Blink Upgrades Budget Buzzer to 2K Resolution
▼ Summary
– Blink announced new 2K wired and battery doorbell cameras that work with AI-powered video descriptions, available for preorder now and shipping May 20th.
– The wired doorbell is Blink’s first wired-only model that does not require a Sync Module, but lacks battery backup during power outages.
– At $50, the Blink wired doorbell is one of the cheapest 2K-capable models, undercutting Wyze’s $60 and Ring’s $79.99 wired doorbells.
– AI video descriptions require a subscription: Basic AI at $6.99/month for one device or Plus AI at $19.99/month for all devices.
– Without an AI subscription, standard plans start at $3.99/month per camera, while free use offers only live view, two-way audio, and motion alerts.
Blink has taken its budget-friendly doorbell lineup to the next level with the launch of two new 2K resolution models, one wired and one battery-powered. These latest additions join the company’s existing 2K camera family, which debuted last fall, and introduce support for Blink’s smart video descriptions. That feature generates push notifications with text summaries of detected activity, such as “person playing basketball in the driveway,” offering more context at a glance. Preorders are open now, with shipments scheduled to begin on May 20th.
The wired version marks a first for Blink in several respects. It is the company’s initial wired-only doorbell and the first model that does not require a Blink Sync Module, though it remains compatible with one if users prefer. Previous Blink doorbells relied on the small hub and could be powered either by hardwiring or with lithium AA batteries , the same approach taken by the new 2K battery doorbell. Eliminating the battery allows the wired model to adopt a slimmer form factor, but it also removes the backup power source in the event of an outage.
The battery doorbell comes in white or black, while the wired version is slightly smaller at 4.7 inches tall and is also offered in both color options. Wired doorbells typically carry lower price tags, and at $50, the new Blink model positions itself as one of the most affordable 2K-capable buzzers available. For context, Wyze’s 2K wired doorbell sells for $60, and Ring’s wired 2K doorbell camera costs $79.99.
The AI-powered video descriptions operate on the cloud and require a subscription to one of Blink’s new AI tiers. The Basic AI plan costs $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year for a single device, with a first-year promotional price of $49.99. For households with multiple Blink cameras, the Plus AI subscription covers all devices for $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year, currently discounted to $149.99 for the first year.
Users who do not need AI descriptions can still opt for Blink’s standard subscription plans, which start at $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year per camera. These include 60 days of cloud video storage and on-device person detection alerts. Without any subscription, you still get a live view, two-way audio, and motion alerts. For local storage, the doorbells can record to an SD card via the Sync Module XR or to a USB drive using the Sync Module 2.
(Source: The Verge)
