Blink’s new video doorbells make it even easier to see what’s at your door

You no longer have to buy the Ring line if you want an Amazon video doorbell with high-quality visuals. The company’s Blink brand has launched two new doorbells that promise 2K resolution and AI alerts to help you know who (or what) is outside.

Both the Blink Wired Doorbell 2K+ and Blink Battery Doorbell 2K+ use their namesake 1920 x 1920 cameras to provide a clearer head-to-toe image, including better dynamic range that shows more detail in bright sunlight and dark shadows. They won’t match the 4K of Ring’s top models, but they are major improvements over the 1080p of previous Blink models.

If you live in the US, you’ll also have the option of intelligent video descriptions when you subscribe to Blink’s Basic AI ($70 per year) or Plus AI ($200 per year) plan. Rather than just pointing out a movement, they will describe what happened. You’ll know if someone dropped off a package or if a raccoon just crossed your front porch.

Both promise IP65 dust and water resistance, low-light color, and two-way audio with noise cancellation.

As the name suggests, the choice depends on your convenience and living situation. The 2K+ Wired Doorbell is for homeowners who want to hardwire the device and never worry about power. The Battery Doorbell 2K+, for its part, is aimed at tenants and anyone who cannot justify wiring work. Blink claims “months and months” of battery life for the fully wireless model when using three AA lithium batteries.

Blink Wired and Battery Doorbell 2K+ models: price and availability

They are both inexpensive, but not available everywhere

Pre-orders are available now for the $50 Blink 2K+ Wired Doorbell and the $80 Blink 2K+ Battery Doorbell ahead of their May 20 release date.

The doorbells will initially be available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Amazon hasn’t said if and when it will bring AI video descriptions to other countries, so keep that in mind before making a purchase.

Either way, the introductions bridge the gap with Ring video doorbells. They now compete well with Ring’s entry-level doorbell cameras, which offer comparable resolution and two-way talk. You’re mostly missing out on perks normally reserved for Ring’s higher-end models, including HDR video, 5GHz Wi-Fi, and quick responses that let doorbells speak to visitors for you. As long as you’re happy with Amazon as a company and focused on Alexa, these are strong value propositions.