Ring, ring!
Who’s there?
Yep, that’s a bit old-fashioned.
These days you KNOW who’s there – visible from top to toe in glorious 4k.
And without opening the door you can have a conversation, even if you’re not at home.
Meet the new SwannBuddy4K Video Doorbell.
I did not know I needed a doorbell.
I reckon a lot of folk in rural areas don’t bother either.
With their long driveways and dogs around the place, they have enough warning someone is coming.
And even if they had a doorbell, what good does it do on the front door when everyone always uses the back entrance anyway?
But when Swann contacted DRN to see if we would like to review the new SwannBuddy Doorbell, we were happy to oblige.
After all, we’ve been fans of the brand for many decades and most recently reviewed the MaxRanger Security System.
So, we know their ecosystem.
The First Ring
First “ringpressions” count.
The new SwannBuddy 4k oozes the quality of a well-built unit.
It feels quite solid and was a bit thicker and heavier than anticipated.
Probably a good thing as it also incorporates a rechargeable battery of hopefully sufficient capacity.
The separate Chime unit was actually quite diminutive.
All the bits you need are there: charge cable, batteries for the chime, and various ways to affix the unit to a wall or door.
Plus, Security Warning stickers in 4 languages…
Let’s get the show on the road!
Featuring
The SwannBuddy 4K has all the features of a top-of-the-wozza doorbell: wide field of hi-res vision (165 degrees).
And, your cat has nothing over this unit’s night vision.
It can detect heat and movement up to 5m and take clear footage at night too.
Even if you’re not at home, the SwannBuddy can answer the door like a well-spoken concierge and AI can do this seemingly intelligently.
The Ring of Power?
First order of business is always to charge the unit fully before you do anything else.
Then a quick look at the short manual.
It says: the doorbell ring will be solidly blue while charging.
I plug it into my superfast charger and whoa! The Ring of Power starts flashing!
Not what was promised in the manual…
Was it being overpowered??
I change to a not-so-fast charger. Same blinking scenario…
Tried to download some more info from the Swann site which has some PDFs on Dropbox.
Bad links. What’s going on?
Finally, I noticed that after some 5 long minutes the blinking stopped and became a solid ring of blue.
So, what happened?
Apparently, the manual forgot to mention that after starting, the unit goes into pairing mode first…
Hence the blinking.
Just wondering: am I the only one that’s wasted a bit of time figuring this out?
Anyways, before long, it was fully charged, and I could finally mount the unit.
Choosing Your Ring Tone
Pairing the Chime with the Doorbell is easy and next up is pairing the SwannBuddy with your phone.
If you don’t already have the Swann Security app, now is the time to download it.
For me, it’s just an addition to the Swann Security systems I already have.
There are six chimes to choose from, from the simple ding-dong to a few minutes of Fur Elise down to some ferocious barking of a German shepherd.
Perhaps that last one is a good choice if you answer the doorbell when you’re not at home!
And our grandchildren love that we have a doggy!
Does it Ring a Bell?
Remember the old version of the SwannBuddy Doorbell?
Yeah, me neither but this is not Swann’s first rodeo in creating a camera doorbell.
They have a 1080p model for a 100 bucks less than the 4K version we are reviewing here.
The new SwannBuddy 4K retails for AUD299 but also sports the higher resolution with 4x digital zoom-in function and the SwannShield AI Voice Assistant.
I’m not a fan of AI this and AI that but it can have its uses.
When Someone Rings: How Does the SwannShield Work?
This is the marketing description:
SwannShield engages with visitors in real-time across different scenarios, from package deliveries and identifying guests to deterring potential criminals.
It uses the latest adaptive generative AI technology and user instructions to respond to visitors with natural, human-like interactions when they press the doorbell. When activated, homeowners can benefit from the first smart doorbell complete with an AI voice assistant that can speak to visitors or intruders on their behalf with a realistic voice in an Australian accent — even when they are not present. The voice is live and dynamic and not pre-recorded.
