A few months ago, my cousin brother called me up out of the blue. He had just signed the lease for a 2BHK flat in Mumbai first time living in a metro with his wife and two little kids. The excitement in his voice was clear, but so was the worry. “Bhai, I need to do something about security. I don’t know the area well yet and most of the day I will be at work. I want to make sure they are safe at home.”
He wasn’t looking for some elaborate CCTV setup or anything that would need drilling through society rules. What he wanted was something simple, easy to install, and smart enough to let him monitor things from his phone. That’s when I told him to look into smart video doorbells and ended up going down a rabbit hole myself.
Here’s what I learned from the research and what we finally picked.
Why Flats Need Smart Doorbells
Unlike independent homes, flats come with limitations; limited entry points, society rules about installations, and often, no dedicated outdoor space to mount massive security gear. But that’s where video doorbells shine.
They let you:
- See who’s at the door in real-time
- Talk to the visitor even when you’re not home
- Record footage for safety
- Avoid opening doors to unknown people
For families with kids or people who stay alone, this is a serious peace-of-mind tool.
Things I Considered Before Buying
As this was for my cousin’s flat, I focused on:
- Ease of installation – most societies don’t allow complex setups
- Video clarity – what’s the use if you can’t even see the face?
- Two-way audio – so his wife could talk to delivery guys or guests without opening the door
- Cloud storage or local recording – footage needs to be saved somewhere
- App support and alerts – real-time notifications are a must
I shortlisted a few based on reviews, specs, and availability. Some were clear winners, and one eventually became the pick.
1. Qubo Smart Video Doorbell (With Chime) – What We Finally Bought
This is the one we ended up ordering from Amazon—and it’s genuinely impressive for the price.
It has a 1080p Full HD camera, AI-based person detection, and it comes with a dedicated chime unit that you can plug inside the house like a regular doorbell. You also get a wide field of view (140°), which is important for flats where the angle of the door might be tight. But what I liked the most was how plug-and-play the whole system was. No electrician needed. Just mount it near the door using 3M adhesive (or screws, if your society allows), pair it with the app, and you’re good to go.
The two-way talk works well, even on mobile data. My cousin tested it while at work—he could talk to a delivery guy standing at the door while sitting in Lower Parel. You also get cloud storage (free for 24 hours footage on a rolling basis), or you can insert a microSD card.
Price: ₹5,000–₹5,500 (depending on offers)
Verdict: Best value-for-money for Indian flats, especially if you’re just starting with smart home gear.
2. Godrej SeeThru Video Door Phone
We were very close to choosing this one because Godrej has been around for decades in the security space, and this model looks sleek. But this is more like a traditional video intercom system—you install the outdoor unit at the door, and the screen stays inside. It has a 7-inch color display, camera with night vision, and supports connection with two door stations and two indoor monitors. Great if you’re living with elders who aren’t comfortable with mobile apps. But it does need a wired installation, so we skipped it for the Mumbai flat because society permissions can be tricky.
Price: Around ₹15,000
Why skip: Installation may not be hassle-free in rented flats.
3. CP PLUS Video Door Phone with WiFi Support
This is another wired option but newer models now support WiFi integration, which means the feed can also be viewed from your smartphone. CP Plus is known for its surveillance tech, and this one doesn’t disappoint on the camera quality front. But again, the wiring requirement was the downside for us. For a permanent home, I’d recommend this one. For rented flats or if you don’t want to drill into walls, not ideal.
Price: ₹5000
Best for: Homeowners or semi-permanent flat setups with society approval.
4. EZVIZ DB2 Battery-Powered Video Doorbell
I was tempted by this one because it’s from the same company behind Hikvision, and it runs fully on battery—no wires at all. Plus, the battery life is insane. One full charge lasts 3-4 months. It supports 2K resolution, night vision, and has cloud storage too (though subscription-based). What’s great is how clear the footage is, even at night. But at nearly ₹10,000, it was pushing the budget.
Price: ₹9,500 approx.
