A video doorbell is the one security product people actually enjoy using — you see who is at the door and answer from your phone. The hard part is not choosing a model. It is power and signal: what your door already has, and whether the Wi-Fi reaches it.
Verdict in 30 seconds: renting or cannot drill → EZVIZ EP3x (650, dual lens, cheapest). Weak Wi-Fi in the corridor → Reolink 2K battery (999). Cable at the door, or willing to run one → Reolink 5MP PoE (778), which solves power and connection in a single cable.
Why this guide is written for SG, UK and AU buyers specifically
Three things change when the doorbell crosses a border. First, your existing chime wiring: UK homes often have a 8–24V AC transformer feeding a mechanical chime, Singapore condos usually have none, and Australian builds are a mix. Second, mains voltage: 230–240V everywhere in these three markets, so any wired model must be fed by its own adapter or PoE, never straight from a lighting circuit. Third, shipping: units with a lithium cell travel as restricted goods and cost more to move; PoE units have no battery at all.
The three ways to power a doorbell
| Method | Drilling needed | Power | Real-world behaviour | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PoE (one network cable) | Yes — one cable | From the cable | Most stable; works with no Wi-Fi at all | HK$778 |
| Wi-Fi + battery | No | Recharge every few months | Best for rentals; depends on signal | HK$650–1,299 |
| Wi-Fi + mains adapter | Yes — a socket near the door | Always on | Fine if you already have a socket outside | model dependent |
All 7 models we stock, with live prices
| Model | Connection | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reolink 5MP PoE Camera Video Doorbell with Chime Person Detection | PoE cable | 5MP | 778 |
| EZVIZ EP3x Dual Smart Doorbell / | Wi-Fi | — | 650 |
| EZVIZ HP8 5MP SmartVideo DoorbellBundle | Wi-Fi | 5MP | 699 |
| EZVIZ EP8 ULTRA Smart Doorbell /FlagshipAI Bundle | Wi-Fi | — | 1299 |
| SpotCam Ring 2 | Wi-Fi | — | 799 |
| EZVIZ DP2 | Wi-Fi | 2K | 839 |
| Reolink 2K 4MP Dual-Band Wi-Fi Battery Video Doorbell WirelessSmartDoorbell Camera | Wi-Fi | 2K | 999 |
Prices are read live from our product data, so they do not go stale. If a row shows no price the model is currently off the shelf.
Which one, by situation
- Rented flat, no drilling, no wiring: EZVIZ EP3x. Two lenses — one at face height, one angled at the ground for parcels. Cheapest unit we sell.
- Corridor Wi-Fi is weak: Reolink 2K 4MP battery. Dual-band 2.4GHz + 5GHz means it can hold a distance connection instead of dropping out.
- You can get one cable to the door: Reolink 5MP PoE with indoor chime. No battery to charge, no Wi-Fi to depend on. This is what we recommend for houses and shophouses.
- Doorway is narrow and parcels matter: EZVIZ EP8 Ultra, the dual-lens flagship.
- Just want a chime + camera, nothing smart: SpotCam Ring 2.
Will it work on 230–240V?
Yes, but only through the right supply. Battery and PoE units do not care about mains voltage at all, which is why they are the safest cross-border buy. If a model ships with a mains adapter, check that the adapter is rated 100–240V — ours are — and use a plug adapter for the local socket (Type G in Singapore and the UK, Type I in Australia). Never wire a doorbell directly into a lighting circuit.
Privacy: the practical version
A doorbell camera films a shared corridor or the pavement, so keep it narrow: point the lens at your own door and the metre in front of it, put up a small notice that recording is taking place, and set recordings to overwrite after 7–14 days. If you rent in a managed building, ask the management office before mounting anything on the common area wall. This is practical advice, not legal advice — rules differ between Singapore, the UK and Australia.
Shipping, duty and warranty
We ship from Hong Kong. Singapore typically lands in 5–9 working days, the UK in 6–10 and Australia in 7–12. Import GST/VAT is collected by the carrier on delivery where applicable — see our warranty and import guide for how that works. Warranty is handled by shipping the unit back to Hong Kong; return freight is at the buyer's cost, roughly HK$150–350, and turnaround is 2–4 weeks.
FAQ
Do battery doorbells need a subscription?
No. Most record to a microSD card locally. Cloud storage is optional and only worth it if you want footage to survive the unit being removed.
Can a PoE doorbell run off a normal switch?
Only if the switch supplies PoE (802.3af/at) or you use a single-port PoE injector. A plain switch carries data but no power.
Will a UK chime work with a battery doorbell?
You do not reuse the old chime. Battery kits ship with their own plug-in indoor chime, which is why they need no transformer work at all.
Related guides
Battery cameras in depth: Reolink battery cameras for SG, UK and AU. The wider category: security camera guide. Wired multi-camera systems: PoE CCTV guide.