The HomeKit doorbell scene has finally got wings and one of the most compelling options is Logitech's new Circle View doorbell. It has a sharp and simple design, HomeKit Secure video support, face recognition, and an impressive price tag - especially if you're willing to do the installation yourself. Join our full review of this Logitech HomeKit doorbell, the first true consumer option with HKSV.

The Logitech Circle View doorbell launch back in December was a very welcome surprise with support for HomeKit Secure Video and a solid price tag of $ 199. The only other doorbell on the market with HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV) at the time of writing is the Robin ProLine - but that's really more of a commercial product, priced around $ 600.

The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell, Yobi B3 (Test), and Arlo Smart Doorbell have HomeKit, but include compromises like no HKSV. With a competitive price, HKSV, and features like facial recognition, I think the Logitech Circle View is positioned to own the smart doorbell market among Apple users.

Note: Before you buy the Logitech Circle View doorbell Make sure to use the compatibility checker to confirm that it works in your home.

Logitech HomeKit doorbell specifications

• Logitech TrueView ™ video with 160 ° field of view, HD video, HDR and color night vision
  • Portrait view in 3: 4 format
  • 5 MP sensor with 1200 x 1600 HDR capable video
  • 4000K LED light strips for lighting in an unobstructed area up to 6 feet away
• Two-way audio
  • Full duplex with acoustic echo cancellation
• Developed exclusively for Apple HomeKit. Enjoy a seamless viewing experience with two-way audio in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and Apple TV
• Face recognition and custom activity zones
• High quality, high dynamic range sensor for more detail in high contrast videos so you can see visitors clearly in sunlight or shade
• Includes two mounting options (straight and 20-degree angle), a chime and wiring for connection to a wired doorbell system with 8-24 V AC 10 VA or higher
• Wireless connectivity: 2.4 / 5 GHz a / b / g / n / ac 2 x 2 MIMO Wi-Fi
  • Requires home internet with an upload speed of at least 2.5 Mbit / s
• IP65 dust and water resistance

Design and build

This Logitech HomeKit doorbell is made of high quality plastic with a clean and minimalist black design and a glass faceplate on the front. I think it will look great on the porch of almost any home style.

The camera lens is at the top, the integrated LED is in the middle and there is an illuminated bell button at the bottom.

On the back is the HomeKit code and two pegs that connect the doorbell to the standard or angle bracket.

There is a double rubber seal on the edge of the doorbell to keep rain and snow out. The microphone, speaker, and micro USB port (used for the setup process) are at the bottom.

Logitech HomeKit doorbell set up

As mentioned above, before you buy, make sure that the Logitech Circle View doorbell will work with your existing wired doorbell setup. You can do that here. Otherwise, you may need to do a full re-wiring / doorbell and / or get an electrician.

I'd say if you've done even minor electrical jobs in your house, like replacing switches, sockets, and lights, you will likely feel comfortable installing this HomeKit doorbell yourself. Otherwise, Logitech is offering a Pro install for $ 100 ($ 299 total).

Your mileage may vary, but I think most do-it-yourself installers should be able to do this in around 30 to 60 minutes.

Here's a look at everything that's in the box with the Logitech HomeKit doorbell:

On the setup card shown above, you will get a link to detailed installation instructions as well as a second HomeKit code for your doorbell.

Logitech did a good job with the web instructions. Here are the main steps:

• Temporarily turn on the doorbell via microUSB, set it up, and add it to the Home app
• Confirm the wiring of your existing doorbell
• Turn off the breaker on your doorbell wiring and install the Logitech Chime Kit
• Make sure Circle View has WiFi in the desired installation location, install the bracket and doorbell

The only thing I didn't see explicit instruction on was how to attach your existing wiring to the back of the Logitech mounting plate (unless I somehow missed it). Essentially, it's just a pressure activated harness that you slide your cables into.

Here's a look at the options when setting up this HomeKit Secure Video-enabled doorbell:

You are in control of how streaming and recording work, whether you want to use face recognition, and more.

You can use the HomePod as a doorbell, actual chimes, or both. You also get a motion sensor and a light sensor that you can use to create home app automations.

In use

I've been using the Logitech HomeKit doorbell for a few weeks and it's consistently reliable and has good picture quality.

If you choose to use facial recognition, it works by accessing the Photos app and / or by using the unidentified recent visitors shown in the Logitech Circle View doorbell settings in the Home app. This makes it easy to add or hide less frequent visitors.

In addition to live face recognition in the Home app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, the HomePod also offers an audio announcement of the people who are recognized at your front door.

Here's a look at the image quality and more:

I turned on our porch lights every night as part of a HomeKit automation, but the built-in LED in the Logitech Circle View is pretty bright and gives good visibility even if your porch doesn't have any other lighting.

The calendar integration at the top of the Logitech Doorbell Viewer in the Home app (see above) makes it easy to see previous recordings. HomeKit Secure Video lets you set up 1 camera if you have at least a 200GB iCloud storage plan, or 5 if you have a 2TB plan. That provides a 10-day record history that doesn't eat up any of your iCloud storage. Another great advantage of HKSV is the end-to-end encryption for all of your video recordings.

If you haven't used HomeKit Secure Video before, you can seamlessly set activity zones to choose what triggers alerts. Here you can also add names to unknown faces, control the night vision light and much more.

The only thing I would criticize constructively would be the camera resolution. It would have been fantastic to have seen something higher than the 1200 x 1600 HD (3: 4 portrait) included here. I don't think it's a deal breaker, the Robin ProLine only offers 720p and the Netatmo and Yobi B3 have 1080p (9:16 portrait).

But I think Logitech could have set the Circle View doorbell even further apart from the competition at 1500 x 2000 or higher.

Logitech HomeKit doorbell final thoughts

All in all, I think this Logitech HomeKit doorbell is the best option out there for Apple users. You get well-designed hardware, HomeKit Secure Video and all of its related features, good HD resolution with HDR and night vision - all for a very affordable price of $ 199.

For comparison, the commercial Robin ProLine models offered by HKSV cost between $ 500 and $ 700. Netatmo's Smart Video Doorbell is $ 299 and it lacks HKSV. The Yobi B3 can sometimes be found under $ 200, but like Netatmo no HKSV and the same for Arlo's wired video doorbell. If you're willing to forego HKSV, the wired version of Arlo might be the tempting HomeKit doorbell for around $ 100.

If you've been waiting for a compelling HomeKit doorbell experience to upgrade from your dumb doorbell or a non-HomeKit smart doorbell, the Logitech Circle View doorbell is definitely worth checking out. You can find it directly from Logitech and Apple.

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