Great for: People who want zero wiring and premium features.
5. Ring Video Doorbell Wired (with Alexa Integration)
Ring is the OG brand when it comes to smart doorbells. This is the wired version, which keeps it somewhat affordable. You get motion alerts, two-way talk, 1080p video, and solid app support. Also works seamlessly with Alexa. But unfortunately, the support and service in India is a bit inconsistent right now. Also, it requires a transformer unit to convert power to work with Indian sockets, so it might not be the most beginner-friendly option.
Price: ₹8,000
Best for: Smart home enthusiasts who already use Alexa a lot.
A Good Investment for Flat Living
Helping my cousin set this up made me realize how useful smart video doorbells are not just for him, but for anyone living in an urban apartment. The Qubo one we installed has become an essential part of his family’s daily life. His wife now checks who’s at the door before even walking toward it, and the kids get excited every time the chime rings because they know they can see who’s outside.
More than convenience, it’s peace of mind and for 4K to 5K, that’s a small price to pay. Especially in cities like Mumbai where flats are cramped, neighbours change frequently, and safety is always a little top of mind. Would I buy one for myself? Probably yes. I didn’t think I needed it earlier, but watching how it makes life simpler (and safer) for my cousin’s family definitely made me reconsider.
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How do these compare to just installing a regular CCTV camera above the door? Wouldn’t a camera be cheaper and cover more angle than a single doorbell unit?
Fair thought a standalone CCTV above the door does give a wider field of view and 24/7 recording, often at a lower one-time cost. But here’s the trade-off: a CCTV is mostly passive you only see footage when you check it. A smart doorbell, on the other hand, is interactive. It not only records but also notifies you instantly, and lets you talk to the visitor in real time. For families, that two-way audio and answer from anywhere feature is the game changer. Also, installing CCTVs usually needs drilling, power cables, and DVR setups, which might not work in rented flats. A doorbell is far more compact, allowed by most societies, and easy to uninstall if you move. If you want both angles covered, some people actually use a combo: one CCTV for the corridor, and a smart doorbell right at the entry for direct visitor interaction.
Im curious about internet dependency. If the WiFi goes down in the flat, does the doorbell become useless? Because in Mumbai or even Bangalore, ISPs are not 100% reliable.
Internet connectivity is the backbone of smart devices but thankfully video doorbells don’t become completely dead if WiFi drops. The doorbell itself still works as a chime (locally) so if someone rings the family hears it inside the house. What you lose temporarily is remote access meaning you can’t check the video feed from your phone while outside. Some models like Qubo store footage locally on a microSD card so recording continues even during an outage, and once WiFi is back, the cloud sync resumes. For high reliability, I recommend pairing the device with a basic UPS or inverter for both the router and the doorbell unit. Even 30-40 minutes of backup ensures continuity during outages. In cities like Mumbai outages are usually short-lived so practically it’s more of a hiccup than a deal-breaker.
I’m a bit of a smart-home nerd and already use Alexa for lights and appliances. Do these doorbells integrate smoothly with smart assistants in India, or is it still clunky?
Love that you are already into the ecosystem! Integration is honestly a mixed bag in India. Ring, for example, works beautifully with Alexa you can ask “Alexa, show me the doorbell” and it streams on an Echo Show. But the hiccup is Ring’s limited official support and accessories in India. Qubo has its own app first, and while it does offer some Alexa/Google Home integration, it’s not as seamless yet. You’ll get notifications and can sometimes cast the video feed, but not with the same polish as abroad. If integration is a must-have, EZVIZ is worth a look, since it pairs decently with Google Home here. Still, in daily life, the dedicated app is what most families rely on. Hopefully, as adoption grows, brands will improve smoother integration for the Indian market too.
Saw these smart doorbells in ads, but always thought they were more like a fancy gimmick than a real security upgrade. After reading your cousin’s case, I’m wondering can someone actually tamper with them easily? Like if a thief just rips the unit off the wall, does all the recording vanish?
