Sky’s smart home system could save you £100 vs Ring

The best video doorbells just got some new competition – Sky has launched a new system called Sky Smart Home – and it’s going straight after the likes of Ring, Blink and Nest with one key hook – price.

At its simplest, Sky Smart Home starts at £5 a month, with a £15 upfront cost. That gets you a video doorbell and chime, plus access to Sky’s new Smart Home app, which ties everything together. Notably, this is the first time Sky’s smart home kit has been available as a standalone product, rather than being bundled in with its Sky Protect insurance.

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On paper, it’s all the stuff you’d expect. The doorbell shoots in 1080p full HD, has night vision, motion alerts, and two-way talk, so you can answer the door from your phone. There’s also 30-day cloud recording included, along with customisable activity zones to stop your phone buzzing every time someone walks past your house.

Sky claims you could save over £100 compared to a typical Ring setup over a two-year period, based on a like-for-like bundle and subscription. It’s also worth noting that many subscription-based rivals lock features like video history behind monthly fees, making cheaper alternatives like this more appealing.

There’s a more fully loaded option, too. For £8 a month and £20 upfront, the Smart Home Bundle adds an indoor camera into the mix. It matches the doorbell on specs – 1080p video, night vision, motion alerts and two-way audio – but also unlocks a few extra app features, including scheduled recording and auto-arm modes.

Those higher-tier plans also let you expand the system with extras like leak detectors and motion sensors, which can alert you if something’s gone wrong while you’re out.

Everything runs through the new Sky Smart Home app, which handles live video, alerts, setup and support in one place, including guided installation and access to tech support if you get stuck. Just bear in mind that both plans run on a 24-month contract, so you’re committing for the long haul.

Whether that’s enough to tempt people away from the big names is another question. But as far as subscription-based options go, it’s among the cheaper ways to get started with a smart video doorbell right now.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.