellent HD video quality. Clear two-way audio. Works with other August devices. Hindsight pre-buffering. On-demand video streaming. Motion detection. Easy to install.

Requires subscription to view recorded video. No IFTTT integration.

With the Doorbell Cam Pro, August takes the best of the original Doorbell Cam and adds some much-needed improvements, including motion detection and recorded video. It also gives the Pro a cool floodlight feature that ensures you'll be able to see who...

Sturdy hardware that's straightforward to install ; Floodlight is effective ; Integrates well with other August devices

Requires existing doorbell wiring ; No Apple HomeKit support

Sharp, clear picture and color images at nighttime ; Installation is easy with clear instructions, as long as you have an existing wired doorbell ; Portrait-mode video means it fills up your smartphone screen without having to rotate it

Cloud storage costs are comparatively high versus competing products ; Built-in light doesn't do a great job of nighttime illumination ; Limited compatibility with other smart home devices

The August Doorbell Cam Pro 2 is a solid performer. During my testing it worked as advertised, and the company has put a lot of thought into the installation process. I also like the design, but that's a personal preference.

August's $199 Doorbell Cam Pro offers HD livestreaming, motion detection, two-way talk, a built-in floodlight for low-light conditions and integration with Nest and Amazon Alexa devices.

August charges $5 per month for cloud storage. The Doorbell Cam Pro's square shape won't fit on every doorframe and it's only compatible with mechanical chimes.

The Doorbell Cam Pro is a good choice, particularly if you've invested in other August products, but its higher cloud storage fees hurt its overall value.

August's $199 Doorbell Cam Pro offers HD livestreaming, motion detection, two-way talk, a built-in floodlight for low-light conditions and integration with Nest and Amazon Alexa devices.

August charges $5 per month for cloud storage. The Doorbell Cam Pro's square shape won't fit on every doorframe and it's only compatible with mechanical chimes.

The Doorbell Cam Pro is a good choice, particularly if you've invested in other August products, but its higher cloud storage fees hurt its overall value.

App and hardware are well-designed ; HindSight captures video before motion alarm is triggered ; Works with many smart home systems ; Integrates with smart lock and keypad

Can't set motion zones ; Relatively expensive cloud costs ; Relatively narrow field of view

On its own, August's Doorbell Cam Pro is a solid device, and it's even better when integrated with August's Smart Lock Pro and other smart home platforms.