So, how does it work in practice?
First up, SwannShield will only work when you’re away and when you’ve set your Doorbell in the Away or Night Mode.
When you’re at home you can answer via the app and with a few pre-recorded messages. (Would be nice if I could add a few phrases of my own).
The other requirement for it to work is good internet.
This is all interactive stuff that will only work if there are fast, natural responses to the visitor’s queries or statements.
My rural situation means that the best scenario here is a 1 bar connectivity with any Telco.
Very frustrating for a techie.
Yet, at the same time, my situation is not unusual, so, if you think of getting a doorbell for its AI capabilities, it’ll be good to know that good internet and WiFi is a prerequisite.
If my connectivity situation improves (Starlink?) I could be persuaded by SwannShield’s AI responses. By that time it will probably also be out of Beta…
However, the interactions I had with this program so far, bode well.
I posed as a friend (John), wanting to drop in to see Martin.
Hi Martin, it’s John. Are you home?
Answer: Hey John. Martin’s out; I’m just house-sitting. Busy with some morning chores right now.
When could I see you then, I asked?
Reply: Not sure, got a bunch of stuff to do, etc. Maybe try catching Martin later?
Me: Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then.
Final reply: Cool; catch you later.
All in a decent Aussie accent…
Also, I wanted to drop off a parcel.
Just put it on the doormat, my concierge suggested helpfully.
But it needs a signature, I persisted.
Can’t come to the door right now; just leave it there. Cheers.
I said: I know you’re home so could you please come to the door?
Answer: Not interested. Bye.
Not bad, eh? Pretty decent conversation with only a few seconds pause before the answers came.
The app also keeps the SwannShield recordings for a couple of days so you can check what Buddy has concocted in your absence.
Too Many Rings: Battery Life Shortened
The SwannBuddy 4K Doorbell has a 6500mAh rechargeable battery and the Chime runs off a couple of AAs.
Recharging means you have to undo the “tamper-proof” little screw underneath the unit to access the USB-C port at the back.
Some people report a time between recharges of just a couple of weeks, others might eke out the stated 3 months battery life.
It all depends on the traffic and some of the settings on the app which you can tweak.
After about 10 days, the battery shows 65%.
That’s not from “real” traffic but mainly testing and grandies playing with the doorbell interactions…
That’s also having the Battery Saver ON, thus having to wake up the doorbell for live views.
The doorbell is good at keeping statistics: 235 persons detected and 30 motions plus 41 cars recorded.
The number of rings (10) seems to be way too low though…
It’s good to know you can also connect the unit to existing doorbell wiring as the SwannBuddy can support power of 5V DC or 12-24V AC.
The Quality Ring
This is also a difficult part.
The camera might be hi-res but the fisheye lens does distort quite a bit.
I also noticed that people tend to be quite dark against a somewhat bright background.
Facial features are thus hard to discern.
I’m still fiddling with the settings to stop the many notifications when leaves in the background move with too much wind.
There is not a setting that allows it to detect only persons.
Another issue (not Swann’s fault), as mentioned before, my internet coverage is pretty spotty out here in the sticks.
This also impacts picture quality and causes lagginess.
Let’s Ring up the Verdict
Initially I had slightly mixed feelings about the SwannBuddy 4K Doorbell.
On the one hand, I can see that (sub)urban dwellers would greatly benefit from having a camera doorbell.
This Swann product would suit them well, despite some of the imperfections and internet requirements as noted above.
But, out here beyond the Black Stump, I have grown to appreciate this additional layer of security for my property.
I love the fact that this unit does not require a subscription. It also does not necessarily need to upload your comings and goings to the cloud with the included 32GB microSD card.
That said, not everyone needs a camera doorbell, but I’m glad Swann gave me the opportunity to try it out.
And for me too it will be a keeper.
Have a look at the product page here.
UPDATE: 29 Oct 2024: I just noticed on the Swann website that they have a promo on, dropping the price 40% down to a very attractive 179 bucks!
Not sure how long this will last…
