✔️ Wired vs. wireless: Battery-powered smart video doorbells are easier to install than hardwired models, but they often don't have as many features. If you're leaning toward hardwired, make sure the device will work with your current setup by unscrewing the old doorbell from the wall and seeing if it’s attached to a pair of wires. If it is, these wires will serve as your hookup. One major advantage of hardwired video doorbells is that you won’t have to replace or recharge any batteries, and they’re always connected to power. This makes them more effective at capturing motion since they’re always on and don’t have to be woken up.

✔️ Integration: Do you want your video doorbell to communicate with other smart home products? If your video doorbell is compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa or HomeKit, you can set it up so that your smart speakers announce when someone is at the door with a chime and then enable you to communicate with whoever is at the door. Check each manufacturer’s website for a list of compatible devices. Especially with big brands, you'll find a long list of locks, light bulbs, garage door openers and more.

✔️ Subscription fees: Most smart video doorbells offer extended cloud-based video storage, 30 days typically, for around $3. But there are some models out there that use a memory-card slot for storing video clips locally, lowering costs as well as the risk of data and security breaches.

✔️ Video quality: Chief Technologist and Director of Engineering Rachel Rothman suggests getting a video doorbell with no less than 1080p (HD) resolution, but if you are able to opt for a higher resolution such as 2K or 4K, you should. The higher the resolution, the more easily you’ll be able to identify faces and see more details in your video footage.

✔️ Field of view: The larger the field of view, the more of your porch, doorstep and surroundings you’ll be able to see. Rothman suggests getting a video doorbell with as close to a 180-degree field of view as possible. Also make sure to pay attention to the doorbell’s aspect ratio to understand whether the image’s shape will be square, portrait or landscape and whether this can be adjusted to your liking.