eufy Video Doorbell Camera C31, 2K FHD Battery or Hardwire Powered, Easy to Install, Quick-Release Battery, Live Video Call, 24/7 Recording, Human & Motion Detection, No Monthly Fee

Works great on Eufy app and on Alexa show with port forwarding
The C31 worked on the Eufy app when I first installed it. It appeared to work on the Alexa app on the iPhone but then did not. It did not work on my Echo Show 8. I installed Eufy Homebase S380 to see if that worked but it made no difference.I was away and tried to access the camera in my iPhone and it worked. But would not work when at home. I disabled Wi-Fi on the iPhone and the Alexa app worked when on cellular. I then went online and found that Echo Show and the Alexa app over Wi-Fi requires port forwarding on the router. I added the required port forwarding and it works!

Eufy in decline
I have been using Eufy exterior light cameras and doorbells for several years now. I really like the system for a couple reasons. First, I don’t like the idea of my videos being maintained by a centralized vendor system. Second, I appreciate that there are no fees associated with using the system like so many others. In the past, I found the instructions to be well written and the packaging to be very good. The manual had a font that was large enough to be easily read.But what has always concerned me is the way they role out new products doesn’t seem to show any concern for their previous customers. For example, when they dropped Apple Home (HomeKit) support when they moved from HomeBase 2 to HomeBase 3. At the same time, HomeBase 3 did not support a wired doorbell until this model was introduced several years later. So I’ve been open to change systems since they dropped support for Apple Home. What I would really like is support for Matter over Thread, but there aren’t even any rumors the company is showing any interest in that.With that in mind, I was hesitant to invest anything more in Eufy, but a Black Friday deal on this doorbell. What intregued me was that it had a battery, but could be hooked to normal doorbell wiring in order to keep the battery charged an provide coverage during power outage. I just installed this so this is really an initial review. This is my initial impression.First off, as others have commented on, the directions are terrible. For one thing, the printed one in the package uses such a small font, you can only read it with a magnifying glass. There is a scan code that will take you to a manual and you can download a PDF that you can then read on any device … but gone is any of the style Eufy used to use in their manuals … extremely basic. While it covered the install pretty well, there is no explanation of ANY of the settings in the app. In addition, the manual had no spec sheet with information like width of the doorbell or how much memory does it have without adding an SD card. An SD card is not included so how much is the doorbell capable of storing in stand alone mode.I was surprised to learn this doorbell does not work with any previous Eufy chime. What I don’t feel is explained adequately if there appears to be four chime options. The three options are in a paragraph that describes how the system works independently it describes three options, the home’s existing chime, a Eufy Chime (sold separately) or using Amazon device as a chime. It then describes using doorbell with Homebase, but neglects to say Homebase can be used as a chime. To add to the confusion, the only Eufy chime that is compatible is referred to as a Minibase Chime which can be used to store videos like HomeBase. What is funny is the very first thing described in the manual is how to set up the Minibase Chime even though it is not included in the kit.This takes me to another item not adequately explained. The SD card slot. It shows it in the breakdown diagram identifying items on the doorbell … but in the description it simply says lift up silicone lid to insert the SD card. I believe there is also a hinged metal frame for the SD that has to be lifted to insert the SD, but if so, the instructions don’t mention it. The only other thing that is said about the SD is in the instructions for the Minibase, it says to move the SD from the Minibase to the doorbell. It doesn’t say anything about how this memory card would be used when doorbell is being used independently or with Homebase.Upgrading from a previous wired doorbell, I expected the base that is screwed to the doorframe would be the same, but it wasn’t. The size of the hole for the doorbell wire is the same, but it is higher in the frame … so either the doorbell needs to be mounted at least 1/2″ lower (i.e. old mounting visible) or you can drill a hole in the plastic frame where it needs to be for the wire. This is what I did.The wiring is very tight and makes it difficult to snap the doorbell onto the frame. I’m thinking I may go back and cut a larger opening in the frame to better accommodate the wire.The video quality and performance is on par with the other Eufy products I have. I do appreciate that it works with Homebase S380. I’m hoping at some point Eufy will produce a new hub that will them provide their system compatibility with Matter over Thread.Now to figure out what is different in the app. It just seems that with moving to more electronic documentation where you don’t need to worry about the cost of printing, that it would be nice to use that to provide a manual that really answers all of the questions regarding the product.

Works Well When It Works, But Connectivity Issues Persist
The Eufy Video Doorbell C31 has a lot to love. The motion detection is highly accurate, especially with the customizable activity zones. I live in a high-traffic area, and this feature ensures I only get notified for relevant activity, which is incredibly helpful.Another big plus is the lack of a subscription. Unlike many competitors, this doorbell uses local storage via an SD card, saving on monthly fees while keeping your recordings private. The 24/7 recording capability is also a standout feature, giving me peace of mind knowing I have constant coverage.However, the frequent connectivity issues make it frustrating to use. Despite a stable power supply and strong Wi-Fi, I often get the “Unable to Connect to Doorbell (-10)” error in the app. While Alexa and the indoor chime work perfectly, I can’t always connect to the live feed or answer calls through the app when it matters most.If Eufy can resolve these connectivity problems, this would easily be a 5-star product. Until then, it’s a great concept with a few too many reliability issues.

Junk
Video feed takes forever to load, if it does at all. Multiple times, our doorbell was pressed and we attempted to see who was at the door only for the app to attempt over and over without success to establish a connection to the doorbell. Then, 2 weeks in and the doorbell began randomly registering vehicles as humans. Had to reset it and that seemed to fix the issue. It’s unfortunate because otherwise, the doorbell has been great, but the reliability is severely lacking.