We emailed Dale Pistilli, vice president of sales and marketing at August Home for insights into video doorbells. When we asked about the most important things to look for in a video doorbell, Pistilli suggested that consumers focus on nighttime video quality, video storage fees, smart lock integration and unique features like August's HindSight, which captures video before people approach, even if they don't press the doorbell. We also emailed a Ring spokesperson, who explained some of the technical differences between mechanical and digital doorbell chimes, which you'll find later in our guide. How We TestedFor our video doorbell testing, we installed each unit in our smart home lab, which allowed us to test six of seven smart doorbells simultaneously. This wasn't easy since we also needed to connect most of the doorbells to a Heath Zenith SL 2796 02 Basic Series Wired Door Chime and a 16. 5 volt power source to simulate conditions you might face in your home. UsabilityThe best video doorbells are user friendly and come with an array of features that make them convenient while improving security around your door. We examined 20 factors that affect what happens when someone rings the doorbell, accepting a call, in call controls and motion detection settings. We found August Doorbell Cam Pro and Ring Video Doorbell Pro easier to use than other smart doorbells. August's call notification was unique, acting more like a traditional phone call than a standard smartphone notification as with the other six doorbells we tested. The Ring Pro shines in a different way with some of the best motion detection options on the market.