Imou DB60 Video Doorbell Review

The Imou DB60 is an affordable wireless video doorbell with a built-in battery that offers convenient installation without the need for wiring. It captures video in 2560 x 1920 resolution with H.265 compression and has motion detection, human detection, and two-way audio. I tested the Imou DB60 for several weeks to see how it performs for home security and smart home integration.

Specification

• Camera
  • 5 Megapixel progressive CMOS
  • 5MP(2560 x 1920)
  • Night Vision: 5m(16.5ft) distance2.0mm
  • Fixed lens
  • Field of View: 164°
• Network
  • Wi-Fi:IEEE802.11b/g/n,2.4GHz
  • Imou life app: IOS, Android
• Video & Audio
• Video Compression: H.265
• Audio Compression: AAC
• Up to 15fps Frame Rate
• Two-way Bidirectional Talk Echo cancellation
• Auxiliary Interface
  • Built-in Mic
  • Micro USB power port
• Notice Management
  • Call Notification
  • Motion Detection
  • Human Detection
  • Configurable Detection Area
• General
  • AC12~24V, DC12/24V Power supply
  • 6200 mAh battery
  • Power Consumption: <0.7A
  • Surface mounted
  • Working Environment: -20℃-+50℃, Less than 95%RH

In The Box

The Imou DB60 comes with a video doorbell, a wireless chime and three different mounting brackets:

• Flat mounting bracket
• 15° angled bracket
• 5° angled bracket

It also includes screws, anchors, and an installation manual.

Design and Build

The Imou DB60 has a modern, rounded square design in white with glossy black accents around the camera lens and sides. It looks high-end but is made from plastic rather than metal.

The doorbell itself is quite large, measuring 5.7 x 1.8 x 1.8 inches. However, it protrudes only 0.9 inches from the wall once mounted.

At the bottom is the microphone and a micro USB port for supplying power. The 6200 mAh battery is built-in and not removable.

Overall, the build quality is decent but not exceptional. The plastic body is prone to scuffs and scratches during installation.

Set-Up

The initial set up did not go very smoothly. I downloaded the Imou Life app, created an account, and followed the in-app instructions.

To start the pairing process, you need to scan the QR code on the device. You will need to do this for both the doorbell and the chime.

You need to reset and put the device into pairing mode by pressing the reset button and doorbell button at the same time (I didn’t read the instructions properly and just held the reset, causing frustration).

The app will connect to the WiFI of the doorbell, and then you pass over the credentials of your 2.4GHz network. This is where I experienced problems. For whatever reason, it would not connect to the 2.4GHz network I specifically use for IoT/smart home devices.

This is quite likely a user error or a networking issue. I use EnGenius access points, and I use NextDNS, which will block some DNS requests.

I resolved the issue by connecting the camera using my Google Nest WiFi Pro. That has a combined 2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz SSID, which can cause issues with smart home tech, but it worked fine for this.

With the connectivity issues resolved, I experienced no other issues.

Mounting

I was impressed that there were three different mounting brackets supplied. As this is battery-powered, I opted for the simplest solution I could thing of, I used some 3M pads and mounted it directly to the glass on my door.

Imou supply a drill bit and screws for a more secure mounting. Considering this is a cheap camera, I was surprised to see them include the drill bit.

The camera can also be wired up if you have an existing wired doorbell.

Recording Options / Subscription

One of the standout features of the Imou DB60 is its generous storage offering. Unlike many video doorbells that require a monthly subscription for cloud storage, the Imou DB60 comes with 4GB of internal storage, allowing you to use the device without any additional costs.

You then have an optional paid plan with Imou Protect. You can get 30 days free with auto-renew or 14 days free without adding any payment details.

With the Plus plan, you get 30 days of storage but it also enables AI detection, which allows the camera to only alert you if there is a person, animal, vehicle or package.

The basic plan provides:

• 7 days of cloud storage
• The ability to download SD card recordings
• Share the device with 10 users
• Security Reports
• Device Health Guard

It is a bit odd that this plan indicates you can not download local files without a plan. However, it looks like you can bypass this limitation by viewing a local recording and hitting the record button, which will record the footage on your device.

The basic plan costs £2.59 pcm or £25.99 per year for a single camera and up to £12.99 pcm for 10 cameras. The Plus plan is £5.99 pcm for a single camera, then increasing to £23.99 for 10 cameras.

Based on the above, I don’t think there is much point to the basic plan. The Plus plan feels overpriced, in comparison, Arlo Secure is only £3.49 for a single-camera. Eufy can do AI detection free of charge, depending on which doorbell you choose (but these cost a lot more upfront).

Lastly, the Imou DB60 product page indicates that this should be able to record to an NVR using OBVIF; however, I can’t find the settings for this at all. As I was using this with a battery, it is possible this setting was automatically removed. I have previously gotten my old Eufy 2C to record via RTSP, but it wasn’t the best experience, as the RTSP feed only activates when motion is detected.  

Motion Detection

Motion detection on the Imou DB60 is accurate thanks to the dual PIR sensors. I never experienced false alerts from lighting changes or shadows.

You can set up activity zones to limit notifications to certain areas to make detection even more precise.

Notification and chime options are robust. You can customise motion detection sensitivity and human detection separately. Chimes can be completely disabled if desired.

Doorbell Responsiveness & Chime

One issue I have had with video doorbells is the delay between a doorbell press and the notification. It is something that can infuriate me as I get so many packages, and some delivery drivers only wait a few seconds.

The Imou DB60 performed very reliably for doorbell presses. It detected the button press instantly every time.

Doorbell alerts display quickly in the app with a live view. I’d say the response time is immediate, but it is probably 1 or 2 seconds. You can then tap to initiate two-way audio with the visitor.

Day Time Recording Quality

The Imou DB60 Video Doorbell comes with a 5 5-megapixel progressive CMOS camera, capable of delivering a resolution of 5MP (2560 x 1920). The camera has a fixed lens with a field of view of 164°, providing a wide coverage area. It also features night vision capabilities, with a range of up to 5m (16.5ft).

The camera doesn’t have the same vertical field of view as other cameras, so if someone is standing near the door, you don’t get a head-to-toe view.

Doorbell alerts display immediately in the app with a live view. You can then tap to initiate two-way audio with the visitor.

The 15fps frame rate can be a little bit choppy, but this is a common fps for these cameras.

Night Time Recording Quality

At night, the Imou DB60 relies on infrared illumination to see up to 5 meters. Quality is decent but quite grainy; faces can be a little difficult to discern beyond a couple of meters.

The infrared LEDs cast a uniform glow that illuminates visitors clearly when near the door. But moving further back, people appear quite dark.

I was surprised the footage was colour, I would have expected black and white on an affordable camera, but there are a lot of bright street lights around me.

While usable, the night vision performance is not on par with the daytime video quality. It works fine for basic motion detection, but details are lacking.

Battery Life

The built-in 6200 mAh battery powers the Imou DB60 for an impressively long time between charges.

As I have a high fence in my front garden, the doorbell is only triggering when someone is actually at the door.

I have only used this for a couple of weeks, but based on my usage, I should get 4 months charge.

Frequent motion events will reduce battery life. But in general, the battery lasts long enough to avoid frequent recharges.

The battery status displays in the app, so you receive alerts when power runs low. Overall, battery performance is impressive on the Imou DB60.

Price and Alternative Options

The Imou DB60 Smart Video Doorbell is available for around £110 and does not appear to be available on Amazon, but you can buy it from Safe.co.uk and DIY.com.

The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is just over £100 and probably the best alternative I can find. It is only 1080P, but it has local storage, supports Apple HomeKit, and has facial detection. It will also be updated to support Matter.

The Eufy Video Doorbell C210 is available for £100 and includes a chime. It is only 1080P, but has on-device smart detection and notifications with no need for any subscription. It uses microSD for recording but doesn’t come supplied with one.

Reolink has the Smart 2K+ Wired WiFi Video Doorbell with Chime for £100. This matches the resolution, can use both 2.4/5GHz WiFi, is compatible with Reolink NVRs, but it lacks a battery, which significantly limits its appeal.

The Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module is £90 but lacks a chime and is only 1080P.

Ring has the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) at £100 but lacks a chime and requires a subscription.

Overall

The Imou DB60 is one of the more affordable video doorbells on the market, and it outclasses many of the options at a similar price point thanks to the 5MP(2560 x 1920) camera and free local storage.

It is certainly not the best doorbell camera I have used, but it is excellent considering the price.

I’d personally recommend not getting the monthly subscription. it seems like the Plus plan is the only thing that has any real benefit, and if you are going to end up paying £5.99 pcm indefinitely, you may as well spend an extra £70 for something like the Eufy Video Doorbell S220, which is far superior and requires no monthly fees.

Ignoring that criticism, this is a superb choice if you just want a cheap doorbell that includes a chime and can give you reliable notifications and decent enough recordings.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.