Most people don’t think of the what if it gets stolen angle. With Qubo, and most decent smart doorbells, the key protection is in the cloud. The moment the doorbell records motion or someone rings it, the clip is already uploaded to the cloud (at least the last 24 hours on Qubo). So even if someone pulls it out, you still have footage of them doing it. For extra safety, adding a microSD card means you keep a local backup too. Physically, these devices are designed to be tightly mounted, but yes, if someone is determined, they can force it out. That’s why the real strength is in real-time alerts you will get a notification the second there’s unusual motion. In a way, they act as both deterrent and evidence collector, which is why they’re worth it in a flat setup.
I work night shifts, so my wife is often at home alone with our toddler. We’ve been thinking about something like this, but one concern is night vision. Do these really show clear faces in the dark, or is it more like blurry shadows?
Night vision is where many budget models cut corners, but it’s also the feature that matters most in real-life safety. The Qubo we set up has infrared LEDs that light up the entryway invisibly, and the clarity is surprisingly good. You can clearly distinguish faces within 5-6 feet of the door. Premium ones like EZVIZ or Ring go a step further with color night vision, which is excellent but pricier. If your building corridor has even a little ambient light (like a staircase bulb), the feed looks much sharper. For your case, don’t compromise always pick a model that specifically mentions night vision clarity. Because peace of mind at night is exactly why smart doorbells exist. Even my cousin told me he feels safer knowing his wife can check who’s knocking late in the evening without stepping out.
Do you think these smart doorbells can actually prevent crimes, or are they more like after-the-fact evidence tools? Because in cities like Delhi or Mumbai, safety is always a worry.
The answer to your query is: they are more deterrents and evidence tools than outright preventers. Think of them as the digital version of a peephole combined with a security camera. The visible presence of a smart doorbell itself often discourages petty theft or mischief, because people know they are being recorded. But for determined criminals, no device alone can guarantee prevention. Where it helps hugely is in awareness: you can instantly check a suspicious knock, record proof if someone tries to tamper, and avoid risky face-to-face interactions. In many reported cases, just being able to shout through the two-way audio “Yes, who is it?” is enough to make strangers back off. So while it won’t replace locks or society security, it adds a very practical, everyday safety layer. And that’s often what urban families need most.
My parents live alone in Pune, and I’ve been trying to convince them about getting one of these. The only thing is they’re not tech-savvy at all. Do you think a smart doorbell is still useful for people who don’t want to fiddle with apps every time?
Totally understand, Neha. A lot of elders don’t want yet another app on their phones. That’s where models like the Godrej SeeThru or CP Plus actually shine they give you that physical indoor monitor screen which feels very familiar like a TV remote. The drawback is wiring but if installation is allowed in their building that may be the simplest setup for them. That said even app-based options like Qubo aren’t as difficult to understand as they seem. You can set it up on your phone too so you also get alerts alongside them. In fact one of my cousin’s key motivations was that even if his wife misses a ring, he gets notified instantly at work. So for your parents, either pick a screen-based system or help them with the app onboarding but don’t dismiss it it really eases daily life for people who don’t like opening the door to strangers.
Budget is my biggest constraint. Spending 10k on a doorbell feels excessive when you can get normal wireless ones for a few hundred. Do you think the Qubo really justifies its 5k price tag?
I get your hesitation. At first glance 5000 for a doorbell feels steep when compared to a 500 wireless chime. But the value lies in what you are actually buying it’s less of a doorbell and more of a compact security solution. With Qubo, you are getting a 1080p camera, motion detection, cloud backup, app access from anywhere, and two-way audio. If you look at standalone security cameras, many of those features cost about the same. The difference is, this one also doubles as your everyday doorbell, replacing the need for two devices. For someone in a rented flat, I think it’s one of the most cost-effective entry points into home security cheaper than wired intercoms, less hassle than CCTVs, and still very functional. So yes, if you think of it as just a bell, it’s overpriced. But as a small, all-in-one safety upgrade, the price is justified.