The Lowdown
Hopefully, none of us will have to utilize these features with actual thieves, but knowing that security measures like the Vivint Spotlight Pro are in place does bring peace of mind.
Overall
Pros
- Vivint does an excellent job at installation, and they offer great customer service
- Added peace of mind with great security upgrades
- You are given the option to turn the Smart Deter feature on once a package has been delivered
Cons
- It can be pricey to put together a full security system
I have used Vivint’s home security and smart products for a few years and have loved everything about the company. Recently, they installed the new Vivint Spotlight Pro and 2nd generation Doorbell Camera Pro for me to review. These replaced the older versions of the doorbell and outdoor camera and have proven to be a considerable upgrade.
Vivint products come with professional installation, and as always, our installation was clean, fast, and flawless. Everyone I have dealt with from the company puts the customer first and does fantastic work.
I was at work for this install, but the Vivint guys worked around my wife’s morning meeting schedule; they got everything set up and showed her how it all works.
The Vivint Doorbell Pro 2nd Gen camera adds a new 180-degree by 180-degree field of view. The first thing I noticed checking the camera on my app was the much-improved vision.
The wider and taller field of view helps see an entire person and any packages left. The 1080p HDR resolution is also clearer; this alone is worth the upgrade.
The new doorbell includes deterring settings now, including Smart Deter. How this works is when a package is delivered, the Doorbell Camera Pro will detect the visitor and the package; if deter is not activated, the mobile app sends an alert and provides the option to protect the package.
What I like about Smart Deter is knowing when something important arrives and being able to turn on the deter feature rather than always having it on and startling someone who might just be visiting.
Deter activates a bright LED ring and a 90dB speaker to let any lurker or potential thief know they’ve been caught on camera. The Doorbell Pro 2nd Gen is considerably upgraded from the original doorbell camera.
The Vivint Spotlight Pro is their updated outdoor camera. While the original Vivint camera did a great job warning lurkers that they had been caught on camera, the new Vivint Spotlight Pro adds a new layer by highlighting the detected subject.
The light is IP65 weatherproof and can be added to the Outdoor Camera Pro. With three outward-facing LED light panels, the spotlight provides 180 degrees of light coverage.
The light puts out a maximum of 2000 lumens which can be adjusted via the mobile app. Each zone can also be controlled via the app to create the best use-case scenario.
The Vivint Spotlight Pro is not merely a flood light since it is tied in with the deter feature when active. When a person lingers too long, the light not only turns on but also follows them with a spotlight, tracking their movement.
The first time you see it happen is quite a shock since the light follows their every move; the Vivint Spotlight Pro then switches to the chosen lighting effect giving the ultimate warning to the subject.
I prefer the wave feature, which lights each zone back and forth like an emergency light. It is pretty startling.
The Vivint Spotlight Pro also displays a red LED ring, and a sound can be chosen to play.
My son is a senior football player, and we found out the cheerleaders were coming to decorate the windows on his truck one night, so we turned the deter on and startled them pretty well. When the sound came on and lights began to flash, they ran in all directions. We all had a good laugh about it at school the next day.
What that proved, though, is that the light is sudden and bright enough that it works to deter lurkers. The subject is startled, and they know they have been caught on camera.
These upgrades are enormous steps forward in an already excellent system built by Vivint. The installers are incredibly professional and always do fantastic work that is clean and detail-oriented.
The new Smart Deter features in the Vivint Spotlight Pro and Doorbell Pro 2nd Gen cameras are game changers. I love the ability to turn on deter once a package has been delivered, and it makes me feel like someone is helping me keep watch.
A simple sound and acknowledgment of someone’s presence can scare lurkers away, and they’ll know they’ve been caught on camera, which will hopefully help deter porch pirates.
Adding the Smart Deter ability to my driveway with such a bright light is even better. It is impressive how the spotlight shining on you gets your attention. It feels like more than a motion-detected flood light and shows the camera knows what it sees.
Hopefully, none of us will have to utilize these features with actual thieves, but knowing that security measures like the Vivint Spotlight Pro are in place does bring peace of mind.
The Vivint Spotlight Pro sells for $249.99; it is a completely new accessory designed for the new Outdoor Camera Pro and one of the only lighting options in the industry that uses the camera’s technology to activate lighting and dynamically adapt based on what the camera is seeing. It is available directly from Vivant.
The second-generation Vivant Wired Doorbell Camera Pro sells for $249.99; it’s an AI-powered video doorbell that intelligently detects packages and actively helps protect them. It is available now.
The second-generation Vivant Outdoor Camera Pro sells for $399.99; it is a camera that monitors outside your home with Smart Deter technology to detect and deter lurkers. It is available now.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Vivint does an excellent job at installation, and they offer great customer service; Added peace of mind with great security upgrades; You are given the option to turn the Smart Deter feature on once a package has been delivered
What Needs Improvement: It can be pricey to put together a full security system
The professional installation with the camera having 180 degree view are wonderful perks
I love the Smart Deter feature and I would love pranking my brother in law